Thread: A couple of Disston gentlemans half back saws

I realized while making these saws that I needed a saw to cut the slots for the blades so here it is. The blade is heavily taper ground, 0.035" at the tooth line tapering to 0.025" just below the back so that no set is needed. It's 13 ppi filed rip. The handle is Nogal.

0.035 slot cutting saw.jpg


On this saw I decided to continue my experiments with bushings. The bushings are 304 stainless sized to be slip fit (0.194") over the un-threaded portion of the shanks of my screws (0.187"). The whole assembly is reamed to fit one screw at a time. This upgrade should take any shearing stress off of the relatively soft brass screw shanks in heavy use. I intend to incorporate this feature in all of my heavier saws.

bushings on shanks.jpgStainless bushed blade.jpg

Hi Rob. 0.035 at the tooth line equates to a wider than normal kerf for a backsaw. I dont think 13 ppi gullets are going to be deep enough to keep pace with that greater amount of saw dust.

Stewie;

I'm making saws for making saws that have each thickness of steel I use. I have 0.015", 0.025" and now 0.035" slotting saws. These gents saws and the D-8's will all have 0.035" plates. I need to make 0.020" and 0.042" slotting saws too.

Thanks Rob. I understand what you doing now. Looking forward to following your progress on the 2 gents half back saws.

Cheers Stewie;

Finally got this one pretty much done. Cuts very nice 0.035" slots for inletting saw handles. The test block is hornbeam, very tough and stringy but takes a nice finish.

Looks nice Rob. Well done.

Stewie;

Originally Posted by planemaker

Looks nice Rob. Well done.

Stewie;

In using it for several saws I've decided that Nogal / Peruvian walnut is too soft for my taste. It will ultimately finish up nicely but getting there is a lot of work. Once I have run through my current stock I'm not going to use it any more.

Hi Rob. No shortage of good hardwoods here in Australia.

Any update on your gentlemans half backs. Great project.

regards Stewie.

Hi Rob. Any further advancement with your work on the half backs.

Stewie;

Originally Posted by planemaker

Hi Rob. Any further advancement with your work on the half backs.

Stewie;

Hi Stewie,

Unfortunately, no. I've been too busy lately to work on the saws. Hopefully I'll free up some time in the next few weeks. I've been looking in periodically and it seems pretty quiet in this sub-forum. I'll be getting to the hardness testing of the files soon.

Rob

It's been very quite here
I can hear a pin drop

While waiting around between interruptions today I managed to get the stock fitted up to one of these. The toothing is 11 ppi, the handle is Honduran mahogany, the back is 0.125" folded brass and the blade is mounted with stainless bushings around the screw shanks. The 18" blade is taper ground and cryogenically treated.


The ends of the bushings are visible as silver rings within the saw screw holes.

Disston No 8 gentlemans stainless bushing detail.jpg


Here's the blade fitted up to the handle and back.


disston no 8 handle fitted.jpg

Here is the beginning of shaping of the handle contours.


Disston No 8 handle shaping.jpg

And a full length shot to give an idea of the proportions of the saw.

Disston No 8 full length begun shaping the handle.jpg

I've never worked with mahogany before but I really like it. It's somewhat soft but the piece I have has enough structural integrity that I have had very little problem with blow outs on the sharp corners.

Hi Rob. I am a little surprised how different your handle is to the original version.

regards Stewie;

Originally Posted by rob streeper

Thanks Matt,

My goal is to average about 4 hours effort per saw. Each type I've made to date takes me about the same with the exception of the gents and pattern makers saws. Metalwork is the most rapidly accomplished part of any saw for me. Final dressing of the saw handles with repetitive cycles of shellac application followed by correction of minor cosmetic niggles and then more shellac is by far the most time consuming part of the work. By the time I get all of the processes down I may put together a book.

Cheers,
Rob

Rob

Four hours: I have only restored saws to date, but those for whichI have made new handles probably would have taken close to four days! I might have to review my technique: Sand a little faster, file a lot faster, cut at the speed of sound and apply finish at, well, nothing less than warp speed .

On the serious side thank you for sharing your methods.

Regards
Paul