Thread: Looking for hand saw sharpeners

After a 172 views I can't believe no one knows but I do now Austec Sharpening Services in Nerang, if you hand saws has not been touvched by a machine they will do it by hand. They seem to be extremely knowledgable and they sharpen for schools as well.

You might get a better response in the hand tool section.
It is something you can do yourself with a little practise.
Here is a great primer:
http://lumberjocks.com/Brit/blog/36332
Buy a couple of cheap old saws from the op shop and have a go!

Thnx mate I will watch it

Section 1

It is a very good instructional video made by one of our forum members. Andy has an easy listening style, but the video is long. Sit down with plenty of food and drink to enjoy the lesson to it's fullest .

Regards
Paul

I watched it and it was a great video I will watch it again I also bought a book from Amazon "keeping the cutting edge" by Harold H. Payson this was recommended by a friend of mine. I was wondering though I had a look through the Lee Valley website and was thinking about buying their saw files. Do you know if they're any good.

Sounds like you have a new journey ahead of you! I have always wanted to have a crack at handsaw sharpening but never had the time to go down that path.

There is a guy on this forum that goes under the name 'FenceFurniture' that knows his stuff on saw files.
https://www.woodworkforums.com/f152/sharpening-files-online-petition-try-result-172796

That's a link to one of his posts that would be worth a read on file quality.

I can't comment on saw files but I have mostly been happy with Nicholson and Bahco. From reading his posts, I think you have to be careful with your brands and I don't think they cut it too well with saws.

Thanks for the link post yes it is going to be a journey alright, I've been told that Bahco is the best not sure where you bought it from but would prefer it over Gorbet as I've heard through tools for wood that they are not 100% swiss made anymore. Nicholson unfortunately is way down the bottom of the list so if your sharpening with them I wouldn't anymore. Where did you buy the Bahco files from?

Section 1

I noticed somewhere on FenceFurniture's thread that Bahco saw files can be difficult to obtain. I have not attempted to source these files myself, but the company I work for buys Bahco files (engineer's files) from Blackwoods in Toowoomba.

I think Blackwoods may have outlets in many places. I don't know if the saw files can be purchased through them, but it would be worth a try.

For the future you could contact FenceFurniture via a PM to express an interest (not a commitment) for the next time he organises a group purchase of Liogier files, which you will see mentioned in the file thread. Liogier also make a superb range of hand stiched rasps.

There: That's my propaganda for this week: Fence Furniture, you know my bank details, so you can send the money as the normal arrangement .Actually, there is no financial connection; Just a satisfied participant.

A final thought is to beware that even through the ranges of files there was some variation so the likes of Bahco and Liogier might receive a good rap in one size but their fortunes are reversed in other sizes.

Life is not easy .

If you can get along to the Brissy WWW show you could pick the brains of the forum members. IanW, who was one of the file testers, is there most days I think, but you would need to double check that.

Regards
Paul

section1, it's probably best to start with what PPI saw(s) you want to sharpen, and take it from there. As Bushmiller states there is no one brand that can be relied upon to be the best across the PPI range. There is a whole world of obfuscation out there about saw files and where they are manufactured, with much misleading info such as "Grobet Swiss" which does not mean at all that they are made in Switzerland. I suspect the the only thing Swiss about them is that they may be packaged there.

The safest place to stay is if it doesn't specifically state that the file is made in Country X, then it probably comes from India. If it has black printing on the shoulder of the file then it is definitely not to be considered, Bahco being an exception, and one (only one) of the Pferd range (which is still made in India)

There are only 3, possibly 4 file factories left in Europe: Liogier (who don't publicise their files), Tome Feteira (who make for Bahco), Glardon (aka Vallorbe, who only make Precision Eng. Files and needle files).

The ppi's are as follows, 4 1/2, 8, 11, 13, 15 & 16 I intend on adding more to this list in the future. I really don't have a choice in the matter I will order those from Ln for the time being until I can those mentioned in your list. For now they only need touching up.