New Budget Lifetime Saw Kit

In this video i will be introducing you to a quality budget saw kit from Spear and Jackson. These Spear and Jackson hand saws saw are still made in the same factory they were first produced in since1830 in Sheffield England, meaning they still have great quality steel! This Steel (which i mention in the video i was not sure) is high carbon spring steel.
The model numbers of the saws in this video are:
Small Backsaw - SJ-5410Y - (Currently on Amazon Australia for $58.83 - 7/7/2024)
Large Backsaw - SJ-9550B - (Currently on Amazon Australia for $63.80 - 7/7/2024)
Panel Saws - SJ-9500R - (Currently on Amazon Australia for $40.33 - 7/7/2024)
Hope you enjoy!!
Thanks for your support!
NEW? START YOUR HANDTOOL WOODWORKING JOURNEY HERE!
• NEW? START YOUR HANDTO...
BECOME A MEMBER TO SUPPORT THE CHANNEL!
/ @aussiewoodshed
SUPPORT ME ON PATREON!
/ aussiewoodshed
SUBSCRIBE!
/ aussiewoods. .
Follow me on:
INSTAGRAM : / aussiewoods. .
Disclaimer:
All the tools and equipment listed i have personally used or have recommended a similar product. I also recommend new products similar to vintage tools i use as i cannot give a link to vintage tools. I may gain a small commission when you use my links (It costs you nothing), however, the links are still here to help everyone out with tools that will get the job done.
#aussiewoodshed #handtools #beginnerwoodworking

[@kelvinsparks4651]

I have many of these s&j saw's, I bought them for literally pennies at recycling centres and cleaned them up like new . I know the handle's look awful but they work really well.

[@AussieWoodshed]

@@kelvinsparks4651 I agree they do work well, as for the handles they're really easy to reprofile to something a lot better. I wish I was able to pick them up at a recycling centre for cheap.

[@aremuolayode8661]

I currently use a ryoba and a dozuki for most of my work. I like the idea of owning saws like these, which can be re-sharpened and will last virtually forever.

[@AussieWoodshed]

@@aremuolayode8661 My main gripe with all the pull saws is they mass produced throw away saws for the most part as they can't be resharpened. The other thing is they're only designed for soft wood, which most of the manufacturers say but not in their marketing, they can break teeth in hard woods which I've experienced and won't repeat. These S & J saws can be sharpened for a lifetime and can be used in all wood types and aren't difficult to use. Which is why I wanted to create an inexpensive set that everyone can use.

[@jsmxwll]

that looks like a great starter set for folks that wanna learn to sharpen and maintain their saws. i have to admit that i use hardpoint saws for most of my cross cutting these days. i have handles that i 3d printed from carbon fiber impregnated ABS that i swap onto the blades as i get new ones. as far as the saws in your video go, i have the 9550B back saw, 9500R panel saw and 9515K 24" panel saw. they are fine. i drilled out the handles and made my own because i could and i do a lot of ripping and resawing so the 9515K really needed it. i went with wood on those handles but they are the same shape as my printed handles. i reset the teeth straight for the 24" and filed off every other tooth to approximate a 3.5TPI . i thought about grinding it down to flat and recutting from scratch and jointing it but ended up just skip filing the teeth as an experiment to save time. it worked out pretty well after i figured out i needed to file off the fleam to perpendicular to the saw plate. the saw was pulling to one side before i did that. i used a round file to put a bit of a gullet where the missing tooth was. i left all the teeth at the tip of the tip of the saw and set a progressive rake to make starting easier. it's a beast of a saw now, but it struggles in some thick stock that is hard and gummy which i suppose is to be expected. it should get better when i fully recut the teeth though. i mostly use a Chinese style frame saw for resawing when i care about how much i am losing to the kerf, but i like the western style rip saw at around 3.5TPI when i am powering through a resaw or thick rip. it is my main rip saw when i am working on a panel where my frame saw doesn't fit well.

[@AussieWoodshed]

@@jsmxwll thanks for sharing your experience and uses with these saws

[@bcargnel]

I’ve the two panel saws and done exactly as you suggest and filed one rip. Both are great saws once refiled. My next step is to reshape the handles to something more comfortable.

[@AussieWoodshed]

@@bcargnel excellent, sounds like great results

[@jonrost5574]

I have that larger tenon saw. Looking forward to learning how to set up nicely.

[@AussieWoodshed]

@@jonrost5574 thanks for the comment

[@mikeneedham5742]

I've use the S&J panel saws a lot, other than the handle (which is easy to reprofile) they are great. I'm fortunate to have some fabuous high end tools (Lie Neilson, Clifton, Veritas, etc.), believe me these saws are wonderful, even at 5x the price. They cut fast and true as received and are ridiculously inexpensive. The 10 TPI featured is currently £15.95 on amazon in the UK. S&J also do a slightly larger version, 9515K which is 2" longer and 7 TPI. Also slightly more expensive, £24.19 on UK Amazon. I have several of the Pax saws mentioned which I planned to refurb, the S&Js were meant as cheap stop gaps but are so good the older Pax saws are still in the rack waiting to be done up. The 10 TPI panel saw is my go to for most jobs. BTW, the handles on the Pax saws look fancier but are no more comfortable, the profile is very crude when you think the "premium" part of a saw is largely the handle. They too certainly need work or replacing (they do have traditional saw nuts which is nice). Your choice but personally I'm very happy with both versions of the S&J panel saws.

[@AussieWoodshed]

Thanks for adding your opinion of these saws much appreciated.

[@nickmastro9287]

I have been considering this brand. Great timing on the video and look forward to watching the follow up videos. Thank you for sharing.

[@AussieWoodshed]

@@nickmastro9287 thanks

[@PeteLewisWoodwork]

Well, I have almost the identical set here (bought about 2 years ago but still unused), ready to make a video about. I have: 5410Y 10", 9550B 12", 9500R 22" and 9515K 24" plus a Lynx 8" Gents saw and as a bonus, I added a Bahco 301 fretsaw. In addition, I bought on eBay a Spear & Jackson/Eclipse 94-370R/77 saw tooth setter (vintage but still sealed in original packaging) to use on these saws. I can't wait to see what you make of the saws. Everyone knows the handles aren't the best and a few people already have videos on improving or changing them, so I won't be covering that because I don't think I can improve on their ideas, except maybe for individual sizing and angle of approach.

[@AussieWoodshed]

@@PeteLewisWoodwork look forward to seeing that video. So far I'm pretty impressed with the saws, so they should be even better after they are setup and sharpened.

[@PeteLewisWoodwork]

@@AussieWoodshed When you've done with them, they will be better, for sure. I bought mine some years ago with the intention of showing people how they can get a lifetime saw kit for less than the price of one premium saw. I think I chose right - and so have you. Yes, they do have issues but they are easy to overcome. At the time of buying, I think my aim was to stay within £100 UK Sterling - I don't think they would be too much more than that now. I'll check prices before I eventually get around to doing a video. My main drawback has been a lack of video equipment and a place to make videos in. It seems to be almost sorted now. It's annoying because I spent so much time doing live videography and then things beyond my control meant I didn't have equipment any more (marriages fail and things get sold to settle agreements and we have to start all over again from scratch). Never a problem, only a challenge.

[@dominicstefan3139]

I bought the large skewback you showed (SJ9500R) last October as a Bunnings special order for $36.05. Was really happy with it. Went online to buy another one a couple weeks later to convert to a rip saw and it was no longer available.

[@AussieWoodshed]

@@dominicstefan3139 i too had seen them at Bunnings and i went to buy them and they weren't there. But you definitely got a great deal.

[@eddienew2044]

I have two of the panel saws and sharpened one rip cut. I am very pleased with them. I don’t think S+J do a gent’s saw but I can recommend the Crown Tools version which is available on Amazon U.K. One should be aware that some gents saws are 20tpi and produce a fine cut but are very difficult, if not impossible, to sharpen.

[@AussieWoodshed]

@@eddienew2044 Excellent great to hear you're pleased with the saws. Yes, i agree it's best to get a gent saw that's no more than about 15 TPI if possible.

[@robnichols9331]

There is another panel saw in the Spear & Jackson range. 9515-K. It is 7tpi and cut for rip. The two S&J panel saws really got me going using traditional handsaws. Very affordable and cut well. I always intended to reshape the handles but in the end upgraded to good quality second hand and a new Dorchester saw from Finn & Co. The S&J work fine, but the better saws sit so much better in the hand and are better balanced. I think the main issue with the S&J panels saws is that there is a lot of wood between the handle opening and the blade. That leads to the balance not being as good as it could be. Whether reshaping would have helped I don't know, but I think the grip will still end up too far from the blade. Even so, for the price the S&J are excellent and I'd thoroughly recommend them for starting out.

[@AussieWoodshed]

@@robnichols9331 i am aware there was another panel saw the 9515-K as you said, but it was a lot more expensive when i saw looking so i got 2 of the cheaper saw. I will be releasing a video on reprofiling the handle so i will take note of the balance when i do this. Thanks for bringing this to my attention so i can look out for this.

[@robnichols9331]

@@AussieWoodshed Interesting that the price is so different for you. Here in UK the two saws are around the same price. The site I got mine from even has the 7tpi saw cheaper than the 9tpi by a couple of pounds.

[@AussieWoodshed]

@@robnichols9331it may be due to the saws not being manufactured here are n Australia, but that wouldn't account for the 9tpi being cheaper, so im not sure why

[@robnichols9331]

@@AussieWoodshed Perhaps the 9tpi is more popular - good old supply and demand.

[@AussieWoodshed]

@@robnichols9331 definitely possible

[@soofihasan]

Hi, i have been using these, great saws, reviewed by paul sellers and rex kruger. Apparently made in Taiwan.

[@AussieWoodshed]

@@soofihasan thanks for your thoughts on the saws. From everything i can find these saws are still made in Sheffield in England, actually according to S & J's website all the S & J tools are made in Sheffield and the only ones made in china are the eclipse line up.

[@BucsRox]

I've got all but the smaller one, and I'm very happy with them. The handles are absolute shit, and I was unable to make significantly better, so I ripped them off and made new ones from scratch. This was actually a super fun project, and my saws now fit perfectly in my hand.

[@AussieWoodshed]

Excellent, i think sometimes you just have to make handles that fit your own hands, after all not everyone has the same size hands.

[@sheilbwright7649]

Can't presently recall who but there is a firm that sells saw kits and they provide free templates for saw handles, real free not free only if you buy their kit. They come in various sizes so you can adjust them to be a perfect fit for your specific hand. I think they come in various styles. Everyone is different but custom handles improved my sawing. Anyway, cheers and keep up the good work.

[@AussieWoodshed]

@@sheilbwright7649 i will have a look and see if i can find who they are. I agree a handle adjusted to be comfortable for the individual does help with the sawing in my opinion also.

[@sheilbwright7649]

@@AussieWoodshed I am always reluctant to provide too many details on anyone's channel about something they are not getting the credit for ( I wonder when a commenter says " X over on y chanel" did this really well" whether they considered that their comment doesn't help the channel their commenting on). But if you can't find it and your OK with me putting a direction to elsewhere I could have a look for it tomorrow. Cheers from the east.

[@Reptilia12]

The saw handle templates are from "Blackburn Tools USA". Additionally, the fittings and parts can be sourced in Australia from "The Wood Works Book & Tool co Sydney" web store.

[@AussieWoodshed]

@@Reptilia12 Thanks for this information, much appreciated

[@stuartansell9461]

Should be an interesting few videos.😊

[@AussieWoodshed]

@@stuartansell9461 i look forward to releasing them

[@philaandrew100]

Certainly decent saws for the money. Big difference between these and Pax is the Pax saw plates are taper ground, which adds considerably to the manufacturing cost. Is taper ground a must? Not really, the main advantage is less set is required on the teeth. Crappy handles seems to be the norm, I had to reshape my Pax handles too....

[@AussieWoodshed]

@@philaandrew100 thanks, i saw unaware the pax saws were taper ground. I agree the mass produced handles are not great on any of the saws. Thanks for sharing this as i do not own a pax saw, much appreciated

[@ildefonsogiron4034]

What is your opinion about using those now common Japanese dozuky or ryoba saws, instead of the Spear and Jackson 12-inch tenon saw? BTW, they are sold on Amazon and advertise them as made in Sheffield, England. Thanks.

[@AussieWoodshed]

@@ildefonsogiron4034 When it comes to the Japanese saws I'm not a big fan as they can't be sharpened, so have throw away blades. I think lots of people are using them because they're available everywhere and have extremely cheap options. I think for the most part this is because of good marketing targeting those who don't want to spend much or sharpen a western saws. I have tried a few different Japanese saw brands and have not found any that i think are particularly beginner friendly or without issues to use. I'm not against using these saws if they get people into woodworking as a hobby or career and is all they can afford. I personally prefer the western saws but i am likely biased as i started with western saws and it's difficult to change between the saws, i also believe you have better control over western saws than Japanese style pull saws though many people say the opposite (good marketing or personal preference/experience?). My understanding and research is these saws are still made in the original factory in Sheffield, England they were first made in. Although their processes may have modernised it's good to know quality affordable western saws are still available on the market.

[@ildefonsogiron4034]

@@AussieWoodshed So good I asked before buying. You've brought some very compelling reasons to choose what are old and tried tool sets and I also believe there's been some hype among woodworkers across the internet, favoring the japanese ones. I've resharpened some cheap saws myself with good results, so I'll stick with what works for me. Soon I'll be ordering a Spear and Jackson set. Thanks for taking the time to post such good advice. Best regards!

[@AussieWoodshed]

@@ildefonsogiron4034 My pleasure, glad i could help

[@nurgle11]

Skew back (the panel saw) is currently $AUD 40.33 on checking today (nearly 40% off) but from the UK so $20 shipping ... still cheaper than the current local (non sale) price (edit) If you live in WA you can get the saw for AUD$56 from Toolmart.

[@AussieWoodshed]

@@nurgle11 That's a great price, thanks for letting everyone know

[@roberte.wilson5213]

$179 usd on Amazon

[@AussieWoodshed]

@@roberte.wilson5213 Thanks for sharing the cost