Picked up an unusual saw today

Re: Picked up an unusual saw today

Ralph Umphfres

>Sounds to me like you have a stair saw. They were used for making cuts on stairs while assembling.

Re: Picked up an unusual saw today *LINK*

Dave (Arlington, VA)

>Hi Ralph -

Are there varying kinds of stair saws? The only kinds I'm familiar with are those designed like the Disston No. 6 stairsaw that pictured on the Disstonian website (pictured on the website listed below - about a 1/4 of the way down the page, and, at least on my computer, partially covered by the Pattern Makers Saw) - and a squirrel tailed saw, and this doesn't look like either of them.

Also with the stair saws that I've seen the height of the saw blade is adjustable relative to the wooden body of the saw - and the saw is inserted inside the wooden body whereas with this one it is fixed to the side of the body.

I forgot to mention in my earlier post that the wooden "body" of this saw is roughly 6"x14"x1", and the top corners or gently rounded or curved. The wood is quartersawn and is tightly grained (as you might see in a moulding plane) - and if I had to guess (based on moulding planes I've seen) it might be beech.

Anyway, thanks for your post and your thoughts. I appreciate it.

Regards -

Dave


Disstonian Website - Stairsaw

Re: Picked up an unusual saw today

Ernie Miller *Topeka

>How about a picture? sounds interesting

Re: Picked up an unusual saw today

L. Hanson

>There are several different varieties of stair saws, though they all perform the same basic function. Here's one I made based on an old design I found somewhere - looks like it's kind of based on a coachmaker's plane:

Leif

Norsewoodsmith.com

Squirrel-tailed saw?

Dave (Arlington, VA)

>Hi Leif -

Thanks for the post and the pic. I may have the name wrong, but this type of saw is one I seen referred to as a squirrel-tailed saw. As best I know, I think it's just another version of a stairsaw. I don't think I've ever seen one of these by one of the major saw manufacturers (e.g. Disston, Atkins, etc). Most have been shop-made, best I can tell.

I appreciate the post.

Regards -

Dave

P.S. I've seen your website and your tutorial on making some of these specialty saws. Very cool. I highly recommend that folks take a look - if they haven't already.

Good idea. Can't promise.

Dave (Arlington, VA)

>Hi Ernie -

I'm sure you're right: a pic would make it much easier for folks to see for themselves. Unfortunately, our new digital camera is less than a week old, and I still haven't learned how to save pics to my hard drive, nor post pics here on WC. Sadly, with the pre-Christmas activities going on at our house today, I'm doubtful I'll have time to do any "research" on this today. In fact, I'm sneaking time on the computer right now even as I type. Shhhhhhh......

I'll see what I can do.

Regards -

Dave

Re: Picked up an unusual saw today

John Aniano

>Dave,

If what I've read in the past is correct, your new aquisition might be a coffin-makers saw. They were used to cut closely spaced kerfs so the curved sides of coffins could be bent.

Todd Hughes might be the best person to ID the saw. He might know whether it is a stairmakers or coffin-makers saw...

John

Thanks, John

Dave (Arlington, VA)

>I appreciate your post. A coffin-maker's saw, eh. Kinda spooky.

I haven't mastered my new digital camera yet. I hope to over the holidays. If I do I may repost this question along with a pic. I know that pics are very helpful for these kind of things.

Again, thanka!

Regards -

Dave