Mark Harrell’s path to making woodworking saws began with old tools: he collected them, repaired them, and sharpened them before turning to new sawmaking. A 2016 Make: profile by Daniel McGlynn follows that path through Bad Axe Tool Works and asks why hand-tool woodworking appealed to makers looking for precision, tactile feedback, and a workable setup in a small space. It is a historical profile, not a current product review or proof of a measured industry-wide revival.
How Mark Harrell moved from restoring saws to making them
McGlynn’s profile traces Harrell’s interest in hand tools through vintage-tool collecting and restoration. After Army service, Harrell sharpened saws and advertised restoration work; sawmaking followed. The article dates the start of Bad Axe Tool Works to 2009 and says Harrell drew on traditional saw patterns while sometimes adapting them.
That combination—respect for established designs with room for changes—comes through in Harrell’s line from the feature: “You don’t have to reject the old to embrace the new.” The point is not that traditional tools must remain unchanged, but that a maker can build on their accumulated forms and uses.
Why the backsaw is central to the story
A backsaw has a stiffening strip along the back of its blade. The added rigidity helps control the cut, making backsaws useful for accurate joinery and furniture work. McGlynn’s account centers on Harrell’s interest in a particular hand-built backsaw and describes a 2016 Bad Axe range that included tenon, carcass, sash, and dovetail saws, among others.
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That model count and range describe the company as reported in 2016; they should not be read as a current inventory. Bad Axe’s present catalog lists backsaws alongside hand and panel saws, saw files, DIY kits, and care accessories. See the Bad Axe Tool Works catalog for current categories and options.
Choosing a backsaw by the work
Start with the cut you need rather than a general claim that one saw is best. A dovetail saw is associated with dovetail joinery; carcass and tenon saws serve other joinery tasks, while sash saws reflect another traditional use. Before choosing, consider:
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- the kind of joint or cut you expect to make;
- the workpiece and blade length that suit it;
- tooth filing and the level of cut control you need;
- how the handle fits your hand;
- whether you want to restore and maintain a vintage saw or start with a new one.
The feature describes customization around a user’s work, but actual choices and availability can change. Check the maker’s current listings rather than relying on the historical range.
What might explain renewed interest in hand tools?
The profile frames hand-tool woodworking as a subject of renewed interest, but it does not establish the size or timing of a market-wide revival. Its explanations are observations from the people it interviewed: tactile feedback, small-space practicality, online community, and better access to quality tools.
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- JAPANESE MANUAL WOOD PLANE "KANNA": This is a traditional Japanese woodworking plane, perfect for smoothing wood surfaces and chamfering edges. Unlike Western planes, Japanese planes are pulled towards you, allowing for more consistent, controlled cuts with less effort. They require fine-tuning of the blade with a hammer before use. KAKURI's plane is trusted by both beginners and professional woodworkers.
- COMPACT & EAST-TO-USE: Compact and lightweight, this mini plane is ideal for detailed work and intricate tasks. Its size allows easy handling, even for those new to woodworking and DIY. An English instruction manual is included, so even first-time users can enjoy an authentic Japanese woodworking tool with ease.
- RAZOR-SHARP JAPANESE STEEL BLADE: The blade is crafted from Japanese high-carbon steel, sharpened by expert craftsmen to deliver an incredibly smooth finish on wood. It’s ready to use straight out of the box. The two-blade structure, featuring a chipbreaker, helps prevent wood from splitting during use, making it safer and more efficient compared to single-blade planes.
- DURABLE WOOD BODY: The body is made from natural Japanese oak, known for its durability and ability to provide a smooth planing experience. *To be environmentally conscious and reduce costs, KAKURI uses oak from areas closer to the tree’s core (ECO Oak), which may show distinct grain patterns but does not compromise quality or performance.
- PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS: Made in Japan / Blade Material: Japanese high carbon steel (mono-steel) / Body Material: ECO oak (oak from the tree's core) / Size: 5.9 x 2.1 x 1.6 inches / Blade Width: 42 mm (1.65") / Cutting Width; 36 mm (1.42") / Instruction: English
Toronto furniture maker and teacher Tom Fidgen described developing a hand-tool practice partly because he did not have room for a large workshop. Hand tools can make woodworking more feasible in a garage, basement, or shed, though they do not eliminate the need for safe working space, suitable workholding, or maintenance. Fidgen also said 70 percent of his students worked desk jobs; that was his reported share, not a representative statistic about woodworkers.
Christopher Schwarz offered another explanation for the interest in traditional tools. As McGlynn recounts it, Schwarz said, “The internet proved us wrong,” referring to the online exchange of information and knowledge among woodworkers. The feature presents that as Schwarz’s perspective, not as a measured cause of industry growth.
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- [Japanese Woodworking Tools] The Japanese woodworking tools kit designed for beginners just starting to use Japanese woodworking tools.
- [All in One Standard Set] Japanese Pull Saw x 1 / Japanese Chisels x 2 / Japanese Plane x 1 / Japanese Woodworking Hammer x 1 / Marking Gauge x1 / Carry Bag x 1
- [Easy to Carry] Comes with a tool bag for safe storage and transport.
- [Japanese Quality Tools] All are made in Japan. Enjoy and explore a new woodworking experience with authentic Japanese woodworking tools.
- [Product Specifications] Made in Japan / Size: Ryoba Japanese Saw (9.5"), Japanese Mortise Chisel (3/8"), Japanese Wood Chisel (1"), Japnese Hand Plane (42mm), Japanese Hammer (13.2 oz), Japanese Marking Gauge (90mm), Canvas Bag *Refer the bottom of the page for detailed specs
What a beginner should weigh before choosing hand tools
The profile is not a tested starter-kit guide, so it cannot establish a universal set of tools for beginners. It does point toward practical questions that can make the choice clearer:
- Workspace: What can you store and use safely in the space available?
- Projects: Do you want to make furniture, practice joinery, or tackle another kind of work?
- Tool condition: Are you prepared to assess, restore, sharpen, and maintain older tools?
- Preferred starting point: Would you rather learn through restoration or begin with ready-to-use new tools?
- Sharpening: Do you want to develop the skill yourself, or use a sharpening service?
If sharpening a saw yourself, match the file to the saw’s teeth and your skill level; a file is not automatically suitable for every saw. Bad Axe’s current catalog lists saw files and its site describes sharpening services, but check its pages for present service details.
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Tools and further reading available now
Bad Axe Tool Works’ current site lists backsaws, hand and panel saws, Friedrich Dick saw files, tooth guards, DIY frame-saw and kerfing-plane kits, and other items. Its FAQ gives approximate fulfillment estimates, updated March 24, 2026: four to eight weeks for custom backsaws and hand or panel saws, three to five business days for ready-to-ship products, and up to ten business days for DIY kits. These are estimates, not guaranteed delivery dates; consult the current Bad Axe FAQ for details.
For a wider discussion of tool selection and traditional woodworking, Lost Art Press lists a revised physical edition of Christopher Schwarz’s The Anarchist’s Tool Chest and a free PDF. The book argues for fewer than 50 high-quality tools; that is the book’s approach, not a measured requirement for every woodworker. See the revised edition page and Lost Art Press books.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
