Irwin MARATHON Carpenters Saw
Reviewed by Tracey Kampen
This is not the saw you might remember seeing hanging up in your grandpa’s workshop. This saw has a real bite to it and we found that under heavy use, the blade exhibits very little flex. The rigidity of the 1 mm thick blade makes it easier to use and less likely to wander when you are starting a cut. The 12 pt starter teeth on the tip are another definite plus. They get you on your way quickly so the 9 pt teeth on the rest of the blade can get on with the heavy work.
Irwin’s M2™ Tooth Technology with its advanced tool geometry and Tri-Ground™ teeth makes for a cutting edge that really helps you eat through the wood fast. The 15" blade length is long enough to make the cut while not being so long that it runs into other things if you are working in a tight space. The eight evenly spaced Deep Gullets™ provide for the rapid removal of wood chips so your cut doesn’t get bogged down with trapped sawdust in the kerf.
I should also mention the Pro-Touch™ handle; it’s comfortable. With its rubber grips softening and rounding out the normally rectangular cross section of the wooden handle, as soon as you pick up the saw you will feel the difference. It doesn’t have hard corners like many wooden handles do. This is a saw that can be used more comfortably for extended periods by those who normally find a wooden handle too uncomfortable to use for long periods of time.
The 15" Marathon blasted its way through over 1400 square feet of shiplap from a roof that we demolished and rebuilt. It’s a keeper and would be a great addition to any man or woman’s tool chest. We use it in the shop regularly instead of a compound mitre saw when breaking parts out of our rough lumber. From smaller tasks such as this where it might not make sense to drag out the power tools to larger projects where you need to work away from electricity, it makes sense to have a good hand saw around. Besides, one may not always wish to wake up the neighbours if the inspiration hits at 3AM.