what are you using for saw guards?

Are they a good idea?

Adam Cherubini

>Judy,

I always worry that guards may trap dust or moisture or both and actually cause more problems than they prevent.

I only store my saws in my chest when I transport my tools (which is rare). I plowed narrow grooves in a piece of pine for the saws. So if you are transporting saws, I think this is a different issue.

The first issue has come up from time to time. I don't recall a consensus. To some extent sticky oil coatings may be similar to guards in that they may trap dust which absorbs water...

So what ye? Should I be making guards for my saws?

Adam

Re: what are you using for saw guards?

BarbS, Wenatchee WA

>I just use plastic report-cover splines to protect the teeth, especially on the dozuki and such, which are fragile. In the winter, when humidity is an issue, a light coating of oil goes on everything steel, and I'm careful to wipe sawdust off all equipment, as it attracts moisture.

Re: Are they a good idea?

Paul Kierstead

>Well, I would think that if the saws are stored (either hung from the wall or in a till) then guards are really a waste. If you are throwing them all in a drawer, you'll be needing some.

Re: what are you using for saw guards?

Dave Thompson - Champaign IL

>Hi Judy,

My old Disston hand saws are hanging up on the wall in a simple saw rack.

For my back saws, I probably spent about 2 minutes making a shelf stand. I took a 2x4 (x ~12"), ripped some 1/8" (kerf) grooves down the length. I set the back saws upright in the kerf line.

enjoy,

Dave

back saw stand 

Dave Thompson - Champaign IL

>

DITTO

Hank Knight from SC

>Plastic report cover splines don't hug the saw blade; they clamp along the top edge and have about a 3/16" space at the bottom, so thay don't trap dust. I store my saws in them and have not had any rust problems. I find them particularly useful on a crowded workbench. They keep the teeth safe from getting dinged by other tools.

Re: what are you using for saw guards?

Larry Williams

>Judy,

I use automotive door guards cut to length. They're rubber slotted strips intended to protect car door edges. I don't remember what they cost, somewhere around $4 for two strips that were somewhere around 30" long. They stay on better and protect better than the report cover type. I haven't had any rust problems with the four back saws that have been wearing them for a few years. Auto parts stores carry them.

Re: what are you using for saw guards?

ThomD

>I use the ones Sandvik sells with their cheapo saws. I take them off the cheap ones, and put them on the good ones. They are plastic, but they don't slip on lengthwise, they go on directly, and one flips a tab, and they lock on. Probably something like them could be purchased from an office supply store.

No rust or tooth dulling problems. I keep them on a few saws that I am not using, and then move them to saws I take with me in toolboxes, as required.

None...

Scott Burr in rainy Ben Lomond,CA

>I keep mine in a till. If your getting good I'll send you a few of mine that need to be shaprened;^)

Re: what are you using for saw guards?

Dean J in MN

>I'm with the others in the thread who don't use them. My saws hang so the edges are safe from being knocked around. A till is a goos solution as well. If I travel I just cut a kerf in a scrap and hold it place with string or such for the trip.

-Dean

Re: what are you using for saw guards?

Todd Hughes

>I have seen thousands of saws in the wild...and own hundereds...and think I have seen one old saw guard on a saw. Have seen photos of "Old" ones on saws in books but they always looked a little to new and nice to convince me that they were legit. Kind of a shame because they are kind of neat. I had a friend who used to insist that the nib on an old saw was there so you could use it to tie a string around to hold the saw guard on. He never could explain why we don't see any guards if they were so popular that a saw had a special feature designed in for them.

...By the way I have seen more then a few auger bit guards, These are normly round pieces of wood with a stopped hole which fits down over the auger bit .....Todd

Re: what are you using for saw guards?

Kevin French, Antrim NH

>I keep mine in a till wo/any guards. I use guards when I transport some of my better saws, but that's the only time.

Double ditto

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA, gettin' soggy

>Any decent bureaucracy throws out dozens of reports that have been bound in those report spines - you shouldn't have much trouble finding some free if you ask around a bit, and they're not expensive anyhow.

Tip: slide them on the saw from the back - easier to do if you're not fighting the teeth.