How I file a Crosscut Saw -- Traditional Tools

What an amazing tutorial / look/see vid.
There is so much that goes into this work and is more than often not appreciated.
I often watch the Stihl Lumber sports competitions on TV and I am intruiged buy the way these guys saws are so sharp. The fine details of the engineering and finnishing each tooth… What a concentrated effort in maintaining uniformity on shuch a small scale. Master craftsman. Another spectum of wood.
Thanks for satisfying my curiosity and building up my knowledge I never thought I needed.
You are definitly one i’ll like to follow…

-- Never in a million years will I ever exagerate.

I cut more wood with my CC saw than I do with my Stihl. Someday I’m going to make a video of what those saws sound like when running through a dead, dry oak. They really sing.

Ha !
Some folks cut wood for the smell of it,
some cut for the feel of it. some cut for the look of it.
Some cut for the use of it….
And everyone gets lost in the world of wonder..
A singing saw—with a purpose..
Man…I’d love to hear that…
;-)

-- Never in a million years will I ever exagerate.

Well if you are going to use a saw like that it would be foolish to use a dull one. Nice turorial. I just tuned up my 2-man CC saw the other day (one of them)...just can’t find anyone to run the other end of the saw.

-- Urban logger, http://nelsonwoodworks.biz/

Great video!!! THANKS!!!!

-- Only the Shadow knows....................

Daren – looks like you have a felling saw (a sharp one). Those are difficult to run single handedly. You could run a two man bucking saw by yourself though, as they are wider and stiffer.

Yep, a felling saw…or “misery whip”...

-- Urban logger, http://nelsonwoodworks.biz/

It’s sure a misery whip when it’s dull, but if you used it to cut all that wood behind you, it’s in fine shape.

Speaking of singing saws, this is an underbucking demo, but you can hear the saw teeth “ring” as they go through the log:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhWSmMbZSxY

Nice. The axe was well placed for the underbuck, held firm.

-- Urban logger, http://nelsonwoodworks.biz/

Why they call it a “misery whip” ?
Yes you can hear that zing in the ring of the saw.. Quite captivating. I’ve searched quite a bit and found not a thing on ringing saws…
Soooooooo….......
..........You gotta make one.
Darren…. You look like a big man… and proud. Nice stash behind you.

-- Never in a million years will I ever exagerate.

Felling saws are narrow and flexible like Daren’s. They allow you to drive in a wedge sooner than a wide-body bucking saw. When dull, any saw is miserable to cut with. Misery whip is an old timey term for a cc saw.

Some day I just may make a video of several long-toothed saws running through a seasoned oak. Each one would have a different pitch as the teeth would be different lengths. They become like tuning forks when they vibrate.

This is a really good tutorial on sharpening. Thanks for putting this together and sharing.

-- Dale Manning, Carthage, NY

For all of you who still use dial-up and have trouble downloading video, the US Forest Service has an excellent PDF about using and filing crosscut saws.
the name is: SAWS THAT SING. A Guide to Using Crosscut Saws. by David E. Michael #0E02A4-Crosscut Saw

They also have a PDF about using and caring for axes: AN AXE TO GRIND by Bernie Weisgerber #SE82A42

I don’t remember where I found them but a Google search by title or author will find them I think, or perhaps go to the USFS website.

-- Have fun ! Be Safe !

Here’s a link
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/fspubs/04232822/index.htm
And
http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/fspubs/99232823/index.htm
Thanks olfrt

-- Never in a million years will I ever exagerate.