Remember a few weeks ago, when I was lamenting the lack of a panel saw for my Dutch tool chest? Well, I’ve got that handled now…

That’s because this arrived from the folks at Pax Saws. They sent over one of their 22″ crosscut saws for the tool box to help round out my tool collection, and I have got to tell you, this is a very cool saw.

First, I like the look and the feel of the handle. It’s a two-toned beech model, and it comes to the hand comfortably – far better than many of the other saws I have held over the years. The blade is a sweet piece of steel, the plate true and the teeth very sharp.

Plus, with its smaller size, it will easily fit into my tool chest, something I was able to accomplish with a few pieces of pine and a couple of screws.

But, how does it cut? An excellent question, since even the prettiest saw isn’t worth a darn if it won’t cut. To check it out, I grabbed a piece of oak, and struck a line down it.

The saw cut beautifully, with that rhythm you grow accustomed to hearing when someone is using a well-tuned saw. Now, I was trying to cut this on a surface that was too high, so the blade did wander on me. Which means, for sure, I’m going to have to build myself a lower saw bench. But, for the first cut with the saw, not too shabby…

It’s nice finally having the tool chest finished out – exactly one year to the date that I put the finish on it. If the tool chest serves me as well in the coming years as it has already, I’m going to enjoy my time with it.