competent hand saw sharpener in Northern VA

9619 | Posted in Hand Tools on January 26, 2010 08:28am

Friends, Does anyone out there know of someone who is good at sharpening handsaws, who lived somewhere around Northern Virginia, or Washington, DC or nearby Maryland? If that person not only sharpens saws but would be willing to give lessons, that would even be better. Thank you. Mel

Replies

mvflaim | Jan 26, 2010 11:20pm | #1
Hi Mel,
I can't help you with
Hi Mel,

I can't help you with someone in the N Virginia area but Bad Axe Tools in Wisc. is one of the premier saw sharpeners and restorers in the country. May be worth a road trip.

http://www.badaxetoolworks.com/index.html
SawdustSteve | Feb 01, 2010 10:11am | #2
Hi Mel... My usual advice is to stop in at several cabinet shops in your area and ask who does their saws, and who to avoid. After three shops, you'll probably see a pattern of who is good and who is not. Up here (down-state NY) the yellow pages lists a number of saw sharpeners. I dropped off one saw as a test to see how good they were. I was quite UNinpressed with their work. The second place I tried was (and is) a winner. These are all industrial places and do not sharpen by hand. The best advice I can give you on learning hand-sharpening is to join a woodworking club. There is where you will find someone to teach you. If you go to the 'front page' of Knots and scroll all the way down to the bottom, you will find a listing of woodworking clubs. Find one or two in your area and attend a meeting. Judge for yourself what these clubs offer. Join and be a part of the club.

SawdustSteve Long Island, NY (E of NYC)

9619 | Feb 01, 2010 11:23am | #3
Hi Steve,
Your advice is all
Hi Steve,

Your advice is all first class.

I am a long time member of the Washington Woodworkers Club. I didn't find much help there. But there is an excellent source of information around here. "The Best Things" is not far away, and Lee Richmond knows saws. I will give him a call and ask his advice.

Meanwhile, Ray Pine lives a few hours away, and he invited me over, along with my saw, and he said he could have me filing it well in not too long. I have watched Tom Law's video, and have read almost everything written on saw sharpening. It doesn't seem very complex at all. I hate to be dependent on others for my tools to work well.

Thanks for writing.

Mel