The saw man
STIHL professional Jean-Pierre Mercier gives fellow competitors an edge
LEHI, Utah — If you've watched the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Professional Series throughout the years, you've probably seen the fruit of Jean-Pierre Mercier's labor.
"The handle goes here," he told 23-year-old STIHL pro Nathan Waterfield while caressing the end of the shiny, band-saw steel he buys in bulk from a mill by his St. Étienne, Quebec, home to make J.P. Mercier saws by hand.
"No, don't put it there," he ordered sternly in a Canadian French accent after handing the saw to young competitor inside the competitors' tent. "There's too much moisture if you put the saw on the floor."
Mercier cast the same loving gaze on Waterfield's 6-foot long racing saw as he did toward two other pieces of his handiwork once the Pennsylvania lumberjack left the competitors' tent.
"It's been 10 years that I've been making saws full-time, and this smaller-toothed pattern is the latest," Mercier said, turning to present the next saw to awaiting pro Rick Halvorson.
"The peg and rakers are all cut by lasers."
Like a variety of other single buck saws on the series, Mercier's saws feature either two, three, or four cutters on its sharp pegs. Rakers, while also sharp, are found between the pegs and are designed to pull shavings as the saw moves through the wood. The width of a Mercier saw differs, depending on the individual lumberjack's technique and personal preference.
"These saws take two years of competition before they need resharpening," the 9-year STIHL competitor said about the handcrafted metal he dotes on, before continuing to explain how lumberjacks can use a regular file on the inside when necessary, but stressed only a diamond sharpener should be used on the back.
"The arch he puts in a saw helps get through different types of wood," Halvorson said, admiring the work on the table before him. Halvorson, a veteran of the STIHL Professional Series from its inception, has purchased four of Mercier's saws in the past — including a couple of three-cutters.
"They're definitely the best saws," said professional lumberjack Dave Jewett. "I think it's hit-or-miss with a lot of the others."
But "the best" does not come cheap: The price tag on a J.P. Mercier saw runs between $1400 and $1600.
"I made arrangements with him to borrow one," Waterfield said. "Being a younger guy, he understands how much time and money I've already invested."
When s not crafting saws, Mercier also enjoys competing, woodworking and deer and moose hunting at home in Quebec.
As for his performance with his own saw during the single buck in Lehi, Mercier posted a 14.59-second time, which though good enough to earn him six points, was not enough to qualify for the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Championships this weekend in Columbus, Ga.
Asked how he felt about his results, the French Canadian humbly shook his head.
"Hey, that's the game sometimes," Mercier said.
