Making Back Saws *LINK*

Great write up and saw.

Raymond in Trenton NJ

>Hi Leif,

Congratulations man! They are beautiful saws and look like they'll be a joy to use. Thanks for the write up and pics on how you made them. I'm saving a copy of your excellent tutorial, in addition to the one on floats. A friend and I have been wanting to make some H&Rs for some time, but we keep getting tripped up at the "you need to make a float" statement. Thanks to you, the tripping hazard is gone :o)

I do have one question though. Unless I missed it, why start with 11 saws? (unless their gifts for a family of woodworkers)

I like your site.

Raymond

Re: Great write up and saw.

L. Hanson - N. Idaho

>Thanks, Raymond!

Why 11 saws? Well - first off, I was going to do 5 or 6 - two or three for myself, and the rest as gifts for family members. That many because the smallest piece of brass I could find was 12" x 12" and something like $25 - and I didn't want to waste the rest of the brass, so why not cut it all up for backs?

Then, I won a couple auctions on ebay, one was a piece of brass real cheap (like $10 or something) that was perfect for saws, the other was a gaggle of handsaws I won for $1. So there I was with the raw materials to do 5 or 6 more than originally planned, so I figured why not? Besides, there were a couple guys that said they might buy them from me if I made them and decided to sell them, and if not, I would get lots of practice and I would end up with a bunch of saws... Nothing I could find wrong with that - so I made it all up into saws!

Leif

www.norsewoodsmith.com

Re: Making Back Saws

Ted Shuck, Centennial, CO

>Excellent writeup! Thanks for the very detailed description of the entire process. I made a small backsaw from a piece of brass that I bought at the local hardware store and a scraper blade last year, but your method is definitely an improvement over what I did.

Thanks,

Ted

Really good... plus a thought

Dave (Arlington, VA)

>Hi Leif -

Great write up and great picks.

I "upgraded" my straightback el-cheapo straight handle dovetail saw earlier this year because I wanted a pistol grip. Also a beefed up the brass back (long story)- to give it more heft.

The reason I mention this is because it is possible to get acceptable results (not as nice as yours) on the brass back without building the bending jig you built. I simply put the brass in my vice (protecting the sides of the brass and my vise cheeks with some plywood) and worked it over fairly slowly and carefully with a rubber mallet. I wasn't able to get it to bend in exactly the right place so I did have to file one side down a bit to get them even. I also did get in a bit of a hurry and had to spend some time "straightening" it out - but it turned out okay -- for a first effort.

Your pics and prose really make the process clear, and I picked up some ideas in case I try it again.

Again, thanks --

Dave

Re: Making Back Saws

Jim in Burlington Ontario

>Great stuff thanks for posting.

Re: Making Back Saws

Jack Guzman from Maine

>Great website Leif.You seem to like teaching. Anyone with a few skills could make their own tools simply by following your step-by-steps.I certainly appreciate it. Thanks for sharing.---Jack

Re: Making Back Saws

Angelo in Cornwall, NY

>Leif,

Great saws and a great site! I have a couple of old saws that may get recycled into table, keyhole and stair saws now! Thanks for the post

Thanks all!

L. Hanson - N. Idaho

>

What an outstanding effort.

Mark Harrison -- in Sydney, Australia

>Thank you very much for that great effort.

Re: Making Back Saws

Steve Kubien

>Leif, I love your website. There is some REALLY good stuff on there. Keep up the great work!

Steve Kubien

Ajax, Ontario

Your toolmaking

Bill Lowrance (Geneva, Switzerland)

>Very useful accounts, Leif, about the backsaws and the other tools. Straight-ahead problemsolving and clear, engaging writeups and photos. I couldn't resist posting to say, Keep it up! Bill