Thread: Spear & Jackson saw(s)

Originally Posted by IanW

Paul, - nothing strange about hammer-setting teeth.

It has the "Extra High Temper" line I thought might draw a sigh

I suspect those very nasty cracks were caused when a very dull and most likely poorly-set saw was being forced through a cut and it caught, buckling the saw & concentrating stress at that point. The cracks begin at the points of the gullets, as you'd expect under those circumstances. I've seen similar damage, even on less brittle saws.

At first I wondered who, on breaking several teeth in over-setting them, would continue on bloody-minded to the end ... before I thought that it might have been done by machine and the mess made all in one go. (?)

I had not noted the gullet-origination of the cracks ... I was assuming the same process as the broken teeth - but what you say is very interesting.

Maybe the thinking was that the plier action placed generalised stress in that 2" or so area ... and the hammer method either had more support for the blade (the whole anvil) or a more localised application of force.

Where's Chippy when ya need him?

Thanks,
Paul

A couple of catalog pics ...

You can zoom in very close.

1931 says "Vanadium Alloy Steel, "Mermaid" Brand. Improved Temper, mirror polish, carved hardwood handle. Polished all over. Raised Brass screws.
The above saws are the best that can possibly be be made, regardless of price. The blade is made from a secret alloy of Vanadium Steel, of great toughness, and will work longer than any other saw without sharpening being at the same time more difficult to buckle in use. They will usually cut through nails or other hard materials in wood without damage, but are not guaranteed in this respect."

Also ... curious sawset from P.Leach tool-list:

"Uncommon Preston saw set; a most unusual design, with
folding arms on which 9" of the blade is supported; the
plunger action is activated with a hammer"

Looking at this again now - the hammer setter - I can see how it would be used ... and it might not be such a bad idea.

I am in the very background thinking of schemes for sharpening and setting where I can sit in one place and have the work travel in front of me.

The triangular 'hammer' part ... how hard would that metal need to be?
Ian? anyone? Would a triangular file ground smooth do the job?

Or - just guessing now - a high tensile bolt?

Thanks,
Paul.

For the record - Pacman's recent S&J find.

Check these out Paul.

And this.

You may have already looked at this.

This is interesting.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_qf9QGHfBg"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_qf9QGHfBg[/ame]

Toby

Originally Posted by pmcgee

.....
The triangular 'hammer' part ... how hard would that metal need to be?
Ian? anyone? Would a triangular file ground smooth do the job?

Or - just guessing now - a high tensile bolt?

For the record, I have never seen or used a setter like this, Paul, but I certainly wouldn't use a bit of file in that application - it would be only fractionally better than using a piece of glass! High tensile bolt would be much more practical, and would not shatter if hit too enthusiastically.

And for what it's worth, the plungers & the anvils on the 4 or 5 saw-sets I've used (nearly all Eclipse 77s or their clones) are relatively soft - you can easily file them. That may not be the general case, just what I've encountered. They work perfectly well, though, & I suggest they are intended to be at least as soft as, or a bit softer than the saw steel so that they don't squash and mar the teeth excessively during setting.

Cheers,

Originally Posted by IanW

For the record, I have never seen or used a setter like this, Paul, but I certainly wouldn't use a bit of file in that application - it would be only fractionally better than using a piece of glass! High tensile bolt would be much more practical, and would not shatter if hit too enthusiastically.

Oooky-doo! "No" to the file then.

And for what it's worth, the plungers & the anvils on the 4 or 5 saw-sets I've used (nearly all Eclipse 77s or their clones) are relatively soft - you can easily file them. That may not be the general case, just what I've encountered. They work perfectly well, though, & I suggest they are intended to be at least as soft as, or a bit softer than the saw steel so that they don't squash and mar the teeth excessively during setting.
Cheers,

Yes I know you, Chippy and others had said that - I couldn't recall if/how much of a problem it was. Yes - I recall now discussion about the anvil part.

I had contemplated suggesting brass brazing ... but couldn't decide if that sounded like a reasonable thing or not. Maybe that might serve as the 'anvil' section - even a replaceable part - rather than the plunger.

Thanks,
Paul.

Originally Posted by TobyC

Check these out Paul.

And this.

You may have already looked at this.

This is interesting.

How It's Made Crosscut Saws - YouTube

Toby

Thanks Toby - top stuff as usual. I had been to the sawset collector site before ... but not when such things were making an impression on me (slight pun) ... so I would not have recalled it without your help.

I was looking at this in particular:

and : Collecting Saw Sets
The foot-pedal is an interesting idea.

Good old info: http://members.acmenet.net/~con12a/s...te/morgan2.pdf

And from the BBC link ... an adventurous biography of an adventurous Henry Tyzack!
Tysick Genealogy

Thanks Toby,
Paul

Originally Posted by pmcgee

For the record - Pacman's recent S&J find.

top one was S and J with wartime handles and screws.

Other two are Disston.

After denigrating Oz saws on ebay I received these four a couple weeks back now. All virtually full blades and the handles have been looked after and waxed (I'm guessing) - they are beautiful.

The only kicker was that somehow I let a D100 from the same set of lots get away from me. It sold for $28.50 and I would have given teeth for it. Aaaaarrrrrhhhhh-hahahaha
Judging from these it would have been in lovely condition.
If you've got it ... please love it for me.

The more ordinary pad-saw I had already and has been useful to me several times.
But the fancy one is a Spear & Jackson and cam from the UK. It locks a projection into a tooth gullet - so I needed that of course.

The handsaws are a Pax and two S&Js, and an Atkins panel saw.

Th original listing had very good photos - I'll dig them up.

Cheers,
Paul

Very nice! Good job Paul.

Toby

The seller took good photos so I'm recycling them ... including the D100 that didn't come home.

I notice they are ALL breasted.

Paul

For the record ... professionally (celebrity) sharpened 19th C UK-style S&J saw ... ebay ... $1100 !

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