Thread: I've been gambling.....

JK

I don't think the bend top to bottom will matter. I would try it as is first. The side bend is much more of an issue as the saw plate will want to follow. Try Ian's method, but as he says be wary of pinching the kerf and closing it up. It can be opened up again if it does close but better if you can prevent it in the first place. If you have an old piece of saw plate lying around, you could put that in the kerf while you bend the back, providing it is a suitable thickness.

Regards
Paul

Simple answer yes,
Long answer take your time, only use a soft faced hammer.
LOTS OF PATIENCE,
I’ve folded a few backs, an in the process you have too straighten them.
If you have an old saw plate the same thickness insert that in the spine.
As Ian pointed out getting around spring back is the trick, an there’s no magic pill.
It’s basically Black magic for saws,

Cheers Matt.

Thanks everyone. I will see if i can find some saw plate. The kerf in the back looks a bit uneven in width, so hopefully it hasn't closed up too much.

Slow going here, but two more completed.

The 10" brass back Spear and Jackson from post #62. She's a beauty!

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And the 14" David Ward & Sons from post #1. I tried BLO on the handle of this and instantly regretted it. It is very dark. I should have stuck with shellawax like the other saw handles.
Oh well, I'll have to find a replacement!

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I have five more to go and then I'm done!

Ward handle looks great. And it's nice to have a range of colours in your saw till

Originally Posted by Mountain Ash

Ward handle looks great. And it's nice to have a range of colours in your saw till

Yeah, it's easier to pick the one you want out of the crowd....

Originally Posted by IanW

Yeah, it's easier to pick the one you want out of the crowd....

Absolutely. Mix and match.

Regards
Paul

PS: Different handles are a favourite trick with the woodturners I believe.

BLO does have a tendency to darken the colour of timber,

before replacing try a good degreaser to remove the BLO.

If that does not work try oxalic acid.

Graham.

Jackson 10" from post #62 is done.

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A lot the saws I've cleaned have bent plates. I've tried to straighten some of them, but I've had no luck. I've three more saws to go then I'll have another go at straightening them. I'll be back for more advice!

Originally Posted by johknee

A lot the saws I've cleaned have bent plates. I've tried to straighten some of them, but I've had no luck. I've three more saws to go then I'll have another go at straightening them. I'll be back for more advice!

johknee

Are the plates bent when out of the back? If they only bend when attaching the plate, you should try driving the back onto the plate from the toe towards the handle. This has the effect of tensioning the blade. If you have been tapping the blade down from the top, it could be resulting in a bent saw plate.

If the saw plate is bent without the back fixed , you may have to do some hammering, but that is another discipline in itself. Just a gentle curve sometimes straightens when the back is driven on horizontally from the toe as described above.

Regards
Paul

Thanks, Paul.

Most have bent plates without the backs, but I'll have a go at re-fitting the backs and see what happens. I'm reluctant to give the plates a bashing!

I'm enjoying catching up on your multiple saw restoration projects, JK. Looking good. It's posts like these that made me itching to browse ebay, marketplace and Sunday markets again for saws that I don't need.

Thanks, Andy. I've been keeping an eye out for new projects too! I ONLY have three saws left to clean up

12" Tyzack from this post is done and I'm done!

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