Thread: A new Dovetail Saw

Very nice work Ray, congratulations.

Hi Ray

Beaut looking saw.

Those are not split nuts, so how are they tightened-loosened?

Length of blade?

Regards from Perth

Derek

very nice Ray


ian

Wow Ray, beautiful saw. Great present!

You can't beat walnut

Great workmanship Ray!

The only toolmaking I have ever done was at school! A mallet from Tallow wood,a small metal tri-square, a gadget to find circle centres and a marking gauge. 46 years on and I have lost the marking gauge but still make use of the others.

A beautiful saw indeed. What thickness is the blade? I've not seen Walnut that looks like that; what variety is it?

Originally Posted by derekcohen

Hi Ray

Beaut looking saw.

Those are not split nuts, so how are they tightened-loosened?

Length of blade?

Regards from Perth

Derek

Hi Derek,

I have been trying different methods of making split nuts, these ones are made with 3/16" threaded brass rod and 1/2" brass rod. (the screwdriver slot is on the other side)
The technique is based on Leif Hansen's "poor boy split nuts "http://www.norsewoodsmith.com/node/108

The second set I made (after stuffing up the first set) I left slightly long and just linished flush with the handle. I would prefer not to do it that way, so I'm still looking for improvements..

The saw plate is 9" long and 1 1/2" under the back at the heel, 1 1/4" under the back at the toe.

Filed 17tpi rip 0 rake and 3 thou set either side. It has a very balanced feel to it, and starts easily and cuts nicely.

It's now somewhere over the pacific, at 30,000 ft. (in the back of santa's 747)

Regards
Ray

Originally Posted by Woodwould

A beautiful saw indeed. What thickness is the blade? I've not seen Walnut that looks like that; what variety is it?

Hi Woodwould,

The blade is 20 thou 1095 spring steel, from these guys
http://www.victornet.com/cgi-bin/vic...%3A1523%2C1524

The walnut is Australian grown English walnut, grown up near Mansfield. They graft the English walnut onto Black Walnut stock, this is a bit from some highly figured gunstock rejects.

Stay away from the Black Walnut, but grab the figured English Walnut when you get a chance!

Regards
Ray

Originally Posted by RayG

The walnut is Australian grown English walnut, grown up near Mansfield. They graft the English walnut onto Black Walnut stock, this is a bit from some highly figured gunstock rejects.

Originally Posted by RayG

Stay away from the Black Walnut, but grab the figured English Walnut when you get a chance!<o></o>

Regards<o></o>

Ray

<o></o>

I used to buy European Walnut which around Dargo and from several Walnut farmers around the Bright area (in fact all along the Ovens <st1>Valley)</st1>. The varieties grown for their nuts are of European origins (juglans regia) and are grafted onto Black Walnut (juglans negra) root stock as it's a more vigorous grower

I thought initially, because of the wriggly grain, your handle was made from one of the Australian Eucalypt pseudo walnuts and I was asking with tongue in cheek. I recognise the wood in your handle now as being Black Walnut rootstock. Rootstock has predominantly tight wriggly grain with immense strength and flexibility - hence it is so sought after for gun stocks

I used to cut Black Walnut roots into gun stock blanks and sell them in Europe, the <st1:country-region w:st="on">UK</st1:country-region> and the US. As the farmed hybrids stop producing fruit, they're usually removed and new stock is planted. Only about one in three butresses produce usable gunstock blanks, so it's a very laborious job extracting the good stuff. However, they produce heaps of saw handle and other tool handle sized wood.<o></o>

I used to keep the timber from above the graft for furniture. I described a Walnut tea table in another thread that I made from Dargo and Bright juglans regia. It is quite rightly called the King of Woods or Bois Royale in France (in fact although 'bois' is French for wood, 'Bois' often refers specifically to Walnut in many texts of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

Ray,
Just a moment while I wipe my chin. That is so good.
I have been cleaning up old saws of late and find myself toying with the idea of making a tennon saw with rip teeth. Is the brass just pressed on or is there some kind of fix.
Regards
John

Ray,
lovely work. Stunning tools you are making there. Keep it up.
all the best
Kevin

Originally Posted by RayG

This was made as a present...

Also I went a lot narrower on the blade height and gave it a bit of cant (taper).
The wood is walnut. The finish is shellac and wax

Regards
Ray

Ray,
you are going to make someone very happy in a week or so...that is a lovely little saw.
Once the madness subsides, I'll have to get onto a SAW, I have a "snappy" design running around in my head! Can't wait to see if it works??

Regards,
Peter

Originally Posted by Woodwould

[color=black][font=Arial]<o></o>

I used to buy European Walnut which around Dargo and from several Walnut farmers around the Bright area (in fact all along the Ovens <st1>Valley)</st1>. The varieties grown for their nuts are of European origins (juglans regia) and are grafted onto Black Walnut (juglans negra) root stock as it's a more vigorous grower

I thought initially, because of the wriggly grain, your handle was made from one of the Australian Eucalypt pseudo walnuts and I was asking with tongue in cheek. I recognise the wood in your handle now as being Black Walnut rootstock. Rootstock has predominantly tight wriggly grain with immense strength and flexibility - hence it is so sought after for gun stocks

I used to cut Black Walnut roots into gun stock blanks and sell them in Europe, the <st1:country-region w:st="on">UK</st1:country-region> and the US. As the farmed hybrids stop producing fruit, they're usually removed and new stock is planted. Only about one in three butresses produce usable gunstock blanks, so it's a very laborious job extracting the good stuff. However, they produce heaps of saw handle and other tool handle sized wood.<o></o>

I used to keep the timber from above the graft for furniture. I described a Walnut tea table in another thread that I made from Dargo and Bright juglans regia. It is quite rightly called the King of Woods or Bois Royale in France (in fact although 'bois' is French for wood, 'Bois' often refers specifically to Walnut in many texts of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

Hi Woodwould,

I think you may be right, I have both Black Walnut and English Walnut, and they could well have been mixed up. Some pieces are from higher up in the tree, crotch figure and some nice marbled figure, they are definitely English Walnut, but lower down the tree, some bits could be either, depending on if it was cut above the graft or below.

I chose that particular piece because it had some nice colour variation. Walnut is one of those varieties that seemingly has infinite variety, incredible figure that just begs to be made into something, I guess that's why we like working with wood.

Regards
Ray

Originally Posted by orraloon

Ray,
Is the brass just pressed on or is there some kind of fix.
Regards
John

Hi John,
Just press fit, after slotting the brass I clamp it up in a vise and close it a little. I know that some use epoxy, and I see nothing wrong with that, the claim is that epoxying the back to the blade makes for a stiffer back. Not sure if that's true, but as long as the back can be removed later if desired, I see no problem with glue. I just don't do it.

Regards
Ray