I want a saw for a young girl

[Andrew Pitonyak]

I measured my palm and it is roughly 4 inches across, which means that I can order a Bad Axe saw with a Large handle. My almost 9 year old measures under 3 inches and my 6 year old is even smaller yet.

The handles on my saws are a bit on the large size for my girls to use. I was thinking about purchasing a Bad Axe "American Kid" saw for $175, but that seems like a lot of money to spend for a first saw.

My first thought was a dovetail saw that might fit their grip. Has anyone let a child try their Lee Valley saw? Any other suggestions?

I did see an "American Boy" saw on ebay but it had a bent blade and dealing with that is a bit beyond me.

I purchased two old saws with small handles (not a back-saws). It never occurred to me to check the blades. One is wavy the second is straight. Both are very dull, but, I think that one of my daughters and I can practice sharpening the two saws regardless.

[Bob Betker]

Andrew: Contact Mark Harrell at Bad Axe, he'll work with you to find something. I bought a saw for my son, who was about 8 or 9 at the time, from Mark. I think it cost about $80 and it was a nice small cross-cut saw that he could use; I'd have to go look but I think it's a used Disston #7 from probably the mid 1930's. He's got young children and wants to help get young kids interested in woodworking.

Bob

[lowell holmes]

If that doesn't work out, I have an eight inch Garlick saw, very fine tooth saw that works really well.

It came as a crosscut, but I filed it rip cut and adjusted the set a bit. It approaches my Lie Nielsen dovetail saw in performance. It would make a good saw for a child.
The saw came from Woodcraft. IIRC it was $35-$40 in cost.

[Prashun Patel]

I think that's a lot to spend on a saw for a kid. My 9 year old son knows and respects his tools, but occasionally saws into the bench, or tries to cut a nail, or other stuff. I use a Shark japanese pull saw. The blades are cheap but cut well enough for him.

[Jim Koepke]

This might be an opportunity for you and the girls to make a few saws together.

If nothing else, you could buy a few old saws and repurpose them with new handles you and the girls make.

One of my most used back saws is one made out of an old Disston plate and a piece of apple.

jtk

[bridger berdel]

I recommend not sawing the young girl. While young girls are a delight, cutting them in half does not produce two even younger girls- it just makes a mess and will probably spoil their whole afternoon.

[Warren Mickley]

I have a Disston 8 point saw that I have used since I was a five year old. It is 18 inches. My father and my children learned on the same saw. I would not size a saw to the child's hand.

Bridger, I dug this up before reading your post:

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[David Weaver]

Warren, I used a saw like you're describing my entire childhood. It was some lower range disston with the finish long gone, though, and nobody knew how to sharpen saws, so i only cut pine with it.

I already have something similar for my daughter, except in a main line saw. If I didn't, I would buy something like it.

[Andrew Pitonyak]

To those of you who use "regular saws" to cut those kids in half (or to let them cut other things in half, hopefully not themselves), you have them use a regular sized handle?

[David Weaver]

Most of those smaller saws have panel saw sized handles instead of large carpenter saw sized handles. I don't remember ever having an issue with the handles when I was a kid. I'm sure they don't provide a custom fit kind of grip, but do provide one good enough for learning.

[Andrew Pitonyak]

Thanks David. I think that I will stop in at Woodcraft to see how well the Lee Valley saw fits my daughter's hand.

[Jude Kenny]

Andrew, I think the Lee Valley dovetail saw would be good for a first saw. It is well made and the least expensive of the new saws that I see.

The handle is held on with one threaded rod, like you'd see on a plane tote. So, if the handle is to big for your girls, you could take it off and make one smaller. This would be easier that trying to make a handle for a typical Western back saw as you don't have to cut out for saw the saw kerf and work with saw nuts etc. Just drill a hole through a block of wood and shape to suit. Here's a pic with it disassembled:

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Also in the picture is a 9ppi Warranted Superior panel saw I got somewhere and cleaned up. The blade is 16" long and looks more like a rip tooth than a crosscut. It would need to be sharpened, but you're welcome to give it to your daughters for free if you want to pay for shipping.

[Andrew Pitonyak]

Thanks for the pictures and such. I dropped you a PM. I will take a look at the Lee Valley saws at my local wood craft. Might be fun to make a handle, but that is certainly not an area where I excel. I am pretty sure that my oldest daughter and I can make a reasonable attempt at sharpening the other saw.

[Reinis Kanders]

My hand is 4"+ and LV dovetail saw fits me fairly well. I like the saw, would be interesting if it works for your kid.

[Megan Fitzpatrick]

Hmmm....I have hands the size of most 9-year-olds, and I gotta say, sawing is more comfortable for long stretches with a handle that fits my small hands (2.75 in width). That said, is your daughter dovetailing for hours on end? Because unless I have a time-consuming project, it doesn't make _that_ much difference.

[Ron Bontz]

Well I am late to the gathering. Chasing the hour hand around the clock but never catching it. I will look in the shop to see what is lurking in the drawers and the blank box. I think I have a child size dovetail in the shop. Red oak, if I am not mistaken. I sometimes make a prototype or have a saw tote with a defect that can be repaired but not sold. So no loss if it gets broken etc. I have no doubt there is more than one defective tote in that box. :) Either way, no guarantees. I'll have to check. How much of a hurry are you in? I have to be away from the shop a day or so and it is pouring rain at the moment. :(
Lastly, I applaud you for trying to teach your little girls woodworking. There is just not enough of that these days. I do have one requirement....... I will need a shipping address. :) Take care.

[Andrew Pitonyak]

Hmmm....I have hands the size of most 9-year-olds, and I gotta say, sawing is more comfortable for long stretches with a handle that fits my small hands (2.75 in width). That said, is your daughter dovetailing for hours on end? Because unless I have a time-consuming project, it doesn't make _that_ much difference.

For sure she is not doing this for hours on end.... I am preparing for step one..... cut to the line. Last time we tried it, my saws were a bit much for her to handle, but she is stronger and older now so I figured that I would acquire some things to increase the odds of her success. So, I am not looking for perfect, just something that is a bit better than the large handles I have on my nicer saws; for example, Lie Nielsen replaced the handle on my dovetail saw since the standard size was just small enough that it dug into my hand. That said, you are probably correct.

As a side note, if you are who I think that you are..... I admire your work and I really enjoyed one of your talks at WIA a few years back.

[Andrew Pitonyak]

Well I am late to the gathering. Chasing the hour hand around the clock but never catching it.

I often feel that way!


I think I have a child size dovetail in the shop. Red oak, if I am not mistaken. I sometimes make a prototype or have a saw tote with a defect that can be repaired but not sold. So no loss if it gets broken etc. I have no doubt there is more than one defective tote in that box. :) Either way, no guarantees. I'll have to check. How much of a hurry are you in?

If you have something, that would be great. If not, I totally understand. As for my "hurry", well, as busy as I am, I am never at a loss for something to do. So, I could have her sawing next month or in three based on when I get what is required and how long it takes us to rehab what ever we get that we need to rehab. The girls loved it when I rehabbed two porch benches for neighbors. They could not run the angle grinder, but they could use wire brushes, paint, and help assemble. To date they have not been real happy about helping to sand, something about the sound.


Lastly, I applaud you for trying to teach your little girls woodworking. There is just not enough of that these days. I do have one requirement....... I will need a shipping address. :) Take care.

Some years back I was working as a part time apartment night manager. When things broke after hours, I would often just fix things myself and if I could not, I would have the maintenance man show me how to do it (I was in school at the time so I was sometimes around during regular business hours). These two college guys needed to tighten the bolts on their toilette tank so I handed them a screw driver. They did not know how to use a screw driver. I won't force my girls to be wood workers, but, I want them to have sufficient exposure that they can use a screw driver effectively. At this age, almost anything can be fun when they can do it with daddy.

[Jim Koepke]

For sure she is not doing this for hours on end.... I am preparing for step one..... cut to the line.

Practicing sawing to the line reaped a tub full of blocks to use as clamp pads. Did the marking and cutting of a couple dozen out of some scrap pine. Easy to see quick by looking for the line after the cut. Also helps to train the eye looking for square.

jtk

[Andrew Pitonyak]

Practicing sawing to the line reaped a tub full of blocks to use as clamp pads. Did the marking and cutting of a couple dozen out of some scrap pine. Easy to see quick by looking for the line after the cut. Also helps to train the eye looking for square.

jtk

In principal it seems to easy, but, it seems like my body is not inherently wired to do it. I have been working / struggling with this for a couple of years and only now do I seem to do it without significant thought, effort, and regularity. It has been nice. I am creating a box with about 7 pins and, although not perfect in appearance, the fit is mostly reasonable and requires very little paring to make it work. Picked up a bunch of tricks here though... and I learn from everyone I can. Yep, not too proud to drop in to that really easy beginners lecture since I often learn one or two things.

[Tom M King]

Nice little 16" on ebay right now, with a smallish handle. I think a 12 pt.

[Megan Fitzpatrick]

As a side note, if you are who I think that you are..... I admire your work and I really enjoyed one of your talks at WIA a few years back.
Yes., I am Charlize Theron. If only ;-)
I don't know who you think I am... but I was at WIA a few years back (and every year); thank you for the kind words :-)

[Eric Brown]

Hey Megan, did you ever get to use the Medallion Toolworks backsaws that Roy Underhill has that were sized for small hands?
Just curious.


Hmmm....I have hands the size of most 9-year-olds, and I gotta say, sawing is more comfortable for long stretches with a handle that fits my small hands (2.75 in width). That said, is your daughter dovetailing for hours on end? Because unless I have a time-consuming project, it doesn't make _that_ much difference.

[Hilton Ralphs]

Yes., I am Charlize Theron. If only ;-)

She's from my neck of the woods (to be precise, she's from the red-neck area) and years ago I had the privilege to collect her from her Mother's house and transport her to a movie junket.

Anyway back on topic, Andrew if that good man Ron Bontz doesn't have anything for you, speak to Joshua Clark as he may have something in stock that is suitable.

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[Andrew Pitonyak]

Yes., I am Charlize Theron. If only ;-)
I don't know who you think I am... but I was at WIA a few years back (and every year); thank you for the kind words :-)

I already have one very fine lady in my life who does not have tool skills so pretty sure I would rather hang with you than Charlize Theron.

I have hope that at least one of my daughters will develop some skills in that area as well. Can't say that I married my wife because of her skills with tools. :D

[Andrew Pitonyak]

Anyway back on topic, Andrew if that good man Ron Bontz doesn't have anything for you, speak to Joshua Clark as he may have something in stock that is suitable.

Turns out that Mr. Bontz had something very nice that fits my daughter's hands very well.... and I will have a post highlighting this in the next few weeks (since I need to NOT generate sawdust for the next few days and I need to provide some technical support at a conference, which will take a few days of my time out of the shop).

[Kent A Bathurst]

I recommend not sawing the young girl. While young girls are a delight, cutting them in half does not produce two even younger girls- it just makes a mess and will probably spoil their whole afternoon.

If she is willing to do the laundry, I think 2 saws is a fair trade - don't go too cheap: "I want 2 saws for a young girl" is a better starting place.

[Megan Fitzpatrick]

Huh – I don't think I have. Every time I've been down to Roy's recently, it's been to help teach a class – so I use whatever tool the student has in his or her hand, usually from his or her own kit. But I'll make a point of trying one out next time I'm there!