I'm curious about the quality of Spear & Jackson tools, especially their back saws. I know that brands like LN and Veritas are often preferred, but I'm interested in Spear & Jackson due to their accessibility in the U.S., likely through Amazon. I already have an old rip saw to refurbish, so I'm okay with putting in some effort to set and sharpen a saw if needed. But are there specific concerns I should be aware of regarding their tools or saws in general?
2 Answers
I've got a skew back and tenon back saw from Spear & Jackson. After a little tuning, they're perfectly usable. Just keep in mind, you might want to swap out the handles if they don't feel right for you.
Check out Paul Sellers' blog and videos—he's got a lot of great advice on tuning up S&J saws and reshaping handles. It really helps to see those tips in action! He's a solid resource.
Are the handles generally smaller or just lacking the ergonomics of something like an old Disston?