Every woodworker needs to have a few hand saws. Even the most adamant of power tool woodworkers will agree that there are times you just need a hand saw. PAX brand hand saws are made by Thomas Flinn & Co Ltd, in Sheffield, England where their quality and craftsmanship are famous around the world. Among the saws offered by PAX, three models stand out as must-have tools for every woodworker; the 8" Mini Gents Saw, the 6" Razor Saw, and the 6" Flush Cut Saw. Read on to find out why each of these hand saws will find a special purpose in your home shop.
The Pax 8" Mini Gents Saw (101-681) is a real workhorse. This saw has an 8" long blade with 20 teeth per inch (TPI) and can cut up to 1-1/8" deep. It's perfect for fine joinery work like cutting dovetails and tenons in hardwoods and softwood. As with most traditional "western" style saws that cut on the push stroke, the folded brass back adds stiffness to the .019" thick steel saw plate.
The teeth are filed rip as they should be for dovetailing and have a fine set of roughly .004" per side. The straight turned walnut handle is what makes this a "Gents saw" and provides a comfortable grip that many find encourages a straight cutting stroke. This handle style is great for beginners looking to get their feet wet in hand-cut joinery and the experienced hand tool woodworker alike.
The Pax 6" Razor Saw (101-680) is the little brother to the 8" Gents Saw. In hand, they feel very similar because of the turned Walnut handle and hefty brass back. The 6" Razor Saw, however, has an ultra-thin .014" thick blade with an ultra-fine 40 teeth per inch.
This saw is ideal for the finest work such as joinery for small boxes, (known as Kumiko), and it is a favorite of model makers. This little saw can cut up to 3/4" deep and with its super thin blade and no-tooth set, it produces an extremely smooth cut.
The PAX 6" Flush Cut Saw is what you could call a "problem solver". While it is roughly the same size as the razor saw, it has a very short brass back and teeth that cut on the pull stroke allowing the blade to flex and cut things like tenons and dowels "flush" to an adjoining surface.
The blade is made from a very flexible alloy steel with 20 teeth per inch allowing it to cut quickly while leaving a smooth surface. Similar to the 6" Razor Saw, the Flush Cut Saw's teeth have no set. This protects the work surface from being scratched while cutting. This is a saw you will want to have around for projects big and small.
So which should you have in your tool box? Although we do sell them all individually, you can't beat the value in our exclusive 3-Pc. PAX Gents Saw Package (101-684). So give all three of these beautiful English made saws a try, you're sure to be impressed.
