scmrak's Full Review: Vaughan & Bushnell 8 - 3/8" Extra Fine Bearsaw Han...
Those of us who survived wood shop classes in middle or high school are probably (still) familiar with handsaws in all their many forms: backsaw, crosscut saw, rip saw, dovetail saw, coping saw... If you're a BOOF like me, though, every saw you used in that long-ago class had one basic similarity: the teeth perform their work on the push stroke and just slide through the kerf as you pull the saw back for the next stroke. In recent years, however, many crafts -men and -women have begun using wood saws made in the Japanese style, which cut on the pull stroke instead. The idea has always intrigued me, but no projects since I first heard of them had given me a reason to buy a new handsaw... until recently, when I became the owner of a Vaughan & Bushnell Bear Saw model BS240P, a small handsaw with an 8-3/4" fine-toothed blade.
Vaughan & Bushnell sell a variety of Japanese-style Bear Saws, with blades ranging from seven to thirteen inches length and toothsets from extra extra fine to coarse. There's even a double-edged blade, with teeth on both sides - this is possible because instead of being shaped like a wedge, the blades are rectangular spring steel (they look like cake-icing spatulas with serious attitude problems). Teeth are "impulse hardened" - a process one online site describes as applying a powerful electric spark to the teeth, hardening the outer edge while leaving the core flexible. This particular model of the Bear Saw has a pistol-style grip with a rubberized surface to reduce slippage; others have a straight handle with molded grip. This design has an overall length of about sixteen inches. The blade is removable so the saw can be stored in a small space - a blade guard is supplied to protect the teeth when it rattles around in the toolbox; and all replacement blades are advertised to fit any Bear Saw handle.
As per design, the blade does indeed cut on the pull stroke, which is a little disconcerting after more than half a century using conventional handsaws. Once I got used to it, though, I could see why Japanese craftsmen swear by the pull-stroke design: you have much more control over guiding the blade's path. The extra-fine blade is designed for cutting plywood and fiberboard as well as solid lumber. It also eats through different plastics like a hot knife through butter. Where a power tool kerf is 1/8" wide and those of conventional saws are almost as wide, the kerf of the extra fine blade is about 1/30th inch, less than a millimeter.
Whether used on wood, pseudo-wood, or plastics; I've found that my Bear Saw cuts cleanly, and it's lots easier to guide along a marked line. With such fine teeth, the sides of the cut remain super-smooth and usually need only a touch-up with fine sandpaper before finishing. The slim, thin blade is also perfect for fitting into tight spots (the reason I have the saw in the first place is this application). Another key feature is that, since you're pulling the saw toward you to cut, it's very rare for the saw to bind - I really appreciate that! The extra-fine blade is definitely for finish work, and I'll probably pick up a medium-tooth blade for doing general cutting; otherwise this thing is just about perfect.
Vaughn Bear saws are made to cut on the pull stroke rather than on the push stroke. The thin blade removes less material, making sawing easier, faster...More at doitbest.com
Vaughn Bear saws are made to cut on the pull stroke rather than on the push stroke. The thin blade removes less material, making sawing easier, faster...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
Fantastic prices with ease & c...(Stock status: N/A)
Extra fine crosscut. Cuts on pull stroke for easier sawing. Removes less material for more accurate cuts. Durable rust resistant spring steel blades. ...More at Amazon Marketplace
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