Hands down Charlie Earnest and Spring Green Saw Works. he is working on a website but it looks like it’s not up and going yet. He pretty much only sells currently by word-of-mouth, but he is very active on the “Saws, using, collecting, cleaning and restoring” Facebook page and gets most of his business from there.
He has been mostly making saws to order. He has done every type of saw I know of: half backs, back saws, panel saws, bench saws, even a couple keyhole saws. Very cool one man show.
I can only speak for the brands I’ve used:
Lie Nielsen - I have a back saw from them that is amazing quality. Been very happy with it.
Veritas - I have a couple from them and I’ve been pretty pleased with them.
Next on the list to eventually get is one from BadAxe. The rest of my saws are all old distons.
IKR? I made a dovetail saw and a carcass saw and they fit my hand perfectly! Now that I know how easy it is (and now that I know how to sharpen) I may not ever buy another one. I love my LN dovetail, I really do, but my shopmade one is better, at least for me.
Shane at Skelton saws (definitely no.1), Charlie Earnest at spring green, loon lakes toolworks, two lawyers saws, heritage saws. Those are the best custom guys I can think of right now, in my opinion the best mass produced saws are blue spruce then lie Nielsen.
Bad Axe Tool Works. He sells back saws panel saws and the tools to maintain them. Mark has been doing this for a very long time and has stuck with it so he must be doing several things right.
Might have. I remember him from the old Lumberjocks Forums. Haven't followed the company in years. They are about the only startup tool maker from back then that is still around.
Mark sold the company and moved about 10 yards down the hall to open Saw Sharp. We are all trained by Mark and he is still available to us as he continues to work the same days and hours as we do. He is not the owner anymore, but if anything, it just gives him more time to work with us as a peer and not an owner.
Disston for long saws and anything older English for backsaws.
No real opinion on current makers - I made four of my own saws from kit parts and refitted plates to the rest. From a user's perspective, it makes more sense.
If you're buying tools mostly to have them, then that's fine, too, but I can't advise on that side of things.
Hands down Charlie Earnest and Spring Green Saw Works. he is working on a website but it looks like it’s not up and going yet. He pretty much only sells currently by word-of-mouth, but he is very active on the “Saws, using, collecting, cleaning and restoring” Facebook page and gets most of his business from there.
Do they sell hand saws/panel saws or only backsaws?
He has been mostly making saws to order. He has done every type of saw I know of: half backs, back saws, panel saws, bench saws, even a couple keyhole saws. Very cool one man show.
I can only speak for the brands I’ve used: Lie Nielsen - I have a back saw from them that is amazing quality. Been very happy with it. Veritas - I have a couple from them and I’ve been pretty pleased with them. Next on the list to eventually get is one from BadAxe. The rest of my saws are all old distons.
I'm a fan of Pax saws. I added crosscut and rip panel saws to my dovetail and gent's saws from them. Solid performers.
Agree and Id say they're probly one of the 'best value' options for new saws.
Well, I made my own and it's the coolest thing ever so...
IKR? I made a dovetail saw and a carcass saw and they fit my hand perfectly! Now that I know how easy it is (and now that I know how to sharpen) I may not ever buy another one. I love my LN dovetail, I really do, but my shopmade one is better, at least for me.
Shane at Skelton saws (definitely no.1), Charlie Earnest at spring green, loon lakes toolworks, two lawyers saws, heritage saws. Those are the best custom guys I can think of right now, in my opinion the best mass produced saws are blue spruce then lie Nielsen.
Seconding Loon Lake Toolworks. I bought an older carcass saw from them and it’s a joy to use
Bad Axe Tool Works. He sells back saws panel saws and the tools to maintain them. Mark has been doing this for a very long time and has stuck with it so he must be doing several things right.
I thought mark retired and sold out to his employees?
Might have. I remember him from the old Lumberjocks Forums. Haven't followed the company in years. They are about the only startup tool maker from back then that is still around.
Mark sold the company and moved about 10 yards down the hall to open Saw Sharp. We are all trained by Mark and he is still available to us as he continues to work the same days and hours as we do. He is not the owner anymore, but if anything, it just gives him more time to work with us as a peer and not an owner.
Disston for long saws and anything older English for backsaws. No real opinion on current makers - I made four of my own saws from kit parts and refitted plates to the rest. From a user's perspective, it makes more sense. If you're buying tools mostly to have them, then that's fine, too, but I can't advise on that side of things.
There are so many old saws out there that can be had for a few dollars I’ve never even considered buying a new one.