I recently posted a question about handsaws and received a bunch of good responses. I then realized that it might be worth cleaning up an old discolored saw I inherited from my grandfather. It turned out to be a Disston D-23, which I sent to Tom Law for sharpening. After calling some relatives who had inherited saws from the same grandfather (a carpenter by trade), I collected their saws, cleaned them up (the saws, not the relatives), and sent them to Tom for sharpening and, in one case, re-cutting.
The upshot is that for very little money I now have a bunch of tools that work great, create little dust and no noise. Yesterday I was re-framing part of our porch to hang a swing and used one of the Disston’s for all the cutting required. It was absolutely perfect – the best tool for the job.
One of my grandfather’s saws was an old Richardson backsaw. I had Tom sharpen it for a rip cut, and it is now the “tenon saw” I have been wanting.
So I am posting this to let others who might be interested in handsaws know that they are great tools and they are available. And if you want to learn a lot about handsaws, give Tom Law a call.
Replies
Congrats, Mark.
There's a book you might like called "Tools of the Trade" by Jeff Taylor with great photos by Rich Iwasaki. Essays written from the point of view of someone that really has reverence for old tools.
Happy sawing.
LOL, I just did the same with some of "Poppie's" old Disstons, and another couple that belonged to SWMTMH's father (yup, the number one son wasn't interested...) A sharp handsaw is a joy, and what a difference sharp makes. I did some comparison cutting against an out-of-the box ten-year-old Disston 8 pt cc against the old, but just sharpened 8 and 10 pt. The newly sharpened 8 pt took only 1/3 the strokes to cut through the piece.
The sad thing was finding a place to sharpen them. The local carpenter's Union hall didn't have a clue, nor did a local fine arts program that has an extensive cabinetry program.
Speaking of blank looks and handsaws....
Does anyone know a source for the screws that hold the blade and handle together? I have several nice saws with seriously deficient fasteners; talk about sales people turning to the next customer when you ask "Do you have any of those screws". blink. "Do you know who might?" blink "Do you know what I'm talking about?" "Are you in there?"
Butch
Newest owner of "Screws Ain't Us"
Butch,you can order them from Foley-Belsaw in a pk. of 10 for $8.95 but they'er aluminum.I get most of mine by buying "junk" hand saws.I just don't like the looks of a new aluminum screw in an old hand sawTexas Sharpologist
My experience has been that the screws are the worst part of the saws I find, that's why I need the new ones. But you're right, Aluminum would be too tacky.
Sharpologist.? Is that someone who excavates old sharpening sites?
I'm in Austin. Where are you?
Butch
Scattegun Press
AbileneTexas Sharpologist
Can you perform the same and/or similar service as does Tom Law?
Rookie. I'm not sure exactly what Tom does but I can and do sharpen/set and retooth hand saws
max
Texas Sharpologist
Are you located in Abilene, TX?
Rook, yep.Good ol Abilene.The buckle of the Bible BeltTexas Sharpologist
I am right down the road from you in Midland. I have a couple of saws I would like to try to get to you for an overhaul. What is the best way to do so?
Rookie, I'll send you a PM this evening with more information.For everybody else, the correct term for the saw handle screws is sex bolts.(male & female threads)And no ,that isn't a joke
maxTexas Sharpologist
Sharp:
Great logo. I hung around Abilene a bit with a college buddy back in the 60's. Most impressive memory? Watching water from a hard rain just sort of pile up--no place to run off to. Reallllly flat flat flat.
Great people, strange topography.
While we're on the handsaw topic, does anyone know a source for the jigs you'd use to hold the material while you use the saw, short of kneeling on it? My workbench has two Record vises in the normal places, but does not have a shoulder vise. So I'm looking for clever jigs to use for cutting fine work such as dovetails and tenons, as well as for cutting 2x4s. Any ideas?
Mark,
A bench hook goes a long way toward solving that problem - that's the classic solution for using a saw with a bench. See Bob Key's hand tool site: http://www.terraclavis.com/bws/ Look under the bench section.
Edited 7/9/2003 10:16:20 AM ET by Ed from Mississippi
Thanks, Ed.
Butch... The proper name for them are 'saw buttons'. It's the same for both the latge and small ones. If the hardware store has them, most likely they will be chrome plated steel or, for the large ones, aluminum. Don't waste your time at home despot or lowdowns. You have to find the oldest, grungiest hardware store in your area, usually with the oldestr, grungiest ownetr behind the counter. They will at least know what you're talking about. I keep two screwdrivers dedicated to tightening / removing these saw buttons. One is for the straight slotted ones and one with a notch filed in the center for those that look like they need a spanner wrench. My best source for the old brass ones are from saws that are too rusted and pitted to be of any real use. The rusted blades DO make great one-of-a-kind scrapers when I'm repairing some odd profile window mouldings.
SawdustSteve
Steve, I'll head out to a few of the small towns around here--we're so citified now (and I'm so old) that all the really old curmudgeons have quit. There's young curmudgeons, of course, but they're just grumpy 'cuz they don't know anything.
Butch
Lumber Reduction Center
Hi Butch,
Saw nits are hard to find. Lie Nielsen will sell replacement split nuts for $10US a pair. Other then that you are out of luck. Your best bet would be to keep your eyes open for a beater saw or make your own.
Good luck
Dan Clermont in Burnaby
Mark,
I write to report the same experience. Bought an old Disston back saw; courtesy of Tom Law it is now a great tenon saw (rip filing, very fine kerf). Found an old D-8 at a flea market for $5, sent it to Tom. He finished removing the rust electrically, and sharpened and set it. $20@, plus return postaqge. He just sent me an invoice. What a gentleman! I would think he was busy as could be, but when I talked to him, he said he only did 300 or so a year. This is hard to believe.
Alan
I was amazed when I sent Tom my first saw, expecting to get a call asking for my credit card number. Instead, I got the saw back sharpened a few days later with a little handwritten invoice for $10. Can you imagine someone actually trusting a brand new customer whom he has never seen?
Any contact info for Tom?
(301) 824-5223
62 West Water Street, Smithsburg, MD 21783
Thanks!
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