I had not intended to post this thread until much nearer completion, but my hand has been forced somewhat. I had favoured a fait accompli rather than the embryonic affair.
However, some of you may recall that I recently espoused the virtues (aesthetically at least) of the famed Kenyon saws found in the Benjamin Seaton toolchest. It so happened in that acquiring the book I also now had available the dimensions and specifications of the six saws. I decided that I would like to produce a set of these saws for my own use: Not exact replicas, as will become evident, but sufficiently similar that there can be no doubt as to their origins.
Why do I want to do this? Firstly because I can, or at least think I can, secondly because I find them kind of quirky, thirdly because I have a huge admiration that with their limited equipment and technology they could produce tools like this and lastly because I had much of the materials at my disposal. What I did not have was the brass spines for the four back saws.
Having had a disastrous attempt at folding brass backs a while ago and exhausting my supplies, I contacted Ian Wilkie to find a brass supplier. Of course he quizzed me as to why I should need this material. To cut a long story short he offered to obtain the material and slit it for me to suit the blades I was going to use. We came to a contra deal arrangement. We came to another arrangement regarding the saw screws and he made these too in sizes to replicate the original Kenyon saws.
I recently picked up the materials and have started the process. There are two plates that are brand new ( Ian got these also :rolleyes: ), but the others would best be described as re-purposed. Now to the title of the thread and an explanation of "Crazy," which is not a dubious reference to my character despite what some may think. Some of you may be familiar with "crazy tea services", but for those of you who are not familiar with the term, it refers to a collection of cups and saucers that do not match. However they are normally from the same manufacturer and probably in the same style. This is what I propose to do in that the timber for the handles is all different. Part of the reason for this is that I did not have a single timber (with one exception) sufficient to cut all the handles. There has already been one reject which I posted elsewhere. The Hairy Oak let me down and was a big disappointment.So each is different as follows:
The two open handle small saws with the offending Hairy oak handle now residing in the firewood pile:
Attachment 440882
Two closed handle back saws:
Attachment 440883
and two hand saws (yeah, I know there are three handles. I will explain later)
Attachment 440884
I deliberately have not named the timbers as I thought you might have some fun guessing: Forensic experts are allowed to compete.
The rip saw is to be made out of my current rip saw, which is a Warranted Superior model of unknown origin other than it is probably pre WW1 with the nib
Attachment 440885Attachment 440886
The crosscut handsaw is from a Disston no.12 (1896 - 1917) with a mangled handle and no etch
Attachment 440887Attachment 440888
and the "third man" is a ring in again from a Disston No.12 (again 1896 - 1917), but is a very short, but quite fat, panel saw at only 18"." It will be cut down significantly from the original length of 26".
Attachment 440889Attachment 440890
If you think this is a a travesty, have a look at the following pic:
Attachment 440891
Two bad and terminal cracks in the plate which only left 18" of sound blade remaining. As it happened, I wanted this size saw to make a crosscut (9ppi) to compliment the 8ppi rip saw I produced in the Kenyon style a while back. I will be treating it a little differently to the six originals.
Attachment 440892
The plates of course now have to be cut to size, cleaned and sharpened.
More to follow.
Regards
Paul