lost set on dovetail saw

Re: lost set on dovetail saw

Alan Hamilton

>Gary,

Which Garrett-Wade saw do you have? Is it the "tenon saw" that cuts on the push stroke but has Japanese style teeth? If so, I think I know the problem.

Alan

Re: lost set on dovetail saw

Gary Williamson

>Hi Alan,

I have the traditional style dovetail saw. It is the "Paragon" saw with painted red handle. I also have the tenon saw from the same set but I have not modified the teeth on that one yet. I hope to be able to get in the shop and touch-up and re-set the teeth soon. I may try bending more of the tooth this time. I really don't want to add anymore set than .003 on each side. I would love to just go out and buy the LN saw but this one was a gift. Besides, I'm getting good at saw sharpening ; )

Gary

Re: lost set on dovetail saw

Alan Hamilton

>Gary,

Sorry, but I shot my only bolt about your problem--I don't know much about saw sharpening, and certainly not enough to be able to diagnose what's ailing your saw.

I look forward to what the experts will say about your trouble. We'll both learn something.

Alan

Re: lost set on dovetail saw

Wiley Horne--Glendora CA

>Gary,

What do the calipers say? Are you measuring the same set as before?

Wiley

Re: lost set on dovetail saw

Gary Williamson

>Hi Wiley,

I just measured the blade. The body of the blade measures .020" and the 0.23" on the teeth. It definitely lost set, it used to measure .026"-.027" after I set it originally.

Unfortunatly, I have not had a chance to do any work on the saw. I visited the Vintage Saw website and found an article that deals specifically with setting the saw. I only glanced it over, but I did see something about the positioning of the sawset plunger on the tooth. There seems to be a difference in positioning for rip teeth and crosscut teeth. I won't get to it until next week, I have to travel to Texas for a funeral this weekend.

Thanks for the response, I'll let you know if I can solve this problem. Thanks also to Alan, I also hope we both learn something new about sharpening.

Gary

Re: lost set on dovetail saw

Paul M. in San Diego

>The way I learned to set saws was to slightly over-set the teeth and then dress them down to the desired width with a stone. If you just file the teeth, then you get a burr on the outer edge (if filing them toward the cutting edge). If you set the teeth to the desired set after the filing, then you wind up with just a weak burr on the outside, which wears quickly. Over-setting the teeth an then dressing them down with a stone leaves strong chisel edges that won't wear as quickly.

I also tried the above on a new Crown handsaw, and it lost it's sharpness immediately. I think the thing must have been made from pot-metal or some aluminum alloy. The saw-set actually crushed the teeth slightly and left a dimple in the tooth. I sent the piece of junk back. You need to get a saw with decent steel or you will be playing the sharpening game too often.

Re: lost set on dovetail saw

Gary Williamson

>Paul,

I think you may have hit the nail on the head. I'll try slightly over setting the teeth and then lightly dress them with a stone until they are at the desired set. Your comment about the quality of steel has me thinking that I need to take another look at the LN or an Adria saw. Since this saw was a gift, I was determined to make it work, and still am, for the time being.

Thanks,

Gary