Thread: Get your hand saws sharpened for free

Saw sharping class
The black art

Who out there in Forum land would like to learn how to sharpen there hand saws ?
There's been quite a bit of discussion interest of late on the forum .


Well the opportunity has arrived ,I hope.
I'm going to host a saw sharping weekend .
Yep a whole weekend dedicated to that black mysterious art no power tools aloud .
What I hope we can cover over the weekend
Will be first what is a sharp saw .
This may seem odd ,but it would be nice to be able to compare some saws so we know what were aiming for .
Especially if we mainly use power tools or disposable saws from the big hardware chains .
Second I imagine would be a bit on type of saws ie rip saw, cross cut saw dovetail, gents saw,
Teno saw ,back saw to name a few .

Then on to the tools, needed to sharpen a saw.
A saw vice, saw files(I know I know) saw setting tools extra.
Maybe ,even some saw smithing if we have time.

Then I think we would be set for the main event.

Saw sharping ,now for those that think I might be leading the class here ,know need to quiver and hide your lee valley dovetail or two lawyers saw or that 1900 something Diston one.
I'm a newbie here ,and will be learning too .I hope!
I've had some pre primilary chats with Ray G
Who knows a thing or two about saws .
(Hopefully he reads this)
But I would also very much like to hear from others who could lead us in the black magic art of saw sharping PLEASE I know who and were you are[emoji41] we'll sort of.

Location at present .
We are(insert wife Sally) are happy to host it at our bush block weekender in the sunny town of Ballarat ,Victoria(weather depending it rains a Lot)
But be warned ,its a very back to basic kind of place at present .But we do have electricity few.
We have some semi converted shipping containers.
So it would be camping room or there's plenty of hotel ,motel accomodation in Ballarat .
We are only located about ten mins from Ballarat cbd .
Or about a hour and half from Melbourne .
If you just want to come for a day .

We will have the bbq going for sure ,so food will be provided if your not fussy .

It will be similar to Daves GTG for those that attended or seen the pics .

We will tho be putting a limit on numbers .
Due to the fact that I think it would be a struggle for us all to learn from one instructor if there was twenty or more of us all grappling for one persons attention .

So I think we will run with a class of including me ,eight plus instructor or if we get luckly, two or even more instructors.
That is a big hint to you ,saw gurus out there(plead)

So that means 7 spaces remain unless, I pull out not lickly[emoji41]


Dates I'm thinking the last weekend in April

So to keep it fair and even ,
I will except the first 7 to pm there interested .


Cost will be zero ,but and there's always a but .
You will need to bring your own saws to sharpen well that's sort of obviously.
Tho your welcome to sharpen my own growing collection and leave them with me lol razor sharp .
You will need to bring a saw vice .

You will also need to bring along enough saw files(we can discuss this later in the thread but for any one who doesn't know or is quite new to wood work and hand saws and intends on attending saw files are becoming a little bit more difficult to obtain these days .
Also from my own research, a saw file is costing around the $7/13 au at present ,each
So you may want to arm your self with a few.
They are a disposable items.
But please correct me here if I'm wrong .
You will also need a saw setting tool .
Tho I have about four or five to share there .
Also tho not necessary , you may find some sort of magnifying headband or the one that is attached to a bench light handy if your eye sights not the best .
Especially if you want to sharpen the small saws with higher teeth count .

We intend holding the class outside under a large pergola we have around quite heavy and large outside table.(sits 14)
So if we get nice clear sunny day we should be good there.lots of natural light

None of this is set in concrete yet, first thing first is to see if there is enough interest.
If we get a huge response we may, and its only a may run more than one weekend)
But we will just see on that one.
And just one more time if you think you can lend a hand with regard to instructing a bunch of people wanting to keep a dying black art alive .
Please stand up or let me know .

Cheers Matt