Thread: New To Restoring Handsaws

Hi Paul. Good find with the Tyzack pdfs! I've read the website before but didn't know about a book.

I threw backsaw.net into the Wayback Machine and got the list as of 11-may-2012.

Checklist of British Saw Makers

... but we're only getting the first 50. Doh.

Paul

I still can't access the list of makers from backsaw.net - let's hope Ray posts soon.

Saw ViceJPG.jpg

It took me a little while to get around to finishing this and testing it out. It works a treat! Holds the saw nice and tight. Not much in the way of vibration. It's a simpler design than originally envisaged, but it works

Craig

Thanks to Lightwood, I now have a fantastic piece of bubinga to use to restore an old 7ppi S&J crosscut saw that belonged to my father-in-law's father or grandfather. The handle of the saw is in bad shape. I can still use it as a template, but I can't save it, so a new handle it will be


S&J 8PPI Crosscut 01.jpg

You can't see the rot on the other side, which makes this a bad prospect of salvaging much of the original wood, but at least I can still trace around it I'll also need to track down a couple more appropriate saw nuts.

Craig

From a link below ... a Simonds and a S&J ...



I can photograph (possibly scan) similar handles if you need ...

Cheers,
Paul

Originally Posted by pmcgee

From a link below ... a Simonds and a S&J ...



I can photograph (possibly scan) similar handles if you need ...

Cheers,
Paul

Paul,

Thanks very much!

That S&J looks very similar to the one I am working on. Last night I soaked the blade in industrial cleaning vinegar and with a light sand discovered an etch with "179" on it. I've identified this saw as a "Sovereign 179". Pictures to follow soon. I am going to use my "Google-fu" to see if I can find out anything about it and some good pictures or references.

If I find anything helpful, I'll share it here.

Craig

Originally Posted by Morbius

Thanks to Lightwood, I now have a fantastic piece of bubinga to use to restore an old 7ppi S&J crosscut saw that belonged to my father-in-law's father or grandfather.

Good choice, that will make a very nice handle, looking forwards to seeing pictures. Nice looking saw vise too..

Originally Posted by homesy135

I still can't access the list of makers from backsaw.net - let's hope Ray posts soon.

Hi homesy, My memory is failing, did I get around to answering your PM about that question? Anyway, that checklist problem was fixed a while back.

Ray

The industrial vinegar and soft sanding blocks have done wonders.

Went from this (last night):

8ppi S&J Crosscut 03.jpg

To this, an hour ago:

8ppi S&J Crosscut 04.jpg

I still have to clean up around where the holes are, as I don't want any future rust there to have a head start.

Craig

Originally Posted by Morbius

Paul,

Thanks very much!

That S&J looks very similar to the one I am working on. Last night I soaked the blade in industrial cleaning vinegar and with a light sand discovered an etch with "179" on it. I've identified this saw as a "Sovereign 179". Pictures to follow soon. I am going to use my "Google-fu" to see if I can find out anything about it and some good pictures or references.

If I find anything helpful, I'll share it here.

Craig

The Sovereign is mentioned in this 1961 publication of S&J. Available as a download from Toolerama Press:

Mfg. - Spear & Jackson Saw Makers - Toolemera.com

Originally Posted by RayG

Hi homesy, My memory is failing, did I get around to answering your PM about that question? Anyway, that checklist problem was fixed a while back.

Ray

Yes, thanks Ray. All sorted.


Paul

Originally Posted by homesy135

The Sovereign is mentioned in this 1961 publication of S&J. Available as a download from Toolerama Press:

Mfg. - Spear & Jackson Saw Makers - Toolemera.com

Homesy,

Thanks very much for that. I have now downloaded it and will check that out

Craig

Paul - I think that pdf has a "Spearior" only. Anything in the 1915 catalogue? I need to remember to order that book.

Craig - I attempted/started a thread to reference the scattered info on S&Js ... https://www.woodworkforums.com/f152/s...-saw-s-155352/

I'll add a bit more to that soon.

This might be of interest to you ...

Gents,

Thanks for the references. As far as I can tell (without access to a catalogue and the net hasn't yielded one via my Google-fu) this S&J 179 Sovereign was produced about the 1960s (from the shape of the handle). That would mean that the saw was probably used to make my father-in-law's house I'll have to check the construction photos next time we go over there!

I am going to look into ways to restore the etch, once I sort out the handle. I may as well go whole-hog on bringing this saw back as well as I can

Craig

Originally Posted by pmcgee

Paul - I think that pdf has a "Spearior" only. Anything in the 1915 catalogue? I need to remember to order that book.

Gentlemen,

From the 1915 catalogue, the Sovereign is designated as No60 (formerly 1902).

Also, from the 1915 catalogue S&J made several named saws. The brand names, steel and prices (for 26" long, in shillings/dozen) among the straight back saws are as follows:

Double Mermaid - vanadium alloy steel - 124/-
Mermaid - silver steel, warranted London spring - 88/-
Leapfrog - best warranted cast steel - 68/-
Technical - best warranted cast steel - 56/-
Lloyd Davies - warranted cast steel - 42/-
Sovereign - warranted cast steel - 42/-
Aetna - cast steel - 32/-
Goblin - cast steel - 28/6
Universal - cast steel - 26/-

In some cases each "brand" is sold under several "model" numbers. For example, the Aetna the model numbers are 66, 70 and 95. Nos 70 and 95 being supplied with 1 or 2 metal side plates (on handle cheeks) respectively.

To confound the situation metal side plates were available as options for other S&J brands and models of handsaws.

The list above is not complete. There are other "brands" or types of saw listed with specific uses (miners saw, metal cutting saw, etc). The saws in the list are those likely to be encountered in secondhand markets.