Thread: Saw Nib Mystery Solved.

First thing that crossed my mind was summed up in the comments below the story:

I know you probably posted this tongue in cheek, but that last time this possible answer came up, the first question raised was: "how does a little rounded off single nib do a better job clearing sawdust from the kerf than all those sharp pointy teeth?"

Originally Posted by silentC

First thing that crossed my mind was summed up in the comments below the story:

I agree - also, have you ever had sawdust etc fall into the kerf from above? I can never recall it happening, and even if it did , the angle of the top of the blade would clear it out on the next forward stroke. I think we are still in need of a good solution to this question (I suggest that given the source of the information, this is a case of smokes and mirrors)

Of course.
Cigarette card manufacturers have known all along.
Don't know why no-one thought to ask them before this.
Now if we can only find another corroborating source - perhaps the Footie Show or the Women's Weekly.

Oh yeah! How much credibility can you give the gentlemen who repeatedly stated that cigarettes do not cause cancer.

Cheers

Graeme

Apparently, the nib originated in Ireland, and it was employed to assist the woodworker in identifying which side of the saw to use

Originally Posted by Ian Smith

Apparently, the nib originated in Ireland, and it was employed to assist the woodworker in identifying which side of the saw to use

Nah....If you saw long enough with the nib side, it'll cut through anything

That's very strange... I thought the nib was there to hold your cigarette.

It's painfully obvious to most, that the nib was designed to assist with untying carpenters bootlaces. Early carpenters, after a long day ripping 30 ft 10x8 beams by hand, their backs were shot, and couldn't bend down easily to untie their boot laces, early attempts to use the sharp side of the saw are well documented by various cobblers unions. Truck loads of geriatric cobblers were required just to maintain the carpenters boots, hence the saying*.


Regards
Ray

*It's a load of old cobblers.

As a kid in the 50's making sawdust in my great uncles workshop - he was born in the 1880's - He repeatedly told me to "watch the nib" - well, actually, I always thought he said 'nip'.

He regarded the nib/nip/notch as being like a the sights on a gun - if your movement of the saw was not strait and smooth then this waywardness was very obvious in the path of the nip.

Had totally forgotten about this until teminded by the thread. Wish I had paid more attention.

Cheers

Graeme

Well this last reply in interesting. I have to buy a saw to put a nib in it to see if this is correct.

Or at the very least see what the results are.

Just rang the old man who was a chippy back in the day and he said he was told it was used for scoring a line if you didn't want to stuff the teeth. Said he never used it though as he thought it was in the wrong spot for that purpose, so he isn't sure if it is true or not. Did his apprenticeship at the old Midland w/shops in Perth 45 ish years ago.

My dad also said the nib can be used to score a line and help with starting a cut. He was the fourth generation of chippies in the family that we know of so should have had some idea. I have seen him start the cut with the nib using a few pull strokes and his thumb as a guide. I should have paid more attention at the time and seen how the nib was sharpened. The folly of youth cant be undone now as it is way too late to ask.

Originally Posted by orraloon

The folly of youth cant be undone now as it is way too late to ask.

Hear! Hear!