Does any company manufacture egonomically friendly saw handles?

[Stephen Tashiro]

A recent thread about making a saw handle prompts me to ask whether any company manufactures saw handles that are more ergonomically friendly than the typical modern mass produced saw handle - perhaps some company makes handles like those I see on my fathers saws from the 1940's.

[David Weaver]

I think Lie Nielsen is probably about the cheapest place you'll get comfortable handles.

A lot of mike wenzloff's saws are in the same range in price, and they also have nice handles, especially considering what those guys are providing for the price and that they're making a living on it.

[Jim Koepke]

I may be wrong, but it seems one problem with saw handles may the hole are drilled with the blade in place.

So no two saws are exactly alike in the hole placement.

I have a bunch of old saw blades and handles and nary a match among them.

The best solution may be to make your own.

On a few of my newer saws and even some older ones, I have used a rasp to shape or open them up a little. A little modification can make a big difference in comfort.

jtk

[Mike Davis NC]

I think he meant ergonomically as in shaped to the hand or shaped scientifically to be the most efficient and least destructive to the human anatomy.

Think about OXO in the kitchenware department.

Bahco claim to have an ergonomic hand saw system, this is not your grand dad's hand saw.


http://www.bahco.com/asp/front/index.asp?lngStructureID=1098&lngMenuID=1127

[Pam Niedermayer]

I submit that most any Japanese pull saw has more ergonomically beneficial attributes than most any western saw.

Pam

[Marv Werner]

Mike,

Thanks for posting the link. Wow, what a saw!

I scanned the website but couldn't find any means of buying one.

You are right, that surely isn't Grandpa's saw.

Someone jumped waaaaay outside the proverbial box to come up with that system!

Do you have any information as to where to buy that saw?

I'd like to use some of the handle grip design for making a handle from wood.

I have a hammer that has a similar handle contoured to fit either the right or left hand.

[Marv Werner]

Mike,

I did some googl'n and found the saw system. It's even on Youtube.

[Charles Bender]

I'm not sure how "scientifically" he does it but Ed Paik of Medallion toolworks (http://www.medalliontools.com/)crafts each tote to the end user. He works from tracings of your hand to design and fit the tote specifically to you.

[george wilson]

The Bahco may be "ergonomically friendly" but looks cold as ice,and no warmth or personality about it at all. No humanity.

[Tony Shea]

Wow Charles, that is the first I have heard of Medallion Toolworks. They certainly have some nice looking saws that are worth taking a good look at. The prices are a bit high but am sure that it would be money well spent. Seems to really take care in getting his totes to fit just right for each individual user. Unfortunatly it has caused me to add another tool to my list of wants/needs that I certainly didn't have before the link was posted. His No. 9 reproduction sure looks good and will be in my shop ASAP. Thanks for the link.

[Tom Vanzant]

Herrett's Stocks used to, may still, require a hand tracing for making custom pistol grips. If I remember correctly, you had a chance to try out the grips for fit before final finish and checkering. The end product fitted like a glove. This procedure makes perfect sense for a saw grip.

[rick carpenter]

Get an old saw from back when toolmakers cared about their products and the craftsmen who used them. Their handles generally were made for a proper comfortable fit for workers who handsawed all day long.

[Pat Barry]

I think the Japanese style is not very good at all ergonomically. It puts your hand and wrist in a very poor position. If they had a turned down handle it would be improved. They may be good for some tasks but overall they are disappointing IMO. The Bahco hanle is very cool. Well designed. It shows there are still opportunities to improve somethinig even as wel established as the venerable handsaw.

[Ben Silverman]

Glenn-Drake Tools makes two ergonomically friendly saws.

[Marv Werner]

Some japanese type saws do have angled handles. Makes sense to me to angle the handle too, but I'm not a user of those kind of saws, so I have near zero direct knowledge of them. Pam uses them extensively, so she would know more about it than I.

[Ray Gardiner]

Hi Stephen,

Handsaw design has been on a downhill slide since the powered circular saw became popular probably starting in the 1930's or so.
However that is now turning around with a general hand tool revival of sorts, since the late 1990's there are an increasing number of makers who are making saws of a quality and design that rivals the earlier periods.

Here are a few, that make excellent saws, some will custom make handles to suit indivual requirements, some also offer kits and templates you can customize yourself to suit your own hand.

Mike Wenzloff & Sons http://www.wenzloffandsons.com/
Lie Nielsen Tools http://www.lie-nielsen.com/catalog.php?cat=507
Adria Toolworks http://www.adriatools.com/
Gramercy Tools http://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/Merchant/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=toolshop&Category_Code=CGT
Eccentric Tool Works http://eccentrictoolworks.com/about-the-saws/
Medallion Tools http://www.medalliontools.com/
Bad Axe Tool Works http://www.badaxetoolworks.com/
Two Lawyers Toolworks http://two-lawyers-toolworks.blogspot.com/

It's not clear from your original post, if you just want to buy handles alone, but if that was the question, then some of the above makers would do that as well I'm sure.

I'd stay away from plastic handled 4 finger grip saws, they are horrible to use in the extreme.

Regards
Ray

[harry strasil]

I am an Oldster I guess you could call me, I have been using hand saws almost my whole life first in my fathers blacksmith shop during my apprenticeship, and also being as I was a kid then, I started my apprenticeship when I was 7, making my own toys, etc. I learned early how to make the saw do what I wanted it to do, and I have been telling people for years to hold the saw in your hand like it was a fresh egg. Now I have learned another way to explain it. Hold the saw like it was a little baby bird, let the saw do the work and don't fight it. A lot of peoples problems sawing is really using a dull saw, any cutting tool will work well if it is sharpened properly.

[george wilson]

Exactly true,Harry. A sharp saw with properly formed teeth will propel itself down through the wood quite well.

I enjoy picking up a wooden handled saw,or other tool,that has warmth in its design,and a beautiful form. It inspires me to do nice work that way,gives me a little lift mentally when I pick it up.