Bad Axe Tool Works™ Saws, Products & Accessories
Bad Axe Half-Blind 10" Dovetail Saw
Bad Axe 12" 'Stiletto' Dovetail Saw
Bad Axe 14" 'Bayonet' Carcase Saw
Bad Axe 14" No. 9 Precision Tenon SawNew!
Bad Axe 16" Large Tenon Back Saw Kit
Bad Axe 16" Large Tenon Back Saw
Bad Axe 18" Large Tenon Back Saw
The Roubo Beastmaster Timber Framing Back Saw
Bad Axe 'One Sawyer Roubo' Finished Frame Saw & Finished Kerfing Plane
Frame Saw & Kerfing Plane Kits
Bad Axe Saw Sharpening Seminars
Friederich Dick Saw Sharpening Files & Lutz File Handles
Sawlapalooza noun, Slang.
1. an extraordinary event pertaining to the fine art of saw making.
Sharing the craft, helping others find the path; teaching the techniques I’ve learned along the way, and the methods that still work for me in my Unplugged Woodshop.
When Mark Harrell told me about his idea for Sawlapalooza, I couldn’t wait to share the news. What better way to spend a few days in July? In the mornings you’ll be working with metal, learning the fine art of saw making, then in the afternoons we’ll be into the wood-shop crafting lap joints and shaping wood. Hand tools and hand saws. Kerfing planes, saw benches and frame saws.
This is an experience like no other- hand crafting hand tools. Allowing their shapes to unfold organically, for a perfect match with the hand that will hold it, and work with a silent pride for many years forward. These aren’t only hand tools- they’re opportunities.
This isn’t just about making a back saw and a saw bench, it’s about sharing an experience, and celebrating the craft. Not only will you take home some amazing tools you made yourself; you’ll leave with the memories from an experience like no other. Join Mark Harrell and I in the summer of 2016, for the 1st ever- Sawlapalooza.
Sharing the craft, helping others find the path; teaching the techniques I’ve learned along the way, and the methods that still work for me in my Unplugged Woodshop.
When Mark Harrell told me about his idea for Sawlapalooza, I couldn’t wait to share the news. What better way to spend a few days in July? In the mornings you’ll be working with metal, learning the fine art of saw making, then in the afternoons we’ll be into the wood-shop crafting lap joints and shaping wood. Hand tools and hand saws. Kerfing planes, saw benches and frame saws.
This is an experience like no other- hand crafting hand tools. Allowing their shapes to unfold organically, for a perfect match with the hand that will hold it, and work with a silent pride for many years forward. These aren’t only hand tools- they’re opportunities.
This isn’t just about making a back saw and a saw bench, it’s about sharing an experience, and celebrating the craft. Not only will you take home some amazing tools you made yourself; you’ll leave with the memories from an experience like no other. Join Mark Harrell and I in the summer of 2016, for the 1st ever- Sawlapalooza.
Books, DVDs, and fancy gadgets cannot provide the confidence that is attained under the watch of a true master. From trouble shooting of vintage saws to their complete restoration or the building of a new Bad Axe Saw, this class covered saws in an intuitive and comprehensive fashion. Mark Harrell, the Bad Axe Tool Works team, and the saw sharpening seminar curriculum are first rate.
— Clifton Haider, Rochester, MN
Mark, you are the first person (that I’ve seen or heard) who has taught saw sharpening without using a jig of some sort. Everything I’ve read (yes, everything) is always using a jig or reference line of some sort to get the job done. It felt very natural to run a file using your method.
—Doug Boor, Horseheads, NY
. . . I had never even tried to sharpen a saw before your class and on the second day I was able to sharpen my own saw a little better than "serviceable" (in my opinion anyway!). The only downside is, since I took the class I've had three requests from family members to get saws back in shape for them!
— Don Baker, Morrow, OH
One of the turning points for me was taking a saw sharpening class with Mark Harrell over at Bad Axe Tool Works. I wrote about that experience HERE. Working with Mark taught me to trust my the feel of the file and the things my eyes were seeing and has let me do away with the guide blocks and jigs I'd been using up to this point. Knowing what to look for has improved my sharpening greatly.
My hopes and expectations were exceeded by miles. I made new friends. I learned how to sharpen hand saws. I gained confidence in my ability to maintain my own saws. The surprise was making two new back saws to add to my quiver. And that is the short story. Upon reflection, many details were also learned about the craft and the tools that are used . . . I surely was not disappointed.
I want to thank you so much for this past weekend. I found the entire time spent at your shop to be fascinating, informative and fun--we really enjoyed the entire process! I can't wait to get started working on some vintage saws. I also appreciate the time you spent with Amber. She really loved the challenges, and is also looking forward to practicing the craft of sharpening. I really am proud to know that I made this Roubo Beastmaster. Pretty Awesome!!!!
— Mike Peters, St. Louis, MO
Sawlapalooza v.2!!! Learn. Make. Have fun!
(And then we'll ship your stuff home.)
Reserve your saw vise and workbench!
Available seats: 18 14 12 10
Please note that your down payment for Sawlapalooza 2022 is non-refundable, and that the remaining balance due of $2450 must be paid when Bad Axe invoices you NLT 30 June 2021.
If unexpected work or personal commitments prevent you from attending Sawlapalooza, we will gladly transfer your down payment to another Bad Axe seminar, product or service.
International Customers, please note an additional shipping surcharge may apply.
Spend five days with Mark Harrell and Derek Jones, and you'll have something to show for it, because this is what we will freight back to your home after course closure:
*NOTE: this is a COVID-safe training environment; proof of full vaccination with booster and masks in full effect to protect our employees and fellow students.
This intensive, hands-on course results in two awesome saws you build on-site under Mark's oversight. Add a Bad Axe bench hook set and Derek's excellent saw till design to the equation, and the package is complete-- freighting it all back to your home is inclusive with the price.
And don't think this is an event without entertainment value. Whether you bring your significant other along or not, plan on a party, and know that we have great things planned for after hours. We have a suite of hotel rooms at the nearby Barker's Island Resort reserved at a discounted rate for Sawlapalooza II attendees, so you won't have to deal with the hassle. We also have something to do for the Tuesday and Thursday nights you're with us, whether it's a dining at Canal Park's historic Grandma's Saloon and Grilll, or partaking of Duluth/Superior's finer dining and imbibing venues, such as Vikre Distillery or shopping at the world-famous Duluth Pack.
Trust Derek and I on this--you won't be bored. You'll simply need to dredge up the energy to undero the rigor that real-world saw sharpening and maintenance Bad Axe will demand of you, particularly when coupled with the unplugged woodworking mastery only a guru like Derek Jones can bestow. So--work hard . . . and play hard.
Quick Links
Operational Concept:
Students arrive at Barker's Island Resort on, 24 July for a 1700 mixer, and comence training the following day at 8:30 AM. Student body divides into two groups. While one group trains with Mark, the other group trains with Derek. Groups switch out after noontime catered lunch on-site. Bad Axe will have a van service shuttling students back and forth between hotel and workshop for those without rental car. Training continues through Friday at 3:00 PM, and depart for home either Friday night or at their leisure. Bad Axe freights all saws, plates, , tills & other items to the student's home address. Back to QuickLinks.
Training Schedule
Sunday, 24 July - 5:00 PM until close:
Reception at the Barker's Island Resort conference room. Grip & grin with cocktails. Get to know one another, and who knows--there might even be an impromptu pub crawl in Canal Park involved for the hardy and the brave.Mon, 25 July:
Tue, 26 July:
Wednesday, 27 July:
Thursday, 28 July:
Friday, 29 July:
Back to QuickLinks.
Bad Axe Terminal Learning Objectives For the Week
Hand and Back Saws for cutting wood in general:
Tools of the Trade:
Terms of Reference and Tooth Geometry
Backsaw maintenance and pre-sharpening overview
Sharpening and more sharpening
Back to QuickLinks.
Derek Jones's Terminal Learning Objectives for the Week (under development)
Saw Till Build
Derek's Bio: Derek Jones began his career restoring period furniture at the age of 15 in a small antique shop in Brighton, England. After running his own shop for several years he studied 3D Design at college before opening a small workshop to produce bespoke furniture for domestic and corporate clients in and around London. He’s built custom furniture and joinery for banks, boardrooms, boats and recording studios throughout Europe and the Unites States. When the chance came, some twenty years later, to try something new he took up the role as Editor at Furniture & Cabinetmaking magazine. With more than 250 articles to his name and three books on the subject of woodworking, and a fourth on the way, he now enjoys passing on the tips and techniques he’s learned over the years through teaching. ‘The biggest thrill for me now is not in the making but instead helping other people acquire techniques for creating things by hand. And the simpler the method the better’. Most of his commercial making these days is geared towards the production of hand tools, marking gauges in particular, which are available from his website www.lowfatroubo.co.uk
Cost Analysis:
$2,950 is a lot to lay out for a course, but if you'll do the math, you'll find that you're getting close to a $3,700 value to learn from the makers and have actual product to show for it at the end of the week--not to mention getting your lodgings covered with daily lunch to boot! Here's a snapshot of what the product is worth, inclusive with the tuition.
| What you're getting for $2950 | ||
| Bad Axe Saws | $700 | |
| Bad Axe Bench Hook | $75 | |
| FourTraining SawPlates | $80.00 | |
| Sawtill | $700 | |
| Shipping | $100.00 | |
| Daily Lunch | $50 | |
| Instruction x 2 | $2000 | |
| Lodgings (5 nights) | $750 | |
| Retail | $3705 | |
Recommended tools to bring:
Nothing beats having your own favorite tool to have on-site when working wood. It's up to you exactly what and how much to bring--but you will wind up what Derek recommends with the list below. If you don't have everything, chances are it will be here at the Bad Axe workshop. Just bring what you can.
Preferred measuring tapes, square, rules & other joinery layout items
Dimensioning Tools
Joinery/Shaping Tools
"How the heck do I get to Superior, Wisconsin--and is it worth the trip?"
Getting here: Back to QuickLinks.
Recommended Place to Stay:
Back to QuickLinks.
Where to Eat: There are some seriously great places to eat here in La Crosse, and below you'll find the short list of some of our favorite culinary haunts downtown. All establishments listed below are within an easy five-minute walk from the Radisson.
Back to QuickLinks.
All Bad Axe Tool Works Saws are highly customizable, and Feature the Following:
- Highly-figured 19th-century patterned hickory handles, also available in cherry and walnut.
- Three handle sizes available: Small, Regular & Large.
- Flush-face slotted sawbolts/nuts in brass or carbon steel finished in optional black-oxide or niter-blue with 13/16" deep-dish decorative medallion.
- Traditional Folded Carbon Steel sawback.
- Standard black-oxided or optional titanium-nitrided (TiN)-plated finish on saw backs.
- Premium-grade Swedish Spring Steel Sawplates, RC50-52.
- Traditional hammer-set toothline, sharpened to joint.
- Bad Axe saw re-sharpening rate $15 nominal fee.
- Lifetime guarantee against all material defects.
Learn more about our material choices and saw design rationale.
Other Top Selling Bad Axe Saws and Accessories:
- Bad Axe 10" Half-Blind Dovetail Back Saw
- Bad Axe 10" Luthier Back Saw
- Bad Axe American Kid Back Saw
- Bad Axe 12" 'Stiletto' Dovetail Back Saw
- Bad Axe 12" Hybrid Back Saw
- Bad Axe 14" 'Bayonet' Precision Carcase Saw
- Bad Axe 14" No. 9 Precision Tenon Saw
- Bad Axe 16" Tenon Back Saw
- Bad Axe 18" Large Tenon Back Saw
- Bad Axe 20" Miter Box Saw
- Bad Axe 'Roubo Beastmaster X-Large Timber-Framing Back Saw
- Bad Axe D8 Hand and Panel Saws
- Bad Axe 'One Sawyer Roubo' Finished Frame Saw & Kerfing Plane
- Bad Axe Frame Saw & Kerfing Plane Kits
- Bad Axe Bench Hook Sets
- Bad Axe Saw Sharpening Seminars
- Friedrich Dick Saw Files and Lutz File Handles
- Bad Axe Tool Care
- Bad Axe Accessories
- Bad Axe 14" Sash Saw (discontinued)
