Thread: Henry Disston Saw Set

Paul,

It would seem(I’m not 100 percent, just covering my self here),you just put a slot over the top of the tooth an bend it down, on one side or the other, using the screws as a stop??.
An that would be fun on a 13 PPI Saw.

But you’re disk is lacking any bevel from what I can see, do we have any members from 1876 here, I know a few you are getting on in age [emoji6].

Cheers Matt.

Originally Posted by Simplicity

Paul,

It would seem(I’m not 100 percent, just covering my self here),you just put a slot over the top of the tooth an bend it down, on one side or the other, using the screws as a stop??.
An that would be fun on a 13 PPI Saw.

But you’re disk is lacking any bevel from what I can see, do we have any members from 1876 here, I know a few you are getting on in age [emoji6].

Cheers Matt.

Matt

Originally I had thought the set would be used in the vertical position and rocked up and down to set the teeth. However, the picture in the catalogue seems to indicate the tool is held horizontally or close to horizontal. I really don't see how that would work and as to the bevel, which is not there, I can't imagine the function if it were there. The slots in the disc are quite large. Even the smallest is larger than the thickest handsaw, which is why I originally surmised this gauge to be for logging saws and mainly large circular saw blades.

I think it may be significant that this particular set did not appear in any other catalogue that I can see. Perhaps it was a dud. I may try the set out on some teeth. I have a few old saw plates lying around that are waiting (hoping) to be repurposed.

Regards
Paul

Paul, I found the patent: https://patentimages.storage.googlea...f/US163162.pdf
From the drawing in the patent it appears to be for setting the original unset blade but you and Matt (and everyone else) know more about setting saws than me, so I'll leave it with you.
Cheers,
Geoff.

Originally Posted by Boringgeoff

Paul, I found the patent: https://patentimages.storage.googlea...f/US163162.pdf
From the drawing in the patent it appears to be for setting the original unset blade but you and Matt (and everyone else) know more about setting saws than me, so I'll leave it with you.
Cheers,
Geoff.

Well that’s interesting, the Patent description is pretty clear, you lay the tool flat then rock it either side,
But I reckon now like Paul said, it was Friday afternoon great idea, but just didn’t “Work”

We’re talking about a time when saws were being “Set” by probably literally 100,000s world wide every day, so there was a HUGE market too make a boring job easier an quicker.

Cheers Matt.

Reading the Patent, I don't see the Bevel mentioned, I think the important part is picking a width with the right depth of slot to match the saw teeth so that when you move the saw set from side to side it is bending the steel in the right place. I can see the critical part of this design being set-screws adjustment and making sure they are equal and don't move while working your way along the saw blade, if that can be achieved then this saw set would be quicker to use than working only from one side with the spring loaded type where you have to miss every other tooth, then start again from the opposite side of the saw blade.

I think it's a bad drawing as far as how you'd actually use it. I'd expect the tooth line on the saw to be horizontal, facing up, and the set held with the disc vertical.

It looks to be basically a saw wrest with limiting screws, held in a metal-spokeshave-type frame. Another brilliant idea that didn't make it on the market.

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*Saw wrest | Europeana

Hi Paul,

I finally came across my example of this saw set.

Mine is smaller at 8 1/4" or about 210 mm in length.

It also has the bevel to the disc as in the description.

The slots are a lot smaller than yours too.

There is evidence of burring on three of the wider slots,

indicating they were heavily used.

I've not tried to use it to know how it works yet.

Graham.

Originally Posted by macg

Hi Paul,

I finally came across my example of this saw set.

Mine is smaller at 8 1/4" or about 210 mm in length.

It also has the bevel to the disc as in the description.

The slots are a lot smaller than yours too.

There is evidence of burring on three of the wider slots,

indicating they were heavily used.

I've not tried to use it to know how it works yet.

Graham.

Graham

That's interesting. I felt my version was small and the slots seemed too large for even a thicker gauge 30" handsaw, so it would appear mine was intended for crosscut logging saws and circular saws. I am still not clear on how it should work. I will be interested to hear if you have an epiphany! (Not ecclesiastical )

Regards
Paul

Hi Paul,

" I am still not clear on how it should work. I will be interested to hear if you have an epiphany! "

The other day I used the Disston saw set, am not sure if I had an epiphany or not but, I will tell you how it all went.

I had an old useless 4ppi blade that I cleaned up along the tooth line and using hammer and anvil flattened the set

from about a dozen of its teeth.

I selected the slot that was a snug fit to the thickness of the saw and set the two thumb screws equally to provide new set.

In use you can lay the saw set forward (as per the catalogue drawing) until the body makes contact with the tooth line, this provides good visual access while working the tool.

Then it was just a matter of twisting the handle over until the thumb screw made contact with the side of the blade

and moving the tool forward to the next tooth and twisting to the other side.

In conclusion I found it easy to operate and if one was to use this tool all the time one would become proficient with its use.

The amount of tooth being bent over was about one third of its length, which was fine for this large 4 ppi saw

but, all the slots on the tools disc are the same depth so I'm not sure of how it would go on a finer toothed saw.

Also the two thumb screws that regulate the amount of set are not able to be locked in place and could change during use.

The tool felt light weight in use and not as robust or as accurate as either of the Stanley 42X or Eclipse #77 pistol grip sets.

It's concept may have been a good idea at the time but like a lot of other saw sets it did not live up to expectations.

As it's rarity shows it was not a big seller and thus only a short production life.

Graham.

Graham

That is most interesting. I looked at using the set in the same way as you, but it was not going to work for me as the slots were far too wide. It is now apparent that they are intended for a much thicker gauge of saw. In my mind I had thought the vice would have to be set very close to the tooth line to prevent the set from bending the whole saw plate or at least more than the top third of the tooth, but you seem to have managed without doing that.

What do you think the purpose of the bevel is bearing in mind it is mentioned specifically in the catalogue, but does not feature on my set. Could there be a difference between setting light gauge saws and thicker gauge saws?

Thank you for taking the time to experiment with the set and document the findings.

Regards
Paul