Thread: Back Saw Handle

Originally Posted by Chris Parks

Continuing this little adventure, I would like to ask why the saw plate has an angle cut? Is it necessary and do all back saws have it?

If you are referring to the plate here Chris.
You don't have a lot of meat left in your handle.


As you can see we're I've drawn on your pic.
If it was left square.
Hence it's a good idea to cut the plate a bit.
So has to leave some strength in the handle.

Cheers Matt

Matt, I am going to make an entirely new handle to suit the saw most probably open at the bottom. Before I get that far I am wondering about the angled cut and it seems to me it might be done so that most of the load created on the handle on the cut stroke is transferred to the folded back instead of into the saw plate itself. Purely guess work on my part so I thought I would ask here. If my presumption is correct then the handle has to have good contact with the folded back when it is installed. Of course it might just be to add strength to the handle as you have shown but designing from scratch would do that (I think).

Originally Posted by Chris Parks

Matt, I am going to make an entirely new handle to suit the saw most probably open at the bottom. Before I get that far I am wondering about the angled cut and it seems to me it might be done so that most of the load created on the handle on the cut stroke is transferred to the folded back instead of into the saw plate itself. Purely guess work on my part so I thought I would ask here. If my presumption is correct then the handle has to have good contact with the folded back when it is installed. Of course it might just be to add strength to the handle as you have shown but designing from scratch would do that (I think).

Chris,
The folded back or the spine is there only to make the saw plate stiffer.
Which in my understanding (and my belief)is a bonus when doing joinery work ie cutting a joint.
It is the saw bolts that join your arm muscle to the saw plate that is then transversed to the cutting of timber.
The handle is only a very comfortable way of holding the saw plate.
Well almost nesasery tho.
A panel saw as no spine(back)but still cuts timber.

Your saw in question will work reasonably well if you assembled it and left the back(spine of).

Cheers Matt

Due to ill health this little project has been ignored for a while but I need to get back into it. I need some nut sets to fasten the handle on and to know what size to drill the holes. Can I get them in Oz or do I have to go to someone like Blackburns to get them or does anyone have some old ones laying about they want to get rid of. I have seen these but they don't impress me much.

Hand Saw - Maintenence & Care : Screw, Handle, for attaching hand saw handle to blade, (Saw screw ), #sscrew

Chris

I have plenty of spares. Let me know whether you would like two or three sets. If you are still considering an open handle there is typically only room for two. Also what choice of medallion. Off the top of my head I can't recall the origins of the saw and I am just heading off to work. I may do a refresher later on, but I will have something.

I hope you yourself are mending well.

Regards
Paul

Chris

It looks like a Disston. So a Disston medallion it would be.

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by Chris Parks

Due to ill health this little project has been ignored for a while but I need to get back into it. I need some nut sets to fasten the handle on and to know what size to drill the holes. Can I get them in Oz or do I have to go to someone like Blackburns to get them or does anyone have some old ones laying about they want to get rid of. I have seen these but they don't impress me much.

Hand Saw - Maintenence & Care : Screw, Handle, for attaching hand saw handle to blade, (Saw screw ), #sscrew

Chris hope your on the mend.
And can't wait to see the saw finished.

Cheers Matt

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

Chris

I have plenty of spares. Let me know whether you would like two or three sets. If you are still considering an open handle there is typically only room for two. Also what choice of medallion. Off the top of my head I can't recall the origins of the saw and I am just heading off to work. I may do a refresher later on, but I will have something.

I hope you yourself are mending well.

Regards
Paul

Paul, I am sure it is a home made saw so I guess a medallion is not needed? Thanks for the offer and I will PM you for some contact details. I was wondering how I was going to cut the slot for the blade so I tried the bandsaw and the kerf is exactly the right width.