Thread: My Saw Jointer

Originally Posted by pmcgee

Hey Paul. From the same seller ... I'll take two, thanks.
Paul

Gorgeous French Saw Filing Vise | eBay

French Vice 47472.jpg French Vice 47472a.jpg

Certainly a nice piece but wouldn't the screws get in the way of the saw plate?

Originally Posted by homesy135

Certainly a nice piece but wouldn't the screws get in the way of the saw plate?

You think you're soooooooooo smart.
Hmmm.
Maybe it is designed for bowsaw blades?

Originally Posted by pmcgee

You think you're soooooooooo smart.
Hmmm.
Maybe it is designed for bowsaw blades?

I didn't consider bowsaw blades but did notice the void under the metal jaw liners and "assumed" that was a recess for the saw back. I know assuming is dangerous!

Actually, Paul, you may be on to something there. Remember those photos of French woodworkers renovating a French museum or university department (can't remember exactly). Did Chris Schwarz post them? They were taken circa 1900 (assuming again!). Any way, they all carried bowsaws. Not a nice Disston or S&J western style saw among them. Again assuming, perhaps Italian woodworkers used bowsaws over Disston or S&J western style saws too?

It would almost certainly be for bow saw blades. I've never seen a vintage 'Anglo saw' in France. All the vintage market saws I've seen are bow saws with the blades fixed with a nail at either end to the frame.

I was wondering how the vise was attached? The base doesn't look to me like it was designed to be held in a larger vise but be a permanent attachment to a bench.

Also why is it "S" shaped in the legs if only the shallow depth at the top was to be used. The shape would make sense if it was to allow clearance from the jaws all the way down past the base?


Is it definitely a saw vise or was that someones assumption that has been carried on?


I have been admiring photos of that item for months.

Originally Posted by DSEL74

I was wondering how the vise was attached? The base doesn't look to me like it was designed to be held in a larger vise but be a permanent attachment to a bench.

Also why is it "S" shaped in the legs if only the shallow depth at the top was to be used. The shape would make sense if it was to allow clearance from the jaws all the way down past the base?

My guess, it is 'S' shaped so the blade can remain in the saw frame with the frame hanging down past the bench. A holdfast will secure it to the edge of the bench.

Originally Posted by DSEL74

.....Is it definitely a saw vise or was that someones assumption that has been carried on?....

Well, someone in the past obviously thought so - there are a lot of file-marks across those jaw inserts! That is supportive evidence that it was used for bowsaw blades, I reckon, because you don't have much to grip with a narrow blade, and so very little protrusion of the teeth you are working on, & therefore you are much more likely to hit the jaw tops while filing.

And I think the S-shaped stiles only makes sense in the saw vise context, as they are oriented exactly how you'd expect for saw clearance, especially if positioned at the edge of the bench for bowsaws, as NC suggests. Must say that I would not want a base like that, myself, but NC's other suggestion that it was stuck down with a couple of hodlfasts makes sense, though I would have expected some visible wear marks if that had been the case. Perhaps the owner was very careful to put a slip of wood under the holdfast to prevent marking, some other method was used to secure it?

Cheers,

Originally Posted by IanW

.............but NC's other suggestion that it was stuck down with a couple of hodlfasts makes sense, though I would have expected some visible wear marks if that had been the case. Perhaps the owner was very careful to put a slip of wood under the holdfast to prevent marking, some other method was used to secure it?

Cheers,

On the second photo, there are four (screw?) holes in the top of the base, between the legs. Perhaps for attaching a guard to avoid bruising by the holdfast . The holes do not look large enough for screws suitable for attaching the vice to a bench.

Originally Posted by DSEL74

I have been admiring photos of that item for months.

I'm an eBay tragic but I've never seen that photo. Clearly there is another eBay category in which to immerse myself.

Originally Posted by IanW

Well, someone in the past obviously thought so - there are a lot of file-marks across those jaw inserts!

Ah. I had taken that for the wood grain. In that case I will suggest that shows a regime of rip-only filing.

Originally Posted by NCArcher

My guess, it is 'S' shaped so the blade can remain in the saw frame with the frame hanging down past the bench. A holdfast will secure it to the edge of the bench.

It is 12" across. My first idea was that it might be held in a tail-vice such as Ian is enamoured of.
I can think of two other ways it might be used in a normal face vice.
1 - with a turning bladed bowsaw, the handles etc could lie back on the bench with the blade in the vice.
2 - with a rectangular frame-saw with the blade up the middle.

Originally Posted by homesy135

I'm an eBay tragic but I've never seen that photo. Clearly there is another eBay category in which to immerse myself.

Same seller as the jointer ... "See other items".

The same guy waving things around on the 'net like ...

47613a.jpg and Vance-Landis PA 1a.jpg <<swoon>>

Originally Posted by pmcgee

Same seller as the jointer ... "See other items".

The same guy waving things around on the 'net like ...

47613a.jpg and Vance-Landis PA 1a.jpg <<swoon>>

"See other items". I'd never done that with a Jim Bode listing. He has some fine tools for sale.