Combining traditional design with modern materials, Veritas (www.leevalley.com) has created three outstanding, reasonably priced joinery saws. The 14-in.-long saws have 9-in. blades that can cut up to 1-5/8 in. deep. They’re nearly identical except for the tooth pattern. The 14-tpi ripsaw is ideal for stock ranging from 1/2 in. to 3/4 in. thick; the 20-tpi ripsaw is for 1/2 in. and under. The 16-tpi saw is for crosscuts.

The saws’ most unconventional feature is a molded spine made from a stainless-steel, glass-fiber composite. Its sculptural form makes a flawless connection between the blade and comfortable African rosewood handle. The blades are made from a thin, 0.020-in. high-carbon steel with a light set (0.003 in. per side), making the saws easy to start and control.

Although I’m impressed with all three, my favorite is the 14-tpi ripsaw. It excels at ripping and does just fine with crosscuts, too. I think it’s a perfect dovetail saw.

Perhaps the greatest virtue of the Veritas joinery saws is their low price ($65), which is roughly half what other saws with similar performance cost. 

Photo: Staff

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