Thread: Saw Sharpening / Sharpeners

binding is usually a sign of not having enough set on the teeth
regards joel

What shedbound said.

There are plenty of books around and online articles about sharpening; get yourself a library ticket and an old blade to practice on! Blade setters come up on E-bay fairly regularly; I've only ever used Stanley ones and they seem to be ok.

If it's not for you then your local toolshop will know a blade sharpening guy.

Thanks Guys, I'll look into sharpening / setting myself then

From what i've read in the past i'd need a saw vice (or make one myself), saw set and taper files.... I've read that grobet seem the best of the bunch at the moment, is this correct?

Thanks

There is also saw tensioning to help take the tendency for the saw to bend on a push stroke and whip when you pull the saw back.

Saw tensioners would slightly stretch the centre of the saw blade with a hammer and anvil to create tension across it's length. I had a chat with a local who still does this with his saws.
I had no idea about this until recently. Looks like another lost skill. Or maybe it has become redundant?

I used to sharpen my own saws then hit 50 and eye sight was not what it used to be.

Sent 2 saws off to Peacock Saws
for around 15.00 for a 24" cross cut and about the same for a 12" Tenon Saw.
Won't bother doing 'em myself. Peacock Saws - Circular Saw Blades, Band Saws, Router Bits, - Welcome to Peacock Saws
89 Victoria Street,
West End QLD 4101
P: 07 3844 3381


Cheers

Steve

Thanks for the tip steve, at that price its worth getting something I know that works properly before playing around with working out if its my sharpening technique or my sawing technique - will give them a call.

Maybe a combination approach - get them done professionally, and then keep them touched up yourself. There are two new saw filing guides on the market:
One from Lee Valley
One from Isaac at Blackburn Tools

Surprising that IanW hasn't lobbed into this thread - he normally spots a saw sharpening thread in an instant.

There is an excellent and very detailed guide to sharpening at vintage saws.



Nick

They need a sharpen and a set.

I wouldn't say don't take them to peacock, but I would say definitely have a look into sharpening them yourself at some point. It is not as straight forward as sharpening a chisel but once you get the hang of it it is extremely satisfying. I only been doing a little while and am now happy mucking around with angles to get different types of cut. I never had that much fun sharpening a chisel or plane blade.

Cheers

There's been a good deal of discussion in the handtools unpowered section on using and sharpening saws.

The file issue comes up, and there's been some lack of enthusiasm for Nicholson files available in hardware stores.
They seem a good starting option to me ... but I'm no genius.
They are recommended in this old thread: https://www.woodworkforums.com/f152/h...pening-114411/

That thread is worth looking at, but a little weathered now that there seems to be an increasingly wider appreciation for what can be done with a good handsaw.

Look for posts by RayG and IanW for the very very good oil.

The internet is your friend ... there are many good links ... Vintage saws site is mentioned in the link above ... and Youtube is very useful ... allowing you to see the action (Lee-Neilsen have at least two ... there's a thread somewhere about videos). Beyond that there is a DVD available by Ron Herman.

This is a good thread to read ... https://www.woodworkforums.com/f152/n...ndsaws-165696/
and it mentions Paul Sellers with a 30min saw sharpening video viewable online.

Cheers,
Paul

Originally Posted by fields

I've tried searching / browsing so apologies if this has been asked before.

Recently, on the search for planes and chisels, I purchased some old panel and tenon saws. I have been trying to use them and have been getting frustrated, I can't work out if my technique is wrong or the saws are not sharp enough. I find they bind in the wood, are very slow crosscutting or ripping pine and if I push too hard they want to bend. They don't appear rusty and were used by a carpenter who always oiled them.

I did not find sharpening planes difficult as I've been hand sharpening knives for years, but sharpening saws is something rather alien to me.

Would you recommend me buying some files and trying to sharpen them, some sort of practice for my sawing technique or sending them off to someone specific to sharpen?

Thanks

Hi, my member name is Air-Dried...did you try to contact me? You should be able to now! Cheers Alan

You might want to ask around. I did, and I stumbled into a gang of
retired farmers that set up a blade shop for anything and everything.
They sit and yak and visit, hoping that someone waltzes in with a job.
#1 was an 80t x 25cm TC miter saw blade ($15.00) "Yeah, come back tomorrow."
#2 was a Stanley Sharktooth HS that hit a vein of pyrite in some soapstone carving.
Hard as it was, $15 and they touched up the worn teeth tips. Just fine with me.