Is there such a thing as a reasonable cost saw set?

[Aaron Rosenthal]

I bought a "clearance" Sash Saw. Manufacturer has a sterling reputation, but saw wouldn't cut wood - well, it started the cut but bogged down almost immediately. I sent it out for sharpening/setting, but they told me (later) they tend to concentrate on power blades. Bah!
Inquired of the manufacturer, could they do the teeth setting. They said "yes", so I mailed i to them (International to the USA).
Long story short, their setting machine is broken and they have no idea when it will be repaired - perhaps this week, perhaps almost never. I don't understand it, but then .....
So, when they send it back, assuming sharp but non-set, I looked at Craigslist locally, and Marketplace. I can't believe the prices of a Stanley 42X!
Is there anything else out there that I can look for that makes economic sense?

[steven c newman]

Have spent $1 on each of these....
May Rehab, Same maker.JPG
May Rehab, anvil.JPGmay Rehab, Atkins set.JPG

YMMV......mine are both 100 yrs + old...

[Scott Winners]

I am in your same boat. Among Vintage the Stanley 42X seems to be the horse to beat, I haven't been able to find one local at all. Lee Valley has had saw sets on their website in the past, though I didn't see them this morning. The Lee Valley ones were on llong backorder last time I did see them. If I find a 42X local that needs some work to become a user I expect to pay about $75, or beg someone to ship to Alaska.

[Derek Cohen]

Aaron, look for a vintage Eclipse #77 saw set (in bronze). They are really excellent and fairly common. I have about three of them. As with a 42x, remove the hammer and grind it a little narrower for 15 or 16 tpi dovetail saws. The existing hammers on all of these are really intended for about 12/tpi., which may be about right for a sash saw.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Jim Koepke]

The cost of shipping has become a larger part of purchasing through ebay.

Along with this the pandemic has caused more demand for all kinds of tools and everything else. At the same time there are world wide supply line disruptions.

An auto dealer sales rep told me people with used vehicles know they are worth more now due to supply problems. People with stuff to sell are likely also in tune with this.

If I find a 42X local that needs some work to become a user I expect to pay about $75, or beg someone to ship to Alaska.

Don't the USPS flat rate boxes work for Alaska & Hawaii?

Just answered that:

Alaska Shipping Cost.png

Hope it only needs the springs unless you can make your own screws. If my memory is working the screw that works for the handle's hinge pin is threaded 10-28.

jtk

[Mike Brady]

Unfortunately, there is no current maker of saw sets. You are at the mercy of the markets. To get a Stanley saw set like a 42x you have to go where the dealers or sellers are not savvy enough to know what they have. Flea markets come to mind. Last time I bought a 42X I paid $35. for it. That's about the market price. A really clean one would be more, of course. Prices are above average on almost all tools now, but be careful because when old tools were hot in the '90's, prices were higher than right now.

[Rob Young]

There have been threads arguing for and against how to move the teeth for setting, in particular bending vs. twisting. If you are not adverse to a twist instead of a bend (in general, hammer and anvil style sets bend the teeth more or less at the base of the triangle) you can use a screwdriver between pairs of teeth and give a light twist.

I'm doing this method on my saws with teeth smaller than 14 TPI. In my case these are filed rip. I don't think I have anything that fine filed crosscut. Applying pretty minimal set too since I'm mostly using these in hardwoods. Can't tell you how much as I'm not measuring it. Very touchy-feely, going for the "it just feels right" amount of twist of the screwdriver handle.

It did take a little bit of practice to get the feel and produce a set even enough that the saw doesn't drift left or right. Worst case I had to stone one side or the other until I got the hang of things.

Works just fine. My saws, my rules as it were, YMMV (possibly significantly).

(And I have some Eclipse #77's that I use otherwise. I like the ergonomics better than the 42X. Easier on my wrist.)

[glenn bradley]

Have spent $1 on each of these....YMMV......mine are both 100 yrs + old...

Unless you're offering to sell him one reasonably I don't know that this helps ;-)

Certainly the used market was already skewing prior to COVID-19 and has now completely lost its mind. Like building materials and other skyrocketing goods, new and used, continued purchasing assures continued high prices. Since the alternative is to put things on hold we, who can't wait have little choice in the matter.

There are cheap alternatives to the de-facto standard Somax, Millers Falls, and Stanly offerings although their longevity may be reflected in their price. A "Great Neck SS&" is about $20 and should get you through in a pinch. Like Steve I run older units, a Millers Falls and a Somex. It seems that finding these without spending more-than-expected money or time is a non-starter right now.

[steven c newman]

IF the OP wants one of mine...I just need an address to send one to him. No biggie....

[Jim Koepke]

IF the OP wants one of mine...I just need an address to send one to him. No biggie....

It might be less expensive for you to drive across the boarder to ship it to the OP/ than it would be for most of us.

jtk

[Thomas Wilson]

I am a contributor to the sky high prices on the Stanley 42x. I bought one in really good condition with the original box and instruction sheet on eBay. Based on the lack of wear on the hammer and anvil, the saw set appears not to have been used very much. Even though the price was high, I was pleased to get it. I have an engineer/machinist friend who might be able to make a hammer with a narrower nose. The instruction sheet mentions that they were available back in the day.

For those who wonder if I got a different model without realizing it, mine has 42X cast into the handle on the underneath side.

“What this country needs is a good 5 cent cigar” and and a good $75 saw set. It would be ok if the saw set came from Canada.

[Stewie Simpson]

The only fault I found with purchasing a highly used 42x is the original hammer springs tend to soften over time. Replacement springs are available.

https://secondchancesawworks.bigcart...no-42x-saw-set

Stewie;

[Jim Koepke]

The only fault I found with purchasing a highly used 42x is the original hammer springs tend to soften over time. Replacement springs are available.

https://secondchancesawworks.bigcart...no-42x-saw-set

Stewie;

One set of the replacement springs was purchased for one of my saw sets. In my opinion, if the old springs are working, don't change them out. The new springs require more effort to set a tooth. Also, the new hammer spring needed to be trimmed a bit to allow the hammer to fully reach the anvil.

jtk

[Tom M King]

The 42X takes out almost all, or at least the vast majority, of human error. For those that don't know, it has a decent sized plunger that grabs the saw plate, holding it in a consistent position, before it engages the tooth.

I used a 42W for decades before I ever knew anything about a 42X. The 42W didn't have the plunger. I had to stone teeth a lot more back then, than I do now since getting the 42X's. No doubt part of that is experience, but with a hand somewhat tired from filing all the teeth, that grabbing plunger is a welcome thing to have. I set most of the time after filing the teeth.

I don't see the benefit of any new design that doesn't include some type of grabbing mechanism.

[Stewie Simpson]

One set of the replacement springs was purchased for one of my saw sets. In my opinion, if the old springs are working, don't change them out. The new springs require more effort to set a tooth. Also, the new hammer spring needed to be trimmed a bit to allow the hammer to fully reach the anvil.

jtk

Fair call Jim. But if you read the sellers brief, based on feedback a design change was made to the outer replacement spring to address the issue you raised.

After selling out the original run I took the opportunity to make improvements based on feedback. The inner, smaller spring is untouched but the outer spring is 25% to help with return rate and resistance. The size and installation remains the same

regards Stewie;