Five-Day Intensive Saw Sharpening Seminar Student Testimonials
“Incredible class!
Mark is a masterful teacher and an expert in the science and skills of handsaws. Incredible course outline. It was specific and orderly. It also spoke in terms of what we would achieve. After 40 years in higher education, I can tell you it is a model others ought to follow. With that combination, he has created a most engaging experience. In the military the only grade you get from a class is whether you can do the task or not. So, Colonel Mark makes sure you succeed in sharpening your saws. No one fails. No one is left behind.
He is kind and humorous and makes sure you get the individual attention need. His directions are crisp and clear. The class builds skill-on-skill until you are able to create your own beautiful saw.
One of the best classes ever!”
--Dr. David Wantz, Professor of Psychology (emeritus), University of Indianapolis
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“My true “ah-hah” moment came when Mark demonstrated the machine file over a saw I had just worked on by hand. The machine file highlighted my tendency to curve my wrist through the filing motion, and reinforced what I’m looking for when pausing to view each tooth as an individual. This is when I really “got it”. That demo was a true teaching moment that allowed me to course-correct and vastly improve my hand filing approach.
Our saws are investments. They aren’t throw-away tools, to be replaced when the cut is no longer a breeze. I now have the skills to keep my saws tuned, and know proper cleaning and storing methods to extend the life and value of my investments.
For those of us who enjoy buying vintage tools, this curriculum is invaluable to know what’s a good buy versus wall art. I’ve had immense joy taking what I learned from Mark to assess which of my antique saws to spend time on, fixing some really gnarly teeth, and getting use from a saw that sat in an old bucket for the last 80 years.”
--Kendra Haberzetle, Cincinnatti, IN
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“Mark Harrell’s Saw Sharp Advanced Sharpening Class is one of the best investments I have made in my hand tool training and education. Mark is a wonderful instructor. He has an infinite amount of patience making sure you have a clear understanding of all aspects of saw structure and cutting geometry, as well explaining in detail the various attributes that contribute to what is necessary for a saw to deliver its best intended cut outcome.
Once Mark determines you have a clear understanding of this knowledge, he transforms into a tireless and ardent task master, making you apply this newly acquired knowledge. Yes, you may need to keep repeating a step over and over until you “get-it” and can satisfactorily pass Mark’s inspection before you move to the next step. Mark’s training discipline helps you begin to develop the confidence and muscle-memory skills required to become a competent saw sharpener. This hands-on, mentor-guided training approach is not something you can learn watching countless sharpening videos because you need to “feel” the correct feedback of the file’s sharpening stroke and you will begin to know and feel that difference when pointed out.
You will leave Mark’s sharpening class with the confidence of not being afraid to break out a file and finely tune your saws in your shop as you do with your other hand tools like plane irons and chisels.”
Keith Teruya, McMinnville, OR
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“The advanced training I received from saw sharp exceeded every expectation and I cannot recommend it enough. Not only did I walk away with the confidence to properly maintain all of my saws, but Mark tailored every single aspect of the class to ensure every aspect of saw restoration and use specific to my classes particular uses was covered. The most lasting benefit of the class though, is joining a community of like-minded people to lean on for years to come. Go as soon as you can!!!!”
Matthew Aust
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“Sharp saws, like any other sharp tool, are pure pleasure to use. In his Five-Day Intensive Saw Sharpening Seminar, Mark Harrell taught me how to sharpen and maintain my saws so using them will be a joy from here on out. The two Bad Axe saws I put together in the workshop are a sweet bonus as far as I'm concerned. The workshop would have been worth the money without them. Mark knows how to sharpen saws and I highly recommend his workshops.”
David Neilson
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“When I have a vintage saw that needs any type of restoration or tuning up, I turn to Mark Harrell. To date, I have sent 4 cherished but neglected backsaws in the 150-200 year old range to Mark, each well beyond my ability to restore, and he brought them all back to beautiful working condition—and boy do they work. He has the perfect blend of expertise and delicate yet meticulous attention to detail that these jobs require. I can’t recommend his services enough!“
Justin Masone, @jtmasone
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" If you want to learn how to do something correctly, learn from someone who earns their livelihood by what they teach. Mark is the real deal. Mark offers a unique opportunity to learn from him and he was the founder of Bad axe saws." - Failing this opportunity you can also watch a myriad of YouTube videos and hope what they teach may be correct.
Scott Erickson, Minneapolis, MN
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