Thread: BackSaw Bug (a strain of the Tool Bug)

Yeah, well that is why I did not let him use my Wenzloff or IT!

For myself, I just buff on Shellawax, rub it down with 0000 wool to remove the shine, and then finish with wax paste. This leaves a natural, soft but durable finish.

Regards from Perth

Derek

"Yeah, well that is why I did not let him use my Wenzloff or IT! "
Thanks for that, I'll give Shellawax a go on a few of the next lot.
All the best
Kevin

Kev. - I'll second the Shellawax - it's become my finish of choice for all tool handles, and not just because it's so easy. I apply it on the lathe on turned pieces, or buff it off with a cloth wheel on non-turned things like saw handles, to ensure a fine, even coat. Then, in a similar approach to Derek's, I rub it down with 4-o steel wool & wax to end up with a sheen that I don't find too slippery, but has a lovely tactile quality. And it seems to last amazingly well for such a simple process.

The truly big advantage of making your own handles is that you can fit them so neatly that they just sit in your hand, sweaty or dry! But it's a delicate business, and I'm a long ways from mastering it. I've got the grip part more or less sorted for my own hand, but not necessarily others, as I've quickly found doing the few custom jobs I've tried. The difference between a perfect fit and not being right can be just a few rasp strokes too few or too many at the critical points (toe, heel, & top horns). But then you have to decide on the grip angle, and its position (high or low) relative to the blade, which in turn are dependant on where the saw is most frequently applied to the wood - i.e. low down on the bench, or higher up, close to elbow level, etc. Add the ingredients of different hand sizes, sawing tasks, and plain individual preferences, and you have a complex mix! This is what has kept me mucking about with saws, and could keep me interested for quite a while yet!

Oh, and then there's the qualities of different woods. Walnut is nice, no doubt - the first decent handle I ever made is Walnut, and it has aged beautifully, but I reckon good She-oak is even better, and the handle I made from WA Rock-oak not only feels good, it is mellowing to a stunning looking piece of wood with its fine fiddleback figure standing out even more than when it was first finished. Recently, I found a piece of fiddleback Myall (A. papyrocarpa) which has made a pretty nice handle, and I've got a bit of ring Gidgee squirreled away with the idea of one day making a "presentation dovetail set" consisting of saw, cutting gauge, scribes & dovetail templates in ring Gidgee.

Hmmm, I thought I had this under control - I'd better up the meds...

Cheers,

I have some Ringed Gidgee that I've had for about 3 years now....waiting ...waiting
Another two years (or so) and it will make a set of saws along with my interpritation of the Colen Clenton and Chris Vesper Marking tools( Squares, Dovetail Markers, Gauges) .... slowly slowly one task at a time.
I have some Gidgee handles in mind for the next few saws in the coming weeks.
....slowly slowly one task at a time.
For now I am more than happy with making the handles fit me...I could copy the generic handle sizes of the Veritas, LN, Wenzloff, Adria but whats the point...none are as comfy as the ones that fit me exactly. That's why I spent so much time making pine blanks when I stated this caper over 12 months ago.
Then of course the whole cutting/punching teeth thing along with all the variables of sharpening that you and Ray have outlined before. I plan to use an arbour press to punch the teeth after I finish this months saws.Just need to put the punch and die together and build in adjustablity for the variables. Lots to learn...for now I'm happy with the most recent two and will develop more understanding in the next few years I'm sure.
Happy Saw Month to all.
Kevin

Kev - sounds like we better BOTH up the medication - this bug is highly virulent!

But it's hard to stop when it's so much fun!

Hi Ian, Kev,

That Gidgee would be nice. Not purple is it, by any chance?

I have a nice piece of gabon ebony that I'm saving for a special saw... But I agree with Ian walnut is hard to beat at any time.

On the finishing, I use shellac until the grain is filled and then Shellawax, buffed on a wheel, but you have to be careful not to let it catch on the buffing pad.. DAMHIKT.

Regards
Ray

Originally Posted by RayG

...... but you have to be careful not to let it catch on the buffing pad.. DAMHIKT.

Ray - yeah - my cloth wheel is on an arbor cobbled-up from a 1/2" bolt & I occasionally let the wood touch the spinning nut while trying to work into the tricky bits. Usually means a bit of extra sanding to remove some dings...

My best trick is when buffing the brass nuts. I screw the nut on the bolt, then pinch behind it with my thumb & index finger to lock it as it is offered up to the wheel. But if I let it wander too far to the side, the wheel spins the nut off quicker than you can blink, and it becomes a minature frisby that can end up anywhere. It's no fun scratching around the shed trying to find your nuts.......

My Gidgee is not purple, but still VERY nice! I saw two chunks for sale and couldn't decide which was better - so I bought both! I much prefer to find, scrounge, or trade for bits of interesting wood, so I'm too embarassed to 'fess up to what these cost me, but with care, I have enough to last the rest of my life - if I eventually get around to making everything I have planned for it!

Cheers,

Originally Posted by RayG

Hi Ian, Kev,

That Gidgee would be nice. Not purple is it, by any chance?

Now that's an idea....stain it purple, my little girl would love it.
No, the next few will be just plain old every day Gidgee with the Ringed stuff still drying for a bit.
I've just been in touch with Mike Wenzloff and he is about to send me some more of the Medallion nut sets. I hope to turn up a few sets during the year at work as I'm not too keen on buying things like the nut and bolts sets but time has been short of late.
All the best
Kevin

The next three will have to wait for a week as family duties call.
I'm waiting on some nut & screw sets for the next lot. The handles are roughly shaped and have the saw plate and brass backs fitted.
The little one with the gidgee handle is a re handled LN 14 ppi x-cut thin plate. I just didn't like it as a straight handled push saw so it got my most comfy handle that did the rounds 9 months ago.
Both the myrtle and blackwood handles need a fair bit more work which will be done once the sockets for the bolt nut pairs have been drilled.
More of an update in a week or so.
happy saw month
Kevin

I can't believe I have not made a saw in almost 18 months, ok so I've had other things to deal with.
So this arvo I decided I should have at it with one of the many saws that I have on the to do list.
So... This is not complete but I'm happy that the saw bug is still lurking within.
A 24" panel saw almost there. I will get on with it soon and finish several that I started a few years ago. ImageUploadedByTapatalk1353938267.928347.jpg
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1353938289.526944.jpg

Looks great What have you used for saw plate there? I just read a few of the earlier posts and see you were in the process of setting up a punch to form the teeth did you use that for this saw?

Very interesting.

Matt

Originally Posted by Berlin

Looks great What have you used for saw plate there? I just read a few of the earlier posts and see you were in the process of setting up a punch to form the teeth did you use that for this saw?

Very interesting.

Matt

Yeah, man. What are the vital statistics (tpi? tooth profile? - any special uses in mind)?? Ya gotta feed this hungry audience.

There is definitely a place for these intermediate-sized saws, I reckon. The small ripsaw (350mm blade length) I made a few months ago is turning out to be an extremely useful little tool. With its finer teeth and small size it's the bees' knees for cutting small & thin pieces. Yesterday, I wanted to make a straight face on an awkward little lump of wood, so I could square it up. I could just hold it by one corner in the vise, and it would have been very difficult to use one of my regular ripsaws, but I was able to gently saw a nice clean cut with the little one. After 50 years, I'm still discovering tools I didn't know I can't live without.

I think you said it somewhere yourself, Kev - there seems to be no permanent recovery, once you have been bitten by the sawmaking bug. I'm in remission at the moment, but I know a recrudescence could occur any time......

Cheers,

Originally Posted by IanW

I think you said it somewhere yourself, Kev - there seems to be no permanent recovery, once you have been bitten by the sawmaking bug. I'm in remission at the moment, but I know a recrudescence could occur any time......

Cheers,

I should have worn a mask, you've given the damn bug to me, Ian!

Hi Kev,

Pleased to see that you've still got the gift. It's looking very good.

I'd also be interested what you've used for the saw plate and a few more details.

I think I can see traces of blue on the plate? Does that mean it's blued spring steel?

Regards
Ray