I just picked up a Veritas fine tooth dovetail saw from the recent Lee Valley seconds sale, and I'm pretty bummed. The saw is bent along the entire plate—about a 32nd of an inch from the heel to the toe. Plus, there's a tiny kink near the top where the plate meets the back. I'm wondering if this kind of issue is common with seconds. I expected better quality from a brand like Veritas. Has anyone else dealt with a bent saw from them?
3 Answers
I feel you—getting a bent saw plate is definitely disappointing. Seconds should function well, mostly just having cosmetic flaws. A bent plate shouldn't really happen, especially with a Veritas. Usually, the back isn’t removable, so that makes it tough to fix. But it’s good to reach out to their customer service; they're usually solid.
Honestly, I've bought several seconds from them, and while they’re supposed to be functionally identical to the firsts, some do slip through with more noticeable flaws. I once had a plane with a clear defect, and they replaced it right away. Typically, seconds can have very minor stuff that isn’t visible unless you’re looking for it. But I'd agree, a bent saw should be addressed.
You should definitely contact Lee Valley about this. They pride themselves on customer service and usually handle these things well. My past experience with them has been that they’ll make it right if there’s a legitimate issue.
Totally agree! A slight bend in a long saw can still be functional, but it's definitely not what you expect from a premium brand.