Handsaw building/ plane building

n1k86 | Posted in Hand Tools on February 19, 2008 02:09am

I have a strong interest in traditional hand tool woodworking, and have been toying with the idea of building tools for a while now. There seems to be a market for people who want quality handtools and are willing to pay what they are worth to get them. I would prefer to be in the business of building quality, but more affordable saws, rather than focusing just on the high end market. Don’t get me wrong, I love my Gramercy dovetail saw, but I imagine a lot of people prefer to spend less than $140 on a dovetail saw. I have hand-tool usage experience, and I have done some metalworking back in high school, lathe, milling machine, surface grinding, sand casting, etc.
I would like to try my hand at rehabilitating old saws and possibly building new ones. I’ve got a couple of old saws for practicing on, both panel saws and back saws, and an assortment of triangle files, sets, and a saw vise. I just ordered Tom Law’s dvd on sharpening. If anyone has any resources on saw making techniques and equipment that would be necessary (Ive seen a bit online about retoothers, and a few for sale).
Also, I’ll probably try my hand at planemaking, at least some wooden ones, probably the seemingly simply Krenov-style to start, but maybe traditional wooden planes later on. I’m graduating from college in May, and I would prefer doing something of my own choosing for a living, rather than what is handed down from the higher rungs of the corporate ladder for the rest of my working life. I’m not expecting to be able to quit my day job anytime soon, but would like to be able to do this sort of thing full time if it allows. Just let me know what you all think and any advice or comments would be greatly appreciated.

Replies

flairwoodworks | Feb 19, 2008 05:07am | #1
Can you make a handsaw for less than $140, including your labour? I don't have any experience making saw blades but know that you'll need a triangular file, mill file, and saw set for starters. I have used a router and a template to make handles. Make a template and use it with a bearing guided straight bit to shape the handle before rounding over the edges with either a roundover bit or a rasp and scrapers.

Making wooden planes is fun. I buy replacement blades for metal-bodied planes and build the wooden bodies. I've only built Krenov-style planes, but am definately intrigued in infill planes and metal planes.

Chris @ flairwoodworks

- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
chuckh | Feb 19, 2008 06:41am | #2
If you're looking for inspiration someone on the Sawmill Creek forum started a list of contemporary planemakers.

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=76561

-Chuck
wdrite | Feb 19, 2008 04:03pm | #3
About 20 years ago I operated a saw sharpening shop to help with college expenses for my kids. I had sharpening equipment made by Foley. They are probably still in busines. I had automatic retoother, filer and setter for handsaws and the filer would also do circular blades. Also had grinders for circular and chain saws. I didn't own carbide equipment but they had it available. I don't have the address available but you probably can locate them on line. They also carried an extensive line of saw maintenance supplies such as special files and grinding wheels.
TampaTom | Feb 19, 2008 07:39pm | #4
Popular Mechanics has a great site for building a hand plane... you can find it here:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/home_journal/woodworking/1273456.html

Some pretty looking planes - a jack, smoothing and jointer...

Tom Iovino

Tom's Workbench

http://tomsworkbench.com
Hal123 | Feb 20, 2008 05:48am | #5
The only thing I can find on Foley these days is Foley-Belsaw or vice versa. They want you to buy into a training course as well as buy the equipment.

Oldtoolsshop.com has a number of interesting people on there who restore handsaws and offer alot of advice on the how-to.