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#1 ·
Intro and rust removal.

Hand saw restore
Intro and rust removal.

THE SAWS


Two years ago I bought an old English tool box full of old tools.


In the box lid there were two saws, a panel saw 'Disston Canada' and a tenon saw 'W Tyzack Sons & Turner Sheffield'.


And when I dogged into the tools, there were also an old gentleman's dovetail saw no makers mark just 'made in Sheffield'.
It was here my dream of restoring some old saws started, but before this I had a long way to go with other tools.


Now two years later I also got hold of a hand full of saws and I feel confident enough to start restoring them.


A really ugly tenon saw from Spears and Jackson came with some planes I bought as a bonus…
I never really became sure if it was a bonus or a punishment.


I bought this beautiful saw from France it has been used by an old maker of frames for paintings, and judging from the screws it is an old boy.


Even it came from France it is a G. Buck Tottenham London.


Here the Tyzack showing his name and rust…


I bought four old panel saws 'The fish' (later known as Sandvik - Bahco) these Fish saws had belong to a Danish carpenter family for three generations so I was honored to get to give them a new chance.
Notice the second from the top, the blade has been sharpened so many times that it is probably an inch lower than when it was new. Two are with finer teeth, and two with more rough, just perfect when I will set them up later.


Ohhh yes and latest came this wonderful old Peugeot saw, yes we are talking the car maker!
This one will be a real pearl once it has been brought back to life.

REMOVING RUST


First step on the restore was to test some of that wonderful rust remover slime that Andy gave me.
Thank you Andy it was so kind of you to bring me this on your visit.


Leave to work.
(Not in the bathroom if you are married).


And brush of with a fine sandpaper sponge.
Look what a wonderful color it gets - bwader…


What a difference, and I use no power.


I think it leaves enough patina so I stop here, I don't want them to look new.


Then a good tour with superfine steel wool and WD40 so they become clean and greased to prevent new rust.

SHORTEN DOWN


Since the one saw had been sharpened so much and I had several, I decided to shorten it down, to a little handy tool box saw.


Blade of and trying to determine where to cut it.


With a Dremmel tool I cut it over, and sanded the edge smooth.


Here a short saw.
(I'll get back to the new brass screws later).

This is the end of blog one in this series.

Hope this blog can help some old wonderful saws come back to life, and that it might inspire others to restore and sharpen their own saws instead of buying modern crap saws.

I will like to thank Andy and Paul since you have both been a part of the reason why I feel now ready to start this adventure that I left waiting for me for a couple of years now.

Links:
Here you can see how to make a saw guard of wood: http://lumberjocks.com/mafe/blog/23514

Best thoughts,

Mads
 
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#8 ·
Wow, you didn't lose your time this afternoon! DId you keep the part of the blade that you cut off? that's perfect to make scrapers for sculpting plaster, I made several to my father a few years ago with an old crappy saw blade cut into strips.
 
#13 ·
Hi ho,
Saddletramp, big smile I think it's called crazy!
Scott, yes it is amazing how effective this rust remover is, I have tried with acids and just vinegar these tend to go into the metal, but this stuff stays surface and are really easy to use.
Steve, I think you put the right word there, puzzle my way through, this is exactly how my blogs are, just plain me finding my way. I look forward to her what you think once they are all done.
Andy, yes I'm working on it. How about you, did you find time to sharpen, or shall we put our heads together before this step?
Jamie, yes I am, and loving every moment, is it that easy to see… lol. When I was young I had a nick name; 'the happy man', perhaps it stays…
Don, ohhh no, it is hard enough as it is, I do not wish for others to be in my head… Thank you.
Thomas, thank you for the time we spend today it was nice to see you. I did this last week not in Paris, I just blog when I have energy and time, so my blogs are not too often 'real time'. Yes I saved the rest of the blade, eighter for a small hole saw or yes perhaps some nice scrapers.
Paul, I kind of hope you will blog about sharpening before I get to the end of the blog since I have not done this part yet… But I will do it no matter, at first I will make a wise for sharpening and blog that. Do not worry I will not look for more saws now, and if I should find one, I will sell another. For the dovetail saws I have a Veritas and are so happy for this one that I will stay with them.
CJ, yes a nive bunch, and what is amazing is that they were so low priced that I could not even buy a crappy plastic saw for the same price, so I cant wait to start using them.
Topa, big laugh, and a big NO, but I will be happy to guide you. ;-)_o
Napoleon, ;-) they will be thank you.
Best thoughts and thank you for the comments,
Mads
 
#15 ·
Hi Mads. I'm struggling to find the time to make a saw vice and sharpen my saws at the moment. I have done an awful lot of research on saw sharpening though and I shared the the best information that I have come across in CharleAuguste's 1860 Dovetail Saw Restoration blog if you want to take a look.

The closest I've got to saws recently is eating one along with a screwdriver.

Leg Human body Knee Human anatomy Thigh


When I bit the end off the saw, I thought of you shortening your old Fish to make a toolbox saw. You've got to love Father's day. :)
 

Attachments

#22 ·
Reshaping handles

Hand saw restore
Reshaping handles.

This is where the really fun part begins, and where you can use all your creativity.

SPEAR AND JACKSON


For some reason this saw refused to be trashed when it arrived as a bonus (or punishment) with some old English hand planes I bought of E-Bay. This is the E-Bay picture where it was put on display on a really sexy carpet even…


Let's get rough!


Trying to get some sweet curves on that ugly thing.


More - and some work with a rough file.
Hard to tell it was the same saw even now yes?


Out with the rivets, these ugly bastards have to go also - brass - we want brass.


And a little help from our friends.


And this is where it all ended for Mr. Spear and Jackson.
I'm quite happy with the result except for the too thick layer of lacquer.
It's a one Krone coin in the handle as a little token from me.

W. TYCACK SONS AND TURNER


Not as ugly but just a bit boring.


So I start gentle.


But can't be that sweet so the band saw and I start dreaming together.
Clouds and flowers.


With a knife some deepness to the shapes.


Sanding.


More details with knife and files.


And this is where the travel ends for this reshaping.
Just hope Tyzack and sons are not Turning in the graves…
Personally I am really happy, not too much not too little and you can't imagine how wonderful this saw is in the hand.

DISSTON CANADA


Ok this saw is a classic in itself so I had a hard time to even touch it…
But what the h… we live only once and I leave only the tracks after me that I have the courage to step.


First a really conservative little work with carving tools.


A 'river' to ease of the heaviness of the handle.
And some leaf shape on the handle ends.


But I'm still bored so I sand down, round and articulate the shapes and start sketching.
Yes sketching is better for this old architect, I'm freer there.
I try to find the movements in the handle, to keep it one but separate it into different movements that touch up and grip into each other.


I even get a little romantic as I go, and decide to try with some carving, don't ask why I have to learn carving on my finest saw…
Those Stubai irons are a dream to work with they slice the wood as if it was a piece of soft cheese.


First good intentions.


More life yes?


My first attempt on a flower.


But I want more life so I give the leafs extra ends and they become almost flames I think.
Also I cut of a piece of the front of the 'river', this articulate the handles back meeting the front.

Again I am happy, I'm sure some will feel I did a little too much on this one, but I think you might like it better after next blog where I make finish on the handles.
Yes I will leave this one up to the imagination just to tease a little.

This has been for me a wonderful experience, to shape, to dream, to bring my personality and love into these saws, no saw no matter the budget would ever get this close to me.
I have only one advice - DO THIS!

This is the end of blog two in this series.

Hope this blog can help some old wonderful saws come back to life, and that it might inspire others to restore and sharpen their own saws instead of buying modern crap saws.

I will like to thank Andy and Paul since you have both been a part of the reason why I feel now ready to start this adventure that I left waiting for me for a couple of years now.

Links:
Here you can see how to make a saw guard of wood: http://lumberjocks.com/mafe/blog/23514

Best thoughts,

Mads
 
#50 ·
New bolts and some shine.

Hand saw restore
New bolts and some shine.

One step closer, and time to play with the fish!


This old G. Buck Tottenham London was actually in a really nice condition when we talk handle, and the shape is beautiful as is.


And these old bolts a treasure for the eye.
But how do I rescue them?
And how do I get them out?


First we need to invent!
Ok perhaps not invent, but be a little creative, so I cut out the center of a flat screwdriver bit, to make a special bit for the job.


And then we are ready to screw that up…


They needed a little help.


And after a tour on the cloth wheel with some compound!
Shine baby shine.


And back in.
Honestly, that is dam beautiful.


Time to open my pack from the English saw company Thomas Flinn & Co ( http://www.flinn-garlick-saws.co.uk ), I ordered a handful of screws and the files they use them self for saw sharpening, in this way I feel sure it must be at a good standard.


Ok I must have been asleep when I ordered since I ordered a big load and when I looked at the bill I realized I had spend 70 dollar on these… So now I have to come up with some projects where I can use these! Or open a shop. They are pure brass by the way.


Look these old The fish saws were desperate for some of these fine brass bolts.


And this is so much sweeter yes?


This one had the old brass'ed' screws, and the metal plate.
But I think it needed love.


Apart it goes.


Fine grid sand paper 320.


A cloth wheel and compound.


News all brass screws and a shine.
I think it is an improvement worth the effort.


Here another Fish asking for love.


And a drill to get the old brass screw out.


Some love.


And what do you think?
I think the saw now screams for some black dye on the handle and the blade for some rust remover…
But beautiful it is.

I'm in Paris now, and got hold of some wonderful black dye, just hope it will not end up in my suitcase now on the tour home tomorrow evening. Also some wonderful wax that leaves a finish I have never seen matched - fantastic.

This is the end of blog three in this series.

Hope this blog can help some old wonderful saws come back to life, and that it might inspire others to restore and sharpen their own saws instead of buying modern crap saws.

I will like to thank Andy and Paul since you have both been a part of the reason why I feel now ready to start this adventure that I left waiting for me for a couple of years now.

Links:
Here you can see how to make a saw guard of wood: http://lumberjocks.com/mafe/blog/23514

Best thoughts,

Mads
 
#75 ·
Applying finish

Hand saw restore
Applying finish.

Time for some finish!
I decided to try different ways to be able to see what I prefer and what will last the longest, and get the best patina in time.


Remember this ugly dugly, and the color?


Here when sanded down.


Some really nice French dye.
I decided to try and give it a color in the same family, but this time warm.


And then to apply shellac as if it was a lacquer with a brush.


The result is striking, but I am not happy for the glassy surface the shellac gave when applied this thick.
It will stay though, and in ten years or so I can sand it down and give it a thinner layer.


Another little saw sanded down.


Same dye, but also a contrast color to hide the bad shape of the handle.
Then some time in linseed oil to give the wood back its glow.


Then three thin layers of shellac that I apply with a cloth in thin layers.
This surface I really like.


Now it is the old Disstons tour.
Here all clean.


A dark dye in a warm but 'earthy' color.


This is what!


Result.


Then water based silk lacquer.


Hang to dry.


The new surface.
I like this surface, but it will need some time to become truly beautiful.


This one is sanded down to grid 400.


Then left in linseed oil to soak really well.


A layer of wax and that's it!
This one is also a favorite, I sure like this silky surface and to touch the wood directly give me goose bumps.


The old saw on top just gets plenty of linseed oil (raw cold pressed) and are allowed to suck all it possible can since the wood are really dry and old.


After it seems to have gotten it old life back, and I just wipe it of with a wax cloth.

This is the end of blog four in this series.

Hope this blog can help some old wonderful saws come back to life, and that it might inspire others to restore and sharpen their own saws instead of buying modern crap saws.

I will like to thank Andy and Paul since you have both been a part of the reason why I feel now ready to start this adventure that I left waiting for me for a couple of years now.

Links:
Here you can see how to make a saw guard of wood: http://lumberjocks.com/mafe/blog/23514

Best thoughts,

Mads
 
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