[OP]
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Right now for me it'd be some Japanese chisels...or the new Veritas large plow plane.
If I didn't have the tools I have right now...it would be my Custom no. 4 1/2 smoother. Just a lovely plane to use.
What are the rest of you Galoots lusting after right now?
($400 is just an arbitrary number to keep the tool within the confines of most production tools, and to exclude any bespoke makers like Holtey or Sauer & Steiner etc.)
Contributor
I confirmed with Blue Spruce Toolworks that they are going to produce the amazing fretsaw they had at Handworks. My money is already reserved for it. Target release is November. I got to try it out, and it is amazing.
Also I just discovered that Veritas makes their chisels available in O1 steel. Might be worth getting a few of those for hand paring.
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What makes it better than the Knew Concepts fretsaws, which are the current benchmark IMO?Originally Posted by Malcolm Schweizer
Yeah, I've always thought that offering the bench chisels in O1 as well as PM-V11 was a smart move on their part. As you say the O1 versions would be nice for low edge angles.
Contributor
[QUOTE=Patrick Chase;2712737]What makes it better than the Knew Concepts fretsaws, which are the current benchmark IMO?
It has a graphite frame, and it does not flex. I made some cuts with it at the show and it was a joy to use. The blade assembly could turn without releasing tension. Also the handle was perfectly shaped.
I hate my Knew Concepts saw. It doesn't flex linear, but it twists like mad and constantly breaks blades. I have literally never gotten it to cut properly, but the Blue Spruce saw cut like butter. No flex. I have the red anodized aluminum 8" saw. I notice they have discontinued that size. I can imagine why.
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[QUOTE=Malcolm Schweizer;2712766]Two thoughts about the Knew Concepts:
- Deflection of a cantilever beam fixed at one end and loaded at the other (which is a reasonable model for the arms of that saw) is proportional to length cubed, so the 8" would flex about 4X as much as the 5" model. With that said...
- The frames of most existing fretsaws (including the Knew Concepts ones) are designed to provide high blade tension. They are not designed to resist high side or torque loads, which is what you seem to be describing. I've found that mine does OK provided that I focus on letting the blade do the work and avoid pushing it any more than absolutely necessary, but then again I have the 5" model :-).
It will be interesting to see how Blue Spruce optimized the layup in their carbon saw. It sounds like they designed in a fair bit of torque/sideload resistance, which would make it a very unique fretsaw.
Last edited by Patrick Chase; 08-01-2017 at 1:55 PM.
Contributor
[QUOTE=Patrick Chase;2712934]
You are spot on in your points. I agree that the 3" or 5" saw would have a lot less flex. I was sold on the 8" by their marketing but really wish I had gone with the 5". Believe me, I am very careful with it and consider myself a fairly experienced sawyer, but it still flexes for me. It is probably better for paper thin jewelry pieces.
Here is a picture of the Blue Spruce saw, which should say it all. It has molded graphite supports tied with graphite rod stringers. The handle and tensioner rotate in the frame even under tension. It was very easy to make cuts in the test piece he had at the show. I can't remember- roughly 3/4" thick and I seem to remember he had some maple and a softer wood. I made a lot of cuts and it performed flawlessly.
IMG_1396.jpg
Member
Fun idea, good to dream of a situation where I could be handed some tool tokens, only for use on tools. I'd go to a tool auction, try and fine a nice nineteenth century infill. A nice, non essential luxury.
Member
That's a very interesting design.
The thing that most immediately catches my attention is how they minimized up-front costs, specifically molds. It appears to me that the two arms/ends are identical parts, and the rods in the middle are obviously off-the-shelf parts bonded to the arms. The upshot is that they have a grand total of one custom carbon part, with two copies per saw. That's exactly how I'd approach a low-volume design like this.
The other thing that grabs my attention is that like the Knew Concepts saws this one is designed to be stiff in tension, not so much laterally or in twist. If they'd wanted it to be stiff in those directions then a single larger tube and "deeper" arms would be preferable. I doubt this design would do very well with 8" clearance, either, though the point appears to be moot.
I notice that Knew Concepts still offers the Titanium "birdcage" fretsaw in 8" size. That one has a much deeper back cross-section, that would do a better job of resisting bending and twist than the "flat" Aluminum design, and probably better than the Blue Spruce as well. Stiffness goes with cross-section cubed for this stuff, so geometry is more important than material.
Last edited by Patrick Chase; 08-01-2017 at 8:36 PM.
Contributor
I'd rather spend the cash on lumber.....so the tools I do have will have something to do....
Member
+1 on that idea Steven.
Member
Probably a bronze Lie Nielsen #3. At first I thought they looked showy and pretentious, and I tend to like simple, understated things, but I've come around to thinking they're a gorgeous tool and I would like to have one.
Contributor
Easy choice for me, Stanley 55, would try to find one in good shape with the standard set of irons in good, non-pitted shape.
Stew
Member
I just unpacked mine today. And it cost exactly $400, oddly enough.
Member
Same here. Always wanted one of those.
I was once a woodworker, I still am I'm just saying that I once was.
Chop your own wood, it will warm you twice. -Henry Ford
Member
I've thought about this for the last 24 hours and still have trouble identifying that one item to buy. A new workbench is definitely needed; but more storage space is a MUST! So, I guess I'll go with building more storage or a better shop space. My wife would love to get the garage back.
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