PDA

View Full Version : Another Saw Making Class.



RayG
5th July 2015, 07:24 PM
Josh and myself ran another saw making class, yesterday at Handsome and Co. http://www.handsomeandco.com/shortcourse/make-your-own-back-saw/

There were 6 students and all managed to get something that looked a bit like a dovetail saw completed in the day, although it was a bit rushed at the end, I ended up cutting the 18 tpi teeth ( a bit rough ) on 6 saws in a bit over 2 hours.. I hope they can fix up my mistakes :)

351656

The handles are three different walnut variants, and a fiddle back jarrah ( 3rd from right)

We used Rob Streeper's saw nuts, ( I like the solid 3/16 shank ) and came out well, I'd like a slightly longer threaded portion, but with 7/8" thick handles no problem.

The saws are 8" x 2" 0.015 plate, generally inspired by the early Kenyon style, the finish is shellac and wax.

Ray

Apologies for the lousy phone camera picture, the batteries on the other camera died after one picture.

planemaker
5th July 2015, 07:38 PM
Hi Ray. Kudos to you and Josh. :2tsup::2tsup:

regards Stewie;

rob streeper
5th July 2015, 09:17 PM
Josh and myself ran another saw making class, yesterday at Handsome and Co. http://www.handsomeandco.com/shortcourse/make-your-own-back-saw/

There were 6 students and all managed to get something that looked a bit like a dovetail saw completed in the day, although it was a bit rushed at the end, I ended up cutting the 18 tpi teeth ( a bit rough ) on 6 saws in a bit over 2 hours.. I hope they can fix up my mistakes :)

351656

The handles are three different walnut variants, and a fiddle back jarrah ( 3rd from right)

We used Rob Streeper's saw nuts, ( I like the solid 3/16 shank ) and came out well, I'd like a slightly longer threaded portion, but with 7/8" thick handles no problem.

The saws are 8" x 2" 0.015 plate, generally inspired by the early Kenyon style, the finish is shellac and wax.

Ray

Apologies for the lousy phone camera picture, the batteries on the other camera died after one picture.

Hi Ray,

Nice efforts there from the class. Kudos for organizing the effort. The screws have been redesigned and will accommodate handle thicknesses from ~18 mm to ~25 mm.
I recently found one of the old design screws on the bathroom floor - evidently the cat's have completed their study of it and I expect them to reveal a new saw soon.

Cheers,
Rob

RayG
6th July 2015, 03:28 PM
Hi Ray,

Nice efforts there from the class. Kudos for organizing the effort. The screws have been redesigned and will accommodate handle thicknesses from ~18 mm to ~25 mm.
I recently found one of the old design screws on the bathroom floor - evidently the cat's have completed their study of it and I expect them to reveal a new saw soon.

Cheers,
Rob

Thanks Rob, Sounds like the new saw screws will be perfect. Unless the cat has some clever design enhancements?

One thing I'm going to have to get serious about and that's finding a decent foley retoother. If you ever see one for sale, let me know.

Ray

rob streeper
6th July 2015, 11:19 PM
Thanks Rob, Sounds like the new saw screws will be perfect. Unless the cat has some clever design enhancements?

One thing I'm going to have to get serious about and that's finding a decent foley retoother. If you ever see one for sale, let me know.

Ray

The machines are no problem.

Here's one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Foley-Automatic-Saw-Retoother-no-385-/161741213885?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item25a88710bd

Here's another set, looks like a nearly complete shop http://www.ebay.com/itm/Foley-Belsaw-Saw-sharpening-equipment-lot-387-385-2450-/301678097910?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item463d6a75f6

It is possible to get the 385 machine to Australia at reasonable expense by breaking it down into components and using international flat-rate 20 lb boxes. Considering that you likely won't want the 110v motor it would probably go in two or three boxes.

The problem with these machines is not that they're rare it's that they're often missing the carrier and ratchet bars. Carriers are much easier to find - I have a lot of spares.
Ratchet bars, particularly in the toothings that were considered options (12, 14-16) are on the other hand very hard to find. Fortunately some new ones have been made recently by a regular forum contributor and more could be possibly be made if a minimum of 12 are ordered.

Cheers,
Rob

rob streeper
6th July 2015, 11:38 PM
Thanks Rob, Sounds like the new saw screws will be perfect. Unless the cat has some clever design enhancements?

One thing I'm going to have to get serious about and that's finding a decent foley retoother. If you ever see one for sale, let me know.

Ray

On the advice of the cat's I've significantly modified the design of the screws and expanded the range to include small (7/16"), medium (1/2"). large (9/16") and medallion (13/16") size screws. The lengths, shank and boss dimensions are identical for all screws, only the head and nut diameters vary.


351796351795351797351798351799

RayG
7th July 2015, 07:23 PM
The machines are no problem.

Here's one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Foley-Automatic-Saw-Retoother-no-385-/161741213885?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item25a88710bd

Here's another set, looks like a nearly complete shop http://www.ebay.com/itm/Foley-Belsaw-Saw-sharpening-equipment-lot-387-385-2450-/301678097910?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item463d6a75f6

It is possible to get the 385 machine to Australia at reasonable expense by breaking it down into components and using international flat-rate 20 lb boxes. Considering that you likely won't want the 110v motor it would probably go in two or three boxes.

The problem with these machines is not that they're rare it's that they're often missing the carrier and ratchet bars. Carriers are much easier to find - I have a lot of spares.
Ratchet bars, particularly in the toothings that were considered options (12, 14-16) are on the other hand very hard to find. Fortunately some new ones have been made recently by a regular forum contributor and more could be possibly be made if a minimum of 12 are ordered.

Cheers,
Rob

Thanks Rob,

I picked up that 385, without carrier bars, or ratchet bars, I'll have to make my own.

Ray

DSEL74
8th July 2015, 12:31 AM
In regard to the Foley, a retoother and a filer, were sold by a forum memeber (Pagie) in Melbourne about 6mths ago. I believe he said another forumite bought it. It had quite a number of ratchet bars, if the new owner steps forward you may be able to borrow some as templates etc.

rob streeper
8th July 2015, 01:03 AM
Thanks Rob,

I picked up that 385, without carrier bars, or ratchet bars, I'll have to make my own.

Ray

Quite right, I'd lapsed on your machine making abilities. If you need measurements let me know. The materials spec's are not very demanding, I made some ratchet bars out of 1/4" cold rolled 1015 and they worked very well.

RayG
8th July 2015, 02:09 AM
Quite right, I'd lapsed on your machine making abilities. If you need measurements let me know. The materials spec's are not very demanding, I made some ratchet bars out of 1/4" cold rolled 1015 and they worked very well.

Thanks Rob,

If you could point me towards some drawings or dimensions to work from, I can make my own ratchet bars and carrier bars, so I wasn't too concerned that they were missing.

Ray

hiroller
8th July 2015, 04:36 AM
Hi Ray,

Great news on picking up the 385!
I can probably help you out on some ratchet bars and carriers to copy as I have a couple of spares of each. I have accumulated overlaps putting together a full set.

I started putting together a detailed drawing with the aim of getting some ratchet bars laser cut to fill out the gaps but paused, as I ended up picking up some new ones that Ron Bontz had made.
Seeing them the originals would be easier to copy than a drawing.

The flywheel is driven by rubber drive wheel that is attached the motor spindle. These all disintegrate with time but Foley Belsaw still stock them. However you may be better off turning your own out of a better material such as polyurethane. I have a spare of these to copy if yours turns out to be in poor condition.

My my own machine has been almost cleaned up ready to run.
I'll send you an email.

IanW
13th July 2015, 09:12 AM
Tch tch, you're at it again, Ray! Leading unsuspecting innocents into the world of the saw tragic! :;

At least it isn't quite so difficult now, the person who wants to try their hand at a saw or two can get hold of the raw material a lot easier than I could when you first got me going down the slippery slope. It's been a fun ride though - I've lost count of the saws I've made since I posted my first somewhat amateurish effort, but it's getting close to the hundred mark, all up. I'm just finishing a batch as we speak, and that's going to be it for quite some time, while I get on with some major renovation work on the house (before I get sent to spend the rest of my days out with the dogs...)

Keep up the good work - the more sawmakers & sharpeners there are agitating for decent files, the better! :D

Cheers,

RayG
13th July 2015, 08:35 PM
Tch tch, you're at it again, Ray! Leading unsuspecting innocents into the world of the saw tragic! :;

At least it isn't quite so difficult now, the person who wants to try their hand at a saw or two can get hold of the raw material a lot easier than I could when you first got me going down the slippery slope. It's been a fun ride though - I've lost count of the saws I've made since I posted my first somewhat amateurish effort, but it's getting close to the hundred mark, all up. I'm just finishing a batch as we speak, and that's going to be it for quite some time, while I get on with some major renovation work on the house (before I get sent to spend the rest of my days out with the dogs...)

Keep up the good work - the more sawmakers & sharpeners there are agitating for decent files, the better! :D

Cheers,

Thanks Ian,
The supplies of vallorbe needle files are getting low. I'm chewing through too many cutting teeth from scratch, I've got a Foley 385 on the way from USA, and Hiroller is going to help out with the ratchet and carrier bars samples so I can make my own.

Your latest batch looks excellent, I'll reply in that thread.

Ray

rdriggers
19th September 2016, 02:38 AM
I need measurements of the 385 ratchet bars, I found a 385 but must make the bars any help please.

aussiemick01
3rd February 2018, 11:58 PM
Is there any more info from people here?

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk