Thread: Sources of Split Nuts For Handsaws

Originally Posted by Isaac S

.....Ian, Thanks for doing the math for me. Some days I think metric would be a welcome change...

No worries, Isaac. I was an adult when we switched to metric, so I grew up on Imperial & had to convert. Doing the conversions is simple enough with a calculator to hand , it's getting your mind to visualise in the new units that takes time. It took me years to think of a table as being 750mm high instead of 30 inches! Ask anyone my age what their height is, & they'll instantly spit it out in feet & inches. Ask them what that is in milimetres & all you'll get is a pained look as they try to do a mental calculation.

Without constant practice (not to mention advancing years) I have lost my head for those arcane fractions, too. I looked at the 'inch' value for 8 gauge, & thought it was close enough to 5/32", but of course it isn't close enough in metalwork terms (5/32 = .15625"). So is it 11/64"? Nope, that's 0.1718". It's as near as dammit to 21/128 (0.1640625).

Yep, a decimal system is so much easier on ageing neurons. I make saw bolts with either 4, 5, or 6 milimetre shafts, depending on the size saws they are intended for - to heck with fractions of inches! But here's a nice inconsistency - I turn the heads & nuts to imperial sizes (3/8, 7/16, or 1/2"). There are actually a couple of reasons for this. One is that my brass comes in imperial sizes, so it's easier to stay with it, but perhaps more pertinently, when you buy a set of "metric" Forstner bits from most suppliers down here, what you get is an imperial set re-badged to the nearest metric sizes, so it's more accurate to work in imperial if the bolt head is intended for a hole drilled by one of these bits. Someday, when the US gives up & joins the rest of the world, the Chinese will make cheap bit sets in genuine metric sizes...

Cheers,

Originally Posted by IanW

... but perhaps more pertinently, when you buy a set of "metric" Forstner bits from most suppliers down here, what you get is an imperial set re-badged to the nearest metric sizes,

Sacre Bleu ... there goes the Republic.

If we were in the US, that brand of bits might be "I Can't Believe It's Not Metric" ?!?

Paul

We've had to put up with metric chisels labeled in imperial dimensions for years. Not as critical as your Forstner bits, but mildly irritating on occasion.

The more metal work I do, the less I use fractions. But the two biggest hurdles to converting are trying to think in metric and all the money invested in measuring equipment and tooling.

When I was in school for engineering, we did a fair amount of our work in metric, but I never saw a millimeter or Newton after graduation.

I think my luck must be improving. I got home from work today and found the latest Australian Wood Magazine in my letterbox.

Even better, it has some info on making saws in it

Craig

Originally Posted by Morbius

I think my luck must be improving. I got home from work today and found the latest Australian Wood Magazine in my letterbox.

Even better, it has some info on making saws in it

Craig

Hmmm, the author of the article you refer to looks a bit dodgy, don't you think?

Cheers,

Ian,

Shhhh!!!! The Wood Working Mafia is full of shady characters!

BTW, that D8 half back at the top of page 57 is an incredible looking saw! After I finish restoring a few of the saws I picked up, I hope to make a saw, and something like that really appeals.

Craig

Originally Posted by Morbius

.......After I finish restoring a few of the saws I picked up, I hope to make a saw.........

Oh Dear! From fixing saws to making saws - down the slipperey-slope you go!

It is a lot of fun, though, and sharpening/making saws is the best way to get to grips with the subtilties of hand saws. In fact, making any kind of woodworking tools is bound to improve your skills & your understanding of them, imo.

Cheers,

I picked up a book yesterday from the local library, "Toolmaking Projects For Joinery and Woodworking" and it has some very detailed plans for making a saw with a brass back, how to sharped said saw and plans for a simple saw vice.

Cover of the book. 51bsBy8kYmL._SY300_.jpg

I also picked up some old split nuts from the UK, which will tide me over until Isaac S. is ready to ship orders

Craig

Well,

Isaac's saw nuts arrived in the post and they are terrific. Compared to the antique nuts I picked up on eBay, these are much better. Not just because they are new, but they are nowhere near as flimsy as the antiques.

I will keep my fingers crossed that Isaac will make these in other sizes, as these are really, really nice. Having a medallion-sized saw nut that you can engrave would be a nice touch.

Now I just need to get my sorry carcass out to Monaro timber to get some decent wood to make a new handle or two

Craig

Originally Posted by Morbius

Well,

I will keep my fingers crossed that Isaac will make these in other sizes, as these are really, really nice. Having a medallion-sized saw nut that you can engrave would be a nice touch.

Craig

Glad you liked them, Craig. And since you asked, I have them in 7/16", 1/2", and 9/16", as well as a 3/4" medallion in two different styles.


saw-bolts-nuts.jpg saw-bolt-side.jpg medallions.jpg

Isaac,

I'll be placing another order in two weeks for some of these

I might grab one of you crew drivers whil I am at it too. Very hany

Craig

...he makes hany crew drivers too! Is there nothing the man can't do?

Originally Posted by Berlin

...he makes hany crew drivers too! Is there nothing the man can't do?

I'm almost afraid to ask if this is one of those idioms that I'm better off not knowing about...

Originally Posted by Berlin

...he makes hany crew drivers too! Is there nothing the man can't do?

Batteries were going flat in my keyboard!

Craig