| | 10/05/2009 | 
While I was demonstrating our tools at Woodworking in America 2009 several people picked up one or more of our Gramercy saws and suggested that the handles were too small. While I am sure there are people for which our handles ARE too small, in just about every case at the show the problem was the grip the person was using on the tool.
The correct grip for handsaws, planes, and most tools is a three fingered grip with the index finger pointing straight out in the direction of the cut.
There are two reasons for this: If you use a tool like a saw or a plane with all four fingers wrapped around the handle the tendency will be to grip tighter and tighter. Tools don't need to be held so tight and the stronger the grip the less control you will have, and more importantly, your hand will tire faster and possibly cramp up. With the index finger extended you can't grip anything in a death grip, so it becomes a much more comfortable grip which is less tiring with greater control. In addition by pointing your index finger you get a certain consistency in the direction you are working - which makes it easier to cut accurately, and the tool can't rotate in your hand (which it can do with a four fingered grip - which makes you want to hold it even tighter).
Consequently handles are traditionally sized so that a three fingered grip feels comfortable and a four fingered grip feels crowded.
When you extend your index finger on a metal bevel down planes rest your finger along the side of the frog, this allows you to relax. One of my biggest complaints about bevel up planes is they have no frog, there is no comfortable place to rest your index finger, and consequently all four fingers hold the handle in a tiring death grip.
Try it, you will like it.
PS- the saw in the picture is a hand made prototype of our new sash saw - which we showed for the first time this last weekend at Woodworking in America.
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best regard
David
Luckily, I don't suffer from a slice :).
Stuart Hough
Saw Plate 0.020"
Blade Length 14"
Depth of Cut 2.87" at the toe - 3.29" at the heel (just in front of the cheek)
TPI/ppi: 12/13
Rake: -5�
Fleam: 5�- 8�
The brass back is 0.75" tall.