Replies

1. 
   joinerswork | May 17, 2005 08:50pm | #1

   Tom,

   There is a jig for jointing two man crosscut saws that you clamp a file into. It has a pair of set screws to spring the file into an arc that matches the curve of the saw's blade.  While the two man saw blade is convex, you could use the same principle to make a jig to bend a small file to match the concave arc of your pruning saw.

   Good luck,

   Ray

1. 
   TomHigby | May 17, 2005 11:12pm | #2

   Thanks for replying.  I've seen such jigs, but files are of pretty hard steel and the curve on this saw is much tighter than that of a two man saw.  I will see if a light weght file can be flexed to thate degree.

   Tom

2. 
   TomHigby | May 18, 2005 01:24am | #4

   I tried your suggestion and it worked very well.  I used a 8' flat mill bastard file tightened two screws at each end to bend it .  I was fearful that it would snap, but no, it could have bent much more!  Thanks.

   Tom

1. 
   joinerswork | May 18, 2005 03:10pm | #5

   Tom,

   Glad it worked out for you.

   Happy sharpening,

   Ray

2. 
   mike4244 | May 17, 2005 11:25pm | #3

   My grandfather used to sharpen saws, from what I remember he glued fabric backed 100 grit sandpaper to a 2x6 that was cut to the arc.The blade was held stationary and he moved the 2x6 in an arc.He set the teeth with a pointed hammer over a piece of steel angle.

   mike

3. 
   forestgirl | May 18, 2005 06:37pm | #6

   Hey, Tom, I think I might have a similar saw.  On the verge of tossing it in the trash because, with no set to the teeth, it seems poorly designed for cutting green wood.  I have no experience with sharpening or setting hand saws.  What else did you do to yours to get it to work??

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
   Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   TomHigby | May 19, 2005 01:27am | #7

   Dear Forestgirl,  The saw of mine I bought at an auction. It was made in Sweden, the blade is 24" long witha concave arc, 3 TPI, the teeth with a sharp rearward rake.  I set the teeth using what else but a saw set.  I filed it following the existing tooth pattern, then passing a whet-stone long-wise on the side of the saw to level any tooth that was set too much.  A pruning saw needs a fairly wide set, being used on wet, green wood.

   My saw is one that gives the user the chance of generating some body heat!   Every wood-worker should try filing a saw. It causes an appreciation for a nearly lost art, which in the past every wood-worker was intimately acquainted with.

   Tom

1. 
   Patto | May 19, 2005 02:22am | #8

   Tom,

   Panel beaters use a body file that has a flexible file monted on a sprung sole adjusted with a turnbuckle. Teeth might be a bit coarse for this task but veryy precise and could be used with wet/dry or emery paper.

   Having had a look at this, file might be reground for an effective plane making float.

   David