Replies

1. 
   gdblake | Apr 13, 2011 08:46am | #1

   Depends on how you want to use the saw

   Dave:

   You didn't say what the size of your saw is.  The smaller the saw typically the smaller the teeth.  Your saw may have an appropriate number of points per inch already and just needs to be sharpened.  Since it came with a miterbox the saw should be filed for crosscutting.  My guess is that it has more set than it really needs.  You can take some of the set out by running an oil stone along the sides of the teeth.  Use some oil and take one gentle continuous pass on each side moving from heel (the handle end)  to toe.  Use the saw after each pass to see if it cuts to your liking.

   If the saw just isn't useful the way it is there is nothing wrong with having it reworked.  Configuring a saw depends on the work you need it to do.  For finer crosscuts 14 ppi with minimal set is a good starting point (the range is 12 to 16 ppi).  For ripping 10 or 11 ppi works fairly well.  I like a little bit of rake to the rip tooth (2 to 5 degrees) for smoother cuts (the more rake a rip tooth has the slower the cutting, but you're doing joinery with a carcass saw) and just a hint of set.  You can always go online and look at various sawmakers websites to get an idea of what you want.  Just do a search on carcass saw.

   You may find that the fees to have your saw reworked are nearly as high as buying a new saw.  In that case I would suggest getting a new saw and using the one you have as a test subject on which you learn to sharpen your own saws.  A cheap used Stanley miterbox saw is great to have to practice sharpening on.

   hope this helps,

   gdblake