Handsaw restoration

[Bushmiller]

This how the little panel saw came up. There are a couple of things I am unhappy with, but it will stay like this for now as I have to sharpen it and get on with other projects.

Disston resto 002.jpgDisston resto 001.jpg

The enhancing of the etch has darkened the surrounding area too. If the plate had been absolutely flat it would not have been an issue, but there were small scratches and the etch goes into those. Some lights make it seems worse than others. I will have to think about that aspect for the future.

I rubbed the handle back, added some "mahogany" (sounds better than dark red ) stain, hit it with a coat of shellac and then rubbed Danish Oil over it. Initially it came up well, but then seemed to fade or rub off. More experimentation required here too. The level of lustre was what I wanted and overall has come up looking pretty for a sore (eh, I mean saw).

Regards
Paul

[planemaker]

Hi Paul. May have been better xon the saw handle to use the Danish oil 1st; rub off any excess with a dry rag; leave for a couple of days to harden; then lightly sand back with 400 grit; before applying a couple of coats of shellac. I know a few guys in the U.S.A who restore early handsaws recommend Fiebings Leather Dye on their handles. Fiebings Leather DYE 118ml 4floz Various Colours Free UK Post | eBay

Stewie;

[Sawdust Maker]

If you hit the rest of the blade with the etch enhancer would it make that patch less noticeable

PS nice looking saw

[Bushmiller]

Hi Paul. May have been better xon the saw handle to use the Danish oil 1st; rub off any excess with a dry rag; leave for a couple of days to harden; then lightly sand back with 400 grit; before applying a couple of coats of shellac. I know a few guys in the U.S.A who restore early handsaws recommend Fiebings Leather Dye on their handles. Fiebings Leather DYE 118ml 4floz Various Colours Free UK Post | eBay

Stewie;

Stewie

I am really not sure. In the past I have stained, varnished (matt), waited 48hrs and then rubbed teak oil in with steel wool This produces a super smooth satin finish. I think I may have been too clever for my own good trying to use shellac (methylated spirit base) and Danish oil (mineral turps base).

I think I may return to what I know best. They all, allegedly, come up with a similar, smooth, satin finish.

Regards
Paul

[Bushmiller]

If you hit the rest of the blade with the etch enhancer would it make that patch less noticeable

PS nice looking saw

Nick

I think that may well be the answer. Whilst I was bemoaning my lot to SWMBO, she suggested exactly the same and you have both verbalised what had started to go through my mind. By the way she fell for the line about coming into the shed to see my etchings; Maybe a little too quickly . I thought I detected a little eargerness that wasn't entirely in keeping with boy's tool pawn!

Also I suspect I should have just wiped on the darkening solution rather than rubbing it in vigorously. I'll see what happens next time with gentle wiping and perhaps killing the chemical action as soon as darkening starts to appear.

Regards
Paul

[planemaker]

Stewie

I am really not sure. In the past I have stained, varnished (matt), waited 48hrs and then rubbed teak oil in with steel wool This produces a super smooth satin finish. I think I may have been too clever for my own good trying to use shellac (methylated spirit base) and Danish oil (mineral turps base).

I think I may return to what I know best. They all, allegedly, come up with a similar, smooth, satin finish.

Regards
Paul

Hi Paul. Go with your gut feel. Hope it works out for you.

Stewie;

[Bushmiller]

Hi Paul. Go with your gut feel. Hope it works out for you.

Stewie;

Thanks Stewie

Having said that, I am still interested to hear people's recipes.

Regards
Paul

[planemaker]

Its all cool Paul. Using a finish that you have confidence in is a smart move.

Stewie;

[Sawdust Maker]

I used a 50:50 (poly:turps) mix on my sheoak tote on my gramercy kit dovetail saw.
I still need to use steelwool and wax to do my final polish on it

I'm not sure what I'll use on the couple of elderly saws I'm restoring at the moment
I was thinking maybe a poly:turps:blo mix 1/3 each
I may still go that route but try it on a sacrifical saw handle first

or maybe BLO first then poly:turps
or maybe ...

[hiroller]

Any pics of your kit saw?

[Sawdust Maker]

Any pics of your kit saw?

here post no 31
the next two are getting closer to completion

[Bushmiller]

here post no 31
the next two are getting closer to completion

Nick

That's a good link back to your thread. Some very handy information there and a lot of input from IanW too.

Regards
Paul

[pmcgee]

More regarding finishing ...

from bs.net ... http://www.backsaw.net/index.php?opt...=3032#post3032

from Daryl Weir ... http://home.grics.net/~weir/saw_restoration.html

or follow Stewie's amazing work ... http://woodworkerszone.com/igits/showthread.php?t=14194

[planemaker]

Thanks Paul. I was trying to keep my post all hush hush.

Stewie;

[Pac man]

Thanks Paul I appreciate the link to Stewies thread as it gave me some info I was chasing on counterbores.