Can a crosscut saw be sharpened?
Setting or sharpening crosscut saws is a job for an expert, but in some isolated regions experienced filers are not available. Saws must, however, be kept in good repair. With this in mind, all material in this section has been compiled as an aid to the beginner for whatsover value it may be to him.
How do you sharpen a saw file?
When choosing a saw file, it depends on the type of saw, the number of teeth (TPI) and this then governs the size of the teeth. Filing the teeth removes a layer of steel which restores the sharp cutting edge. When sharpening a ripcut saw, the teeth are sharpened to a chisel tip.
What makes crosscut sharpening more complex than other sharpening methods?
The side of the crosscut teeth once filed to two bevelled aspects of the tooth. The second dynamic that makes crosscut sharpening more complex is that, though the tooth size can be the same as say a ripcut saw tooth, the amount of steel left in the tooth or teeth after fleam-cut profiling of the teeth is significantly less.
How many filing angles are used to file a cross cut saw?
While there are infinite combinations of angles that may be used to file a cross cut saw, there is a relatively narrow practical range. But even within this narrow range, tooth geometry and performance can change drastically with even small changes to the filing angles.
Why did Paul sharpen his saws?
Paul sharpens these saws to a ripcut pattern , even though he uses them to crosscut too as the teeth are so small so they take less material away than those with bigger teeth and therefore it isn’t important to differentiate between the types on very small teeth.
How to sharpen a ripcut pattern?
When sharpening a ripcut pattern, you will go in between the teeth at 90° across and with the file level, the front of each tooth is now filed at the most passive angle. We recommend sharpening your saw to the most passive pitch, this will enable it to be able to cut both crosscut and ripcut. To vary the aggression of the pitch, roll the file forward, the steeper the pitch, the more aggressive the cut will be.
How to remove set from saw?
Once set, you then put another hammer in the vice, place the saw horizontally on top with the teeth centered on the face of the hammer and start lightly tapping all the way along the teeth using a second hammer. This is also how you remove excess set from saws that have too much.
Why are the teeth bent on a saw plate?
Showing the kerf on a saw plate. The teeth are bent alternately left and right to avoid the plate getting jammed.
Why are triangle files triangular?
These are triangular so they can fit into the gap between the teeth. The width of each face on the triangle file should be double the height of the tooth that they are going to be used on. As the file sharpens two teeth at a time (the front of one and the back of another) it means that when the file is turned it will still have a fresh cutting surface.
What is a saw set?
When setting up a saw, a device called a ‘sawset’ is used. This is essentially a mechanised punch which bends the tooth away from you. This is done on every other tooth, then the saw is turned around and the same is done on the other teeth to bend them the opposite way. You can adjust the depth of the set to determine how far you want the teeth to be bent.
Why do saw blades have to be bent?
The teeth have to be slightly bent to allow the cut to be wider than the blade (Commonly referred to as the plate or saw plate), if the teeth were straight and inline with the plate then the side of the blade would rub against the wood and it would be very difficult to move the saw as it deepens in the cut.
What is a saw file?
Saw Files. Saw files can also be known as triangular files or three-square files. They often have single cut teeth across the full width of each facet of the file and can come in many different variations including: Paul finds that 3 main sizes cover most saws: When choosing a saw file, it depends on the type of saw, ...
How to keep angle consistent with saw?
If you are struggling to keep the angle consistent when using a saw file, you can use a strip of wood with marked angles on as a guide. If you find you have set your saw too aggressively, you can file them back to an upright position and start again. Ensure you are using the same length stroke, the same hand pressure and the same number of strokes per tooth to get an even pattern.
How many faces does a saw file have?
Saw files technically have 6 faces, not 3, this creates a cutting face that reaches into the bottom of the gullet. Each corner is not a point, they are small flat surfaces which have teeth on, this makes the cut more effective.
Can you use a saw without a handle?
You should never use a saw file without a handle as the tang can puncture the skin if used incorrectly and cause serious hand/arm injury. You can get 2 types of handle, one for a double ended saw file which has slots which allows the file to wedge into the handle, or a handle for a single ended file which is shaped to house the tang. You can get file handles which are made from wood or from plastic, Paul prefers using the wooden handles. You can also make your own saw file handle following Paul’s blog.
Why do you run a file lengthwise across the blade?
The file should be run lengthwise across the blade to keep the cut as flat as possible. It is very important that the file is held perfectly square to the teeth to prevent rounding the points over, so a jig of some sort is commonly used.
How to sharpen a handsaw?
The sharpening process for a handsaw is broken into three basic parts: 1 Jointing – making all teeth the same height 2 Setting – bending each tooth slightly to widen the kerf 3 Filing – putting a sharp edge on each tooth
What is a saw vise used for?
Any flea market should have some) The saw vise is used throughout the process to hold the saw steady, and dampen the vibration of filing the blade. Nothing fancy is required here–anything that holds the saw still along its entire length will do. The sharpening process for a handsaw is broken into three basic parts:
How to dress a saw blade?
To dress the blade, drag a fine sharpening stone over the sides of the teeth on the side the saw is leading towards.
How does a pistol saw work?
A pistol-style saw set works by using a small point to press the tooth against an angled anvil. The anvil is typically a small disk with a chamfered lip. The width of the chamfer varies around the circumference of the anvil to accommodate different point sizes.
What happens if a saw doesn't cut?
After all of the above steps comes the moment of truth— testing the saw cut. The saw should be able to follow a straight line and should leave a smooth surface on the cut. If the saw does not cut perfectly, all is not lost, however. Here are some common problems and their solutions:
What is the main tool used for sharpening?
A small triangular file is the main tool used for sharpening.
Where should I file a saw vise?
All of the angles are based on filing with the tip of the file pointed towards the toe of the saw if the vise is tilted away from the mechanic, or towards the heel of the saw if the vise is tilted towards the mechanic. I should note that Disston, and many others, recommend filing always toward the toe, which I suspect explains, at least partly, why many old saw vises tilt only away from the filer.
What is a file rake, fleam, and slope angle?
File rake, fleam, and slope angles are the angles that the file is held at while sharpening a saw (Figure 1). Tooth rake, fleam, and point slope angles are the actual angles measured on the teeth (Figures 2-4). Although they share names (rake, fleam, and slope), the difference between file and tooth angles can be dramatic, ...
What is a file rake angle?
File rake, fleam, and slope angles are the angles that the file is held at while sharpening a saw (Figure 1). Tooth rake, fleam, and point slope angles are the actual angles measured on the teeth (Figures 2-4). Although they share names (rake, fleam, and slope), the difference between file and tooth angles can be dramatic, especially as gullet slope increases.
Can you file cross cut angles?
While there are infinite combinations of angles that may be used to file a cross cut saw, there is a relatively narrow practical range. But even within this narrow range, tooth geometry and performance can change drastically with even small changes to the filing angles. Figure 5 covers most of the practical range of cross cut tooth angles that can be created with triangular files.