Thread: And while I was at it....

They are beautiful saws Ian

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

Very nice set Ian. Thanks for sharing them with us.
Did you make the saw blades as well? And, is there a comprehensive build thread here somewhere? I wouldn't mind giving it a go. Where do you get you handle blank timbers?
Regards.
Pete.

These take me back to my younger years Ian, you know about 12 months old and drooling
Beautiful work, thanks for sharing.

Cheers, Ian

Originally Posted by Pittwater Pete

......Did you make the saw blades as well? And, is there a comprehensive build thread here somewhere? I wouldn't mind giving it a go. Where do you get you handle blank timbers?.....

Pete, I didn't make the sawblades (as in smelting the ore! ), but I did cut them out and tooth them, which is what you meant, of course...

There are numerous threads on saw-making on this forum, & others, but you'll have to search for them. I have long intended to find them all and put up a sticky so that others could read them more conveniently, but the necessary round-tuit hasn't been found, yet.

The handle woods I use are from stuff I scrounge/harvest/trade/buy from all sorts of places. The casaurinas here were mostly harvested from windfall trees, but the budgeroo in the previous post I bought from the "Timber joint", but you need to ask for an appropriate sized piece, as he mostly cuts his stuff into knife-handle sized bits.

Cheers,

Ian. When does the smelting process begin

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

Thanks Ian.
I'll have a look around for the saw making threads and also for a suitable piece of timber for the handle. Come to think of it, I've got a piece of American Walnut that I could make my first one from. It's not particularly remarkable but I think I should start using a piece that I won't be too upset if I should stuff it up. Should I buy an old saw for the blade and refurb it, or do I get a new blank from somewhere? I'm thinking a small open handled dovetail saw for starters. What do you think.

Regards
Pete.

Originally Posted by Pittwater Pete

Thanks Ian.
I'll have a look around for the saw making threads and also for a suitable piece of timber for the handle. Come to think of it, I've got a piece of American Walnut that I could make my first one from. It's not particularly remarkable but I think I should start using a piece that I won't be too upset if I should stuff it up. Should I buy an old saw for the blade and refurb it, or do I get a new blank from somewhere? I'm thinking a small open handled dovetail saw for starters. What do you think.

Regards
Pete.

Hi Pete, I think we are spoiled for choice when it comes to handle woods, but Black walnut is a good place to start, I reckon. By coincidence, the very first saw handle I made was from a piece of Walnut. It was to replace the very basic thing that came on a Tyzack saw I bought new in about 1980. I was pleased with my effort at the time, & it's still on that saw, though it's not quite as aesthetically pleasing as the ones I make now. There are quite a few open-handle templates on the interweb, and plenty of pics of finished handles on this forum & others to give you inspiration.

For my first go at making the whole thing, I used a blade from an old cheap saw. Even cheapies seem to have reasonably good plate in them. I've made several saws from disposable Irwin back saw blades and they were perfectly acceptable saws. You need to cut off the impulse-hardened teeth, of course, which you can do with a 1mm cutoff wheel in an angle grinder. The hardening doesn't extend more than about half a mm beyond the gullets, so you lose very little metal. The remaining plate is just ordinary spring steel of a suitable temper for saws.

A good rasp or two makes the handle-making job go much more easily. Apart from a knife to cut some of the sharp-edged curves, and a chisel to make clean cuts into the sharp corners where curves meet, I don't use any other edge-tools like spokeshaves. There are so many changes of grain direction, it's easier for me to stick with rasps and coarse files, and clean up with cloth-backed paper and small scrapers made from scraps of saw plate. A decent quality rasp or two make a world of difference, too!

I suppose I should finish with a warning: "Caution, making saws is highly addictive - you may find yourself obsessed by the desire to create the perfect saw....."


Cheers,

Thanks Ian.

Couple of weeks ago I ordered two new saws from my saw sharpening guy. He gets them from another supplier. Who imports them from England. They arrived today and I was very disappointed. I was expecting soooo much more. The saw blade was full of scratches from machining, the handle was poorly made, loose, and full of sanding scratch marks, not to mention a really bad staining job and a awful colour. Just terrible. And I thought I was getting a half decent saw. I like my 'chuck away' Sandvik much more that this Shefield made saw. I was so disgusted that I didn't even cut anything with it. I will tomorrow. You never know, it may cut really well. Here's hoping.

Now I'm even more determined to make myself something decent. I think I will do as you suggest and refurb one of my old Sandviks. I'll get a start and then get back to you. I'll have questions.

Best regards

Pete.

Hi Pete. Can you post some photo's of the 2 new saws you purchased.

regards Stewie;

I can Stew, but wouldn't that go against forum policy?
I won't have much nice to say about the saws.

P.P.

Hey Dave,
If we can't get something decent as a blade, we may need to start smelting .

Pete.

Originally Posted by Pittwater Pete

I can Stew, but wouldn't that go against forum policy?
I won't have much nice to say about the saws.

P.P.

I almost bought a forge back in the 90ies. Bit of blacksmithing would be good fun

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

You could have made some nice iron handles for the tool chest and saved me some work today .

Pete.

Originally Posted by Pittwater Pete

I can Stew, but wouldn't that go against forum policy?
I won't have much nice to say about the saws.

P.P.

Hi Pete. The photo's would help us better understand the quality issues you have with these 2 saws.

Stewie;