Another gunnadoitsomeday done!

**IanW** · 8th December 2008, 09:06 AM

I made a small-saw holder after the style recommended by Tage Frid more than 20 years ago (pic 1). It was made in a big hurry to get a saw sharpened so I could get on with the job, and it never worked well. The only scrap ply I had at the time was too thin, so when you clamp it into the main vise, the sides bow, & the top doesn't close firmly on the saw. By putting extra clamps on it, it sort of worked, but I had to stop halfway through each side & move the clamps. Every time I used it, I cursed it & resolved to make something better, but it took a while to filter to the top of the priority list.

So, here is the replacement, at last. It's modelled on a picture of an old one I found, somewhere, with a couple of modifications. As always with a prototype, there are a few details that could be improved. The chunky style is deliberate, to keep it stiff. The two cross-pieces aren't really necessary, but they make a convenient pivot point for the front arm, and add mass. They also brace it when clamped in the main vice. The jaw inserts were added because the body is Vic. Ash, which I thought a bit soft & splinterey for this job, so a couple of bits of Olive wood were screwed into a shallow rebate on the jaws, then planed to give a clean fit at the top, & a small gap at the bottom. They should be a bit higher to allow angling the file down more easily when filing fleam on crosscuts, so I'll replace them someday (within the next 20 years!).

On a trial run, it worked very well. It's plenty stiff enough, & holds the saw up at a much more convenient height than the old thing did. It will be perfect when I get around to making the small, high bench for jobs like this & cutting dovetails, where the work needs to be held higher. I have been planning that for several years, so someday soon.....

Cheers,

**Andy Mac** · 8th December 2008, 09:54 AM

Very nice work as usual Ian! Chunky and stylish.

BTW How come your main vice looks old and much loved, but lacks the sawcuts mine has?!

Cheers

**IanW** · 8th December 2008, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by Andy Mac

....BTW How come your main vice looks old and much loved, but lacks the sawcuts mine has?!

Cheers

Andy - it has plenty of dings & marks. Most of my sawing & chiseling take place down t'other end, by the tail vise. There are lots of love-marks there!

Cheers,

**silentC** · 8th December 2008, 10:04 AM

Very nice. I reckon it needs a wooden pin instead of that bolt though

**IanW** · 8th December 2008, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by silentC

.... I reckon it needs a wooden pin instead of that bolt though

Yeah Silent - the bolt is a temporary thing - I was tossing up between a brass rod or a wooden dowel. It doesn't really carry any strain, so there's no need for anything heroic. Sometime in the next 20 years, I'm going to fix that detail....

Avagoodone,

**lightwood** · 8th December 2008, 11:10 AM

Thanks Ian,
That is just the pattern I needed. I have a cast iron one that has crappy jaws that won't close nice and square and tight. And your setup looks so much nicer. Well done!
I've saved those pictures for next year...or the one after that

Regards,
Peter

**IanW** · 8th December 2008, 11:57 AM

Originally Posted by lightwood

...I've saved those pictures for next year...or the one after that

Regards,
Peter

Peter - well, mine took about 20 years, so anything less than that is an improvement!

Mine was inspired by a picture of an old wooden vise I saw on some web page or other - I can't remember where. It just looked so elegantly simple I thought it worth a go. I'll attach the original picture - hope it won't infringe anyone's copyright, but it's worth looking at...

Cheers,

**RayG** · 8th December 2008, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by IanW

Peter - well, mine took about 20 years, so anything less than that is an improvement!

Mine was inspired by a picture of an old wooden vise I saw on some web page or other - I can't remember where. It just looked so elegantly simple I thought it worth a go. I'll attach the original picture - hope it won't infringe anyone's copyright, but it's worth looking at...

Cheers,

Hi Ian,

Nice work, I have been looking for a good design for a saw vise, that looks just the thing.

Regards
Ray

PS I have been trying to identify the saw in the picture, it's not an original IT by any chance?

**IanW** · 8th December 2008, 02:41 PM

Originally Posted by RayG

....PS I have been trying to identify the saw in the picture, it's not an original IT by any chance?

No - an original IW.

It's my first real go at sawmaking. Turned out ok, except the old blade I used is slightly buckled at one point & I'm still plucking up the courage to try hammering it. It actually cuts well & follows a straight line, so I'm worried I might make it worse trying to 'fix' it.

Cheers,
IW

**Woodwould** · 8th December 2008, 02:50 PM

A lovely bit of work Ian!

How do the jaws of the original one pivot?

**IanW** · 8th December 2008, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by Woodwould

..........How do the jaws of the original one pivot?

I don't think there is a pivot on the original WW. My guess is that there is simply a short block under the bottom of the vertical piece holding the front jaw. Simple & functional, but you would need to keep the jaws aligned when clamping up.....
Cheers,

**RayG** · 8th December 2008, 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by IanW

No - an original IW.

It's my first real go at sawmaking. Turned out ok, except the old blade I used is slightly buckled at one point & I'm still plucking up the courage to try hammering it. It actually cuts well & follows a straight line, so I'm worried I might make it worse trying to 'fix' it.

Cheers,
IW

Nice looking handle, it would be good to see the rest of the saw sometime.

If you can't straighten the blade, then maybe a new blade would do the trick, I have some 20 thou 1095 I can give you if that helps.

My attempts at unbuckling blades have all ended worse than I started. I keep trying whenever I get the chance and hoping that I'll figure it out someday.

Regards
Ray

**artme** · 8th December 2008, 10:07 PM

Nice work Ian!

Reminds me of my father. He used to sharpen the old two man crosscut saws. Of course the jig was much larger and pressure was applied with wedges but the principal was the same.He would set the jig up in the back yard and, because he was so particular'it seemed to take him all day to sharpen a couple of th beasts.

It was then up to my brother and I to blunten dad's two saws on the woodheap.

**IanW** · 9th December 2008, 09:01 AM

Originally Posted by RayG

Nice looking handle, it would be good to see the rest of the saw sometime.

Ray - it's shown in this post:
https://www.woodworkforums.com/showpo...3&postcount=13

As you can see, the old blade I used was not in pristine shape.

Originally Posted by RayG

My attempts at unbuckling blades have all ended worse than I started. I keep trying whenever I get the chance and hoping that I'll figure it out someday.

Yairs, I rather feared that, & so left it as is for the moment. I am keen to negotiate on your kind offer, but a fair exchange is needed - p'raps some useful handle material? Will send a PM ............

Cheers,

**mkb** · 9th December 2008, 10:27 PM

Originally Posted by RayG

My attempts at unbuckling blades have all ended worse than I started. I keep trying whenever I get the chance and hoping that I'll figure it out someday.

Don't know if you have this bookmarked? I do, and one day I might even use it

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