Saws, using collecting, cleaning and buying

This shouild be an interesting discussion. I’m looking to get some good handsaws up and running.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

About a year or so ago I picked up two old back saws and restored them. I never really used hand saws and I thought it would be nice to have a couple on hand to use if I ever needed them. I never had any intention of collecting saws…...

A year later I have at least 30 to 40 saws scattered about my shop. I guess the saw collecting bug bit me the same way the hand plane one did. For me, saws are much easier to restore then the planes at least until it comes to sharpening them. I am actually starting to get the hang of sharpening saws but I still need a lot of work. The first two old backsaws I got sat in my shop for more then 6 months before I found someone who could sharpen them for me. I found a local tool collector who specializes is saws and he was kind enough to sharpen them for me as well as teach me how to do it. I had never used a sharp saw before and wow was it amazing. If sharpened well they cut like a knife through butter. I use them all the time now.

Here are my restored backsaws, a pre civil war Disston backsaw and a GH Bishop saw. I have the Disston filed Rip and the Bishop cross cut. The Bishop is my favorite. The handle is very comfortable.

-- Dan - "Collector of Hand Planes"

I have several that I intend to do someday. I have the files, saw vise and saw sets; now, time??

-- "some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence Wake Up America!! Please read; http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/01/26-0

Dan – I love those back saws. You did an amazing job restoring them. What was your finishing regime for the handles?

-- Andy -- Old Chinese proverb say: If you think something can't be done, don't interrupt man who is doing it.

You have done a very nice job, Dan. They look nearly new.

I am supplementing my few hand saws and miter back cut saws (Stanley and Buck Bros, etc.) with a range of very small disposable Zona modeling saws and several larger but still small Shark saws. I’ll work my way up to the bigger and/or older boys later (maybe).

The only time I use a hand saw is when I cut 16’ material down to 8’ at the suppliers yard so it will go on the 6 1/2 foot bedded truck. But usually we have the 8’ truck or the 14’ flat bed trailer for materials pickup.

The only time I use a hand miter saw and box is when the motored saws are all out and I’m in a pinch. That’s very rare. I believe if I had a collection of those saws that they would be rarely used, but pretty to look at.

Great idea on a thread for saws. We’ll have all these categories covered soon and they’ll be there and growing as time shuffles on. Thanks.

-- If you're going to stir the pot, think BIG spoon or SMALL boat paddle. David Grimes, Georgia

I love what you’ve done with the back saws. I hope mine come out that well. How did you restore the blades?

-- There is nothing like the sound of a well tuned hand plane. - http://timetestedtools.wordpress.com (timetestedtools at hotmail dot c0m)

If you look at Mads blog some of his saws have a metal plate on the side of the handle. Has anyone in the states seen this? Know any history?

-- There is nothing like the sound of a well tuned hand plane. - http://timetestedtools.wordpress.com (timetestedtools at hotmail dot c0m)

Although a lot of you have probably seen the folowing pictures before, I think they deserve a place on this thread now that we have one dedicated to Saws. Hand saws and back saws are probably my favourite hand tools. There is just something about them. For me, it all started when I decided I wanted to learn to sharpen saws and bought an old Spear and Jackson 26” crosscut saw off eBay. The picture on the listing was crap and the description was something like “Old saw, says Spear and Jackson. Needs a clean.” I got it to practice on.

When I opened the package, it was love at first site. This is how it looked when it arrived. You can read more details about this saw here.

and here it is after a bit of TLC.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Totes don’t get any better than this:

Here is how the saw plate looked before and after cleaning:

-- Andy -- Old Chinese proverb say: If you think something can't be done, don't interrupt man who is doing it.

I may have a saw problem.

-- Make furniture that lasts as long as the tree - Ryan

RGTools – Wonderful saws, but I wouldn’t you have a saw problem yet, just a healthy appreciation for good tools. What are the hand saws? Are they all Disstons?

-- Andy -- Old Chinese proverb say: If you think something can't be done, don't interrupt man who is doing it.

Me myself I wouldn’t mind getting an old saw and cleaning er up but I know nothing about the old saws cept for disstons,tyzack,spear and jackson,stanley,marples,sheffield saw co.,zona. So as you can see it’s just names that’s it, plus after getting my table saw I hate sawing by hand now unless it’s dovetails but I need a lot of practice on those so I’m gonna stick to the jigs for a little. If I ever do get a saw I know where to look for help though and you can count on it being one of the names up above I mentioned or something newer.

-- Ike, Big Daddies Woodshop, http://www.icombadaniels@yahoo.com

Sorry for the ramblings, You do have some work ahead of you though please keep us posted.

-- Ike, Big Daddies Woodshop, http://www.icombadaniels@yahoo.com

Brit

ECE bow saws. (love them)

2 Disstons,
1 keen cutter.

2 craftsmans that I have tweaked to do the good work they should have been made to do in the first place.

-- Make furniture that lasts as long as the tree - Ryan

My latest saw….

a 15” bow saw…

I’m thinking I will make a 12” next.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Nice one Wayne. Here’s my latest saw as of yesterday. Needs a little TLC, but it will clean up fine. It has a couple of broken teeth apparently, so I’ll be re-shaping the teeth on this one. Its a W H Armitage & Co, London Spring steel, made in Sheffield. 14” blade, 18 1/2” overall. Handle is sound with no damage. weighs 800grams.

-- Andy -- Old Chinese proverb say: If you think something can't be done, don't interrupt man who is doing it.