My practise saw

**Mountain Ash** · 30th December 2020, 03:05 PM

Hi all. I have long been inspired by those who make their own tools and feel that I am making some progress myself. One area I have been encouraged to try is handsaws. I have been fortunate to purchase some brass backs and saw nuts (thank you again) but wanted to practise few things before committing to the "heirloom" tools. A plastic handled teeth hardened Bahco tenon saw I bought many years ago would be perfect.

20201222_093836.jpg

Removing the handle was easy in the end and I cleaned up the blade "Bushmiller" style.

20201227_104017.jpg

I decided on 10TPI as I wanted a saw that could cut to length quickly on the bench. Blackburn Tools provided the toothing template and the handle template. I cut off the old teeth with an angle grinder and a straight edge. I am pleased with my results but it's harder than sharpening.

20201227_105024.jpg

The handle is made of spotted gum and the first time I have tried making one with a lambs tongue. I like them although probably a little fancy for a saw with a hanging hole drilled into the blade.

20201229_132858.jpg

I modified the shape of the blade to fit my handle (possibly influenced by "Bad Axe Tools") and drilled for new holes. I tried IanW's trick with the nail but just ended up rounding over the nail point. I think Chief Tiff suggested titanium bits and I had some gold ones in my collection. They worked.

End result......good start. Cut out in handle not perfect and blade is not exactly perpendicular to handle (pretty close though) and a couple of annoying chips in handle. Does it cut? You bet. Aggressive enough (12° rake and 20°fleam) and best handle yet. And the more I sharpen the better the teeth will be.

20201230_121850.jpg

**Chief Tiff** · 30th December 2020, 03:13 PM

Another slippery slope to fall down!

Well done; that’s a dead saw repurposed and looking much better for it!

**LanceC** · 30th December 2020, 03:25 PM

Great job MA! That’s exactly how I started too, and because it’s so nice to use it can regularly be found on my bench.

**Mountain Ash** · 30th December 2020, 03:34 PM

Thanks CT and Lance.

**Simplicity** · 30th December 2020, 05:18 PM

Wow Fantastic effort MA,

You really have bitten the Tool making thingy.

So don’t be shy, your amongst other addicts, what are you planning next??.

Cheers Matt.

**Mountain Ash** · 30th December 2020, 05:58 PM

Hi Matt. You're spot on. And a big part of the blame belongs to this forum and the people on it. You have all set a very bad example

.

I just resawed and dressed up some more fiddleback redgum for 2 matching handles. These should look great with brass backs. And I have some more blunt hardpoint saws to use as stock for the blades.

Unfortunately I am running out of the timber. It was a door sill from a recent reno.

Cut side, passed through thicknesser and roughly smoothed
20201230_180459.jpg

Original face, scrub planed and roughly smoothed
20201230_180606.jpg

**Simplicity** · 30th December 2020, 06:21 PM

Originally Posted by Mountain Ash

Hi Matt. You're spot on. And a big part of the blame belongs to this forum and the people on it. You have all set a very bad example

.

I just resawed and dressed up some more fiddleback redgum for 2 matching handles. These should look great with brass backs. And I have some more blunt hardpoint saws to use as stock for the blades.

Unfortunately I am running out of the timber. It was a door sill from a recent reno.

Cut side, passed through thicknesser and roughly smoothed
20201230_180459.jpg

Original face, scrub planed and roughly smoothed
20201230_180606.jpg

MA, We are Bad people hear no doubt about that.
I’m considering taking up crack cocaine to help save a little bit of the molla an giving up Tool making![emoji6]

If you start running low on materials, kidneys sell quite well I’m let to be informed.

I’m just saying that’s all.

Cheers Matt.

**Chief Tiff** · 30th December 2020, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by Simplicity

If you start running low on materials, kidneys sell quite well I’m let to be informed.

My preference is to sell a child for medical experiments; they’re easily replenished and my kidneys have taken a bit of a pounding over the years.

**Cklett** · 30th December 2020, 10:31 PM

That's pretty great. Looks fantastic. If that is your practise saw I can't wait to see the actual saw you are going to make!

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

**Andy_B** · 31st December 2020, 08:27 AM

Very nice handle, MA.

The saw's second life is much better than its first.

**Mountain Ash** · 31st December 2020, 10:07 AM

Originally Posted by Cklett

That's pretty great. Looks fantastic. If that is your practise saw I can't wait to see the actual saw you are going to make!

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Thanks CK. It turned out very nicely, but I can still see things I can improve on. It cuts and thats the point

This is probably an old joke but after our last conversation, I now know that I can use a drill to make holes or I can use a saw to cut holz

**Mountain Ash** · 31st December 2020, 10:09 AM

Thanks AB. The handle is very nice to hold too.

**Cklett** · 24th March 2023, 05:44 PM

On the risk of bringing up an old thread I still decided to add my post here. After all.it was this thread which inspired me to also upgrade a cheap back saw very similar to the one above.

I have this saw from one of the cheap yellow mitre boxes. I don't know when I bought it. Years ago for some small job I guess. I couldn't see if the teeth were electro hardened. When I tested with a file, I noticed that I'll be able to sharpen them as they were. Not sure what it says about the quality of steel.

Anyway, this is what I came up with.

I took inspiration from the improved Disston #9 backsaw with the Reagan's patented handle. As the spine was not long enough for the blade with a new handle, it fit well to shape the toe accordingly.

For the handle I took a template from Blackburn's and modified the design. I couldn't find a template for the Reagan's handle. I never saw that one with a lambs tongue. So I mashed up the designs to my liking.

Same with the colour of the spine. I have seen black ones, but I decided to have some fun. Might not be everybody's taste.

I gave it a sharpen and she cuts surprisingly well. And the handle feels really good.

Sent from my SM-G781B using Tapatalk

**Mountain Ash** · 25th March 2023, 09:23 AM

Hi CK. Love it! I have seen an original Disston saw with that handle shape and it was pretty pricey. More of the Chinese Elm?

**Simplicity** · 25th March 2023, 11:45 AM

Cklett,
You can now proudly call that beautiful saw A Cklett improved saw, based similarly on a Vintage Disstion improved saw, but we all like yours better.

Cheers Matt.

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