Comments on: Hot or Not: Rubber-Coated Saw Handles

By: bmadigan

bmadigan — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 20:37:58 +0000

NOT HOT.
Mass produced modern saws are crap. They cut great until you knock off the ends of those hardened teeth. Also, most American style saws are push-saws. The blade has to be thick to avoid bending, which is a waste of energy and material. Mass produced saws can’t be resharpened, so blades end up rusting in a pile or getting thrown away.

The best saw I’ve ever used is a traditional Japanese pull saw. Its light, fast and efficient and the blades can be swapped out of the handle quickly. In Japan you can get a stack of stamped or handmade blades from a woodworking shop for cheap. You can sharpen them and re-use them yourself or return them when they’re dull. They will either sharpen or reforge the old blades.

By: Fred

Fred — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 12:51:29 +0000

It’s not the handle that irks me - but the junky saw blade.
Most have hardenned teeth that can not be sharpened.
Maybe that’s a trade-off that helps them cut aggressively - but if you nick a few teeth - the saw is relegated to the junk heap.
These are no longer precision woodworking tools - I suppose the manufactures (in China) think that the only use for a hand saw is for squaring up corners or the odd flush cut where a circular saw or jig saw can’t reach.

By: Mel

Mel — Fri, 24 Aug 2007 00:23:37 +0000

NOT! Rubber handles cause more blisters because they won’t slide at all, and they get icky quickly. I often modify wood handles because I have very large hands - can’t do that with plastic or rubber.

By: Brau

Brau — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 06:21:03 +0000

Not! I can’t stand those sticky handles. No accuracy either.

By: JB

JB — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 05:20:05 +0000

I have noticed the rubber gets sticky and leaves a film on my hand after extended use or as it ages. Not to mention most solvents will turn that handle into a puddle of radioactive goo in no time.

By: Old Donn

Old Donn — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 02:06:27 +0000

Old school wooden handles, because that’s what I’ve got.

By: PutnamEco

PutnamEco — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 23:59:58 +0000

I like my old saws handle. It seems to me that the older saws (pre 50s) handles where a lot more carefully/skillfully made, not like the clunkers that are manufactured today.
One of the reasons is finish. Sand that off and refinish with oil. No more blisters.
Works with shovels and rakes, also. What looks nice in the store doesn’t always work in the field.
On rubber handles, a quick fix, to make up for poor handle design and cheap manufacturing practices.