Ron Brese
02-17-2009, 9:01 AM
Whenever I have a NEED (WANT, LUST) for a tool I like to buy these tools from other independent tool makers like myself. This week I received the dovetail saw that I ordered from Ed at Medallion Tools. I met Ed at WIA in Berea after exchanging several emails with him prior to that event. When I had a look at his saws at the Woodnet get together I knew I would eventually be making a purchase from him. His tools have the attention to detail that make them a real please to hold and use.
The first thing I noticed about the saw was that the lower section of the handle seemed a bit wider than most dovetail saws. Ed had asked me to provide certain measurements taken from my hand when he was making the saw so this handle was made based on those dimensions. I put a piece of soft maple in the vise and started sawing. I never gave the size of the handle another thought. Sort of like when a new pair of shoes that fit so well that you forget you have on new shoes. Obviously Ed knows how to fit a saw to a person's hand.
The other thing that struck me about this saw was the ease of beginning the cut. Maybe I'm already accustomed to using a light touch at the start of the cut but this saw just seemed easier in that regard which allowed me to concentrate on following the line in lieu of just getting the saw started. According to the information Ed provided with the saw it should get better in this regard as the saw sees more usage.
This saw has a strong back spline which gives the saw a feeling that you can just go ahead and saw with it. Once in the cut it doesn't take long to reach your base line in fact it gets there so readily that you have to be careful not to get carried away and saw past your layout line.
The carmelized maple tote has a silky feeling of being well hand worked and just feels down right nice in your hand. The transitions are nice and rounded where you hand contacts the tote and no sharp facets are left in these areas.
I know I'll enjoy this saw for years to come and when it needs sharpening Ed has assured me that he is also available for this task.
Thanks for looking and Ed thanks for such a nice tool,
Ron Brese
The first thing I noticed about the saw was that the lower section of the handle seemed a bit wider than most dovetail saws. Ed had asked me to provide certain measurements taken from my hand when he was making the saw so this handle was made based on those dimensions. I put a piece of soft maple in the vise and started sawing. I never gave the size of the handle another thought. Sort of like when a new pair of shoes that fit so well that you forget you have on new shoes. Obviously Ed knows how to fit a saw to a person's hand.
The other thing that struck me about this saw was the ease of beginning the cut. Maybe I'm already accustomed to using a light touch at the start of the cut but this saw just seemed easier in that regard which allowed me to concentrate on following the line in lieu of just getting the saw started. According to the information Ed provided with the saw it should get better in this regard as the saw sees more usage.
This saw has a strong back spline which gives the saw a feeling that you can just go ahead and saw with it. Once in the cut it doesn't take long to reach your base line in fact it gets there so readily that you have to be careful not to get carried away and saw past your layout line.
The carmelized maple tote has a silky feeling of being well hand worked and just feels down right nice in your hand. The transitions are nice and rounded where you hand contacts the tote and no sharp facets are left in these areas.
I know I'll enjoy this saw for years to come and when it needs sharpening Ed has assured me that he is also available for this task.
Thanks for looking and Ed thanks for such a nice tool,
Ron Brese