Quick verdict
Crown 195 12″ Tenon Saw feels more comfortable and cuts straighter after simple tuning; Spear & Jackson 9540B-91 Tenon Saw is budget-friendly and customizable but needs more setup.
Also check similar comparisons:
- Crown 195 12″ Tenon Saw vs. Irwin 12 TPI Tenon Saw
- Spear & Jackson 9540B-91 Tenon Saw vs. Irwin 12 TPI Tenon Saw
At-a-glance specs
Feature | Crown 195 12″ Tenon Saw | Spear & Jackson 9540B-91 Tenon Saw |
|---|---|---|
Blade Length | 12 in (305 mm) | 10 in (25.4 cm) |
TPI | 13 TPI | 15 PPI (14 TPI) |
Blade Material | High carbon steel (resharpenable) | Hardened and tempered carbon steel |
Handle Type and Material | Full handle; Fagus sylvatica (German beech) secured with screws | Wooden handle secured by rivets |
Spine Type | Brass back | Brass back |
Weight | 1.7 lb (0.77 kg) | 1.27 lb (0.58 kg) |
Note: We don’t test products ourselves. We review user feedback and/or community discussions to recommend top options with their necessary information. This info can be susceptible to misinterpretation.
Tuning And Setup
- Crown 195 12″ Tenon Saw: Needs protective coating removed and teeth tuned; after quick sharpening, it runs straight, cuts cleanly, and slices with low effort.
- Spear & Jackson 9540B-91 Tenon Saw: Aggressive factory set and burrs demand filing and resetting; stable, smooth tracking follows after a bit of tuning.
Cut Quality And Tracking
- Crown 195 12″ Tenon Saw: After tuning, cuts are smooth with a fine kerf, track straight, and require little downward force.
- Spear & Jackson 9540B-91 Tenon Saw: Brass back adds heft for stable, straight tracking; rough kerf and skip-starts improve once teeth are tuned.
Handle And Ergonomics
- Crown 195 12″ Tenon Saw: Comfortable full hardwood handle secured with screws feels solid and controlled.
- Spear & Jackson 9540B-91 Tenon Saw: Wooden handle is riveted and reshaped easily, but often sits high or small and needs significant sanding for comfort.
Value For Money
- Crown 195 12″ Tenon Saw: Praised for price-to-performance; after minor tuning, it performs like pricier saws.
- Spear & Jackson 9540B-91 Tenon Saw: Low cost relative to performance makes it ideal for budget-minded beginners willing to tune.
Quality Control
- Crown 195 12″ Tenon Saw: Some reports of bent blades, cracked brass backs, and poorly seated screws.
- Spear & Jackson 9540B-91 Tenon Saw: QC can be uneven, with bent blades or misaligned teeth in some batches.
Scores snapshot
Feature | Crown 195 12″ Tenon Saw | Spear & Jackson 9540B-91 Tenon Saw |
|---|---|---|
Blade Length (1–10) | 8 | 4 |
TPI (1–10) | 8 | 10 |
Handle Design (1–10) | 10 | 8 |
Blade Steel (1–10) | 10 | 10 |
Spine (1–10) | 10 | 10 |
Overall Score | 9.2/10 | 8.4/10 |
Who should buy which?
Buy Crown 195 12″ Tenon Saw if you:
- You will remove coating and sharpen or adjust the teeth.
- You mainly cut tenons and rip joinery and want low-effort, straight cuts.
- You want a durable, well balanced saw with a comfortable handle.
Buy Spear & Jackson 9540B-91 Tenon Saw if you:
- You want brass-back heft for stable, straight cuts.
- You are comfortable filing teeth and resetting the saw.
- You value low cost relative to saw performance.
Don’t buy either if you:
- You need precision cuts right out of the box.
- You can’t tolerate tuning work or any quality control issues.
Final verdict
- Crown 195 12″ Tenon Saw wins for comfort, balance, and cleaner results after simple tuning.
- Both reward tuning; Crown 195 12″ Tenon Saw feels refined, while Spear & Jackson 9540B-91 Tenon Saw is budget-friendly and customizable.
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