Disston backsaw handle

I'm curious, but I'm not

Scott Burr windy and raining in Ben Lomond,CA

>George...

Hey Mike, In looking at the two handles next to each other there doesn't seem to much difference in their geometery (to my eyes anyway).

Could you have just rounded, carved and rasp the original handle to the same of the one you made?

Thanks for sharing.

grain orientation

Adam Cherubini, NJ

>Mike,

Is that really how the grain is oriented on the saws you see? I have noticed the grain usually runs straight thru the neck. So in this picture, I would see the grain running 30 degrees off horizontal toward the upper right corner of the picture. I believe the result would be a stronger handle overall with stronger horns an important side benefit. I also see mostly quartersawn handles. Not sure how big a deal that is- but that's what I see,

Adam

Re: I'm curious, but I'm not

mikew

>Hi Scott,

The answer is yes, I could have. I have done so on one of my saws that has a nice Black Walnut handle. The main difference is that the Walnut had nice grain and color.

This handle would have remained a colorless, flat-sawn--albeit more comfortable--handle. There is a slight hang difference and the former handle is also about an 1/8" thinner, which is quite a bit, really.

Take care, Mike

Re: grain orientation

mikew

>Hi Adam,

The following two pictures are of a handle being made from Cocobolo, which obviously shows the grain orientation in question much better than the handle being replicated right beside it.

The second picture is the example handle as a close-up. Note that the grain orientation is the same: horizontal.

This next picture is of a different 19th century saw, also a London pattern as in the above example. Its grain orientation is also straight through the handle.

There are several issues concerning grain orientation. One is the wood species, another the handle style [open or closed], flat to quartersawn grain orientation, even a handle's "ornamentation." The lamb's tongue on these saws--and the saw in the original post--is the weakest link. Well, that and the horns.

While I have examples where the grain even on a closed handle runs through the upper bridge at an angle similar to what would be found on an open handle, many/most of mine do not. Neither do the closed handles on most of my full sized saws. Some even run up for that matter. As well, I have visited a local collector and ran through his many saws, examples from the 18th century on up.

I have tested via a vise and a hammer to the point of wood failure each and every handle style we've made, using a variety of woods. I have found that having a closed handle made in the above grain orientation, using as close to quarter sawn wood as I can find, makes less compromises in strength in the lower bridge and the horns. The upper bridge cannot be broken short of a hammer repeatedly bashing it.

I believe the lower bridge would be very weak if the grain was running down the upper bridge at whatever angle as it would be on an open handle.

That said, if I were replicating an example, even if the desire was to change the wood, I typically will run the grain the same orientation. Concerning the original post, however, that non-descript wood was flat-sawn as opposed to quarter or bastard grain. On all species except two I have dealt with, that is a real no-no.

Thanks for the comments, Adam. Always good discussing saws.

Take care, Mike

Ahhh, Someone with taste...

Scott Burr windy and raining in Ben Lomond,CA

>Thanks for the reply. I see it has more to do than making a older saw's handle better. Look much better IMHO. Just had to ask cause I'm a sick little monkey!

Nice job Mike!

Re: Disston backsaw handle

Dean Lapinel

>Mike.

Gorgeous!

I can almost feel the handle...full in the palm for a good fit and roomier for the index finger knuckle.

Really nice.

Dean

Re: Disston backsaw handle

mikew

>Hi Dean--thanks!

I find I often rotate through my saws. More with the smaller backsaws than the larger saws. When I pull one out like a late #4 that has an uncomfortable handle, it is either time to take the rasps to it, or replace it altogether.

Point of the post was, we are wood workers. Might as well change the easy things.

Take care, Mike

Re: Disston backsaw handle

Skip in Falls Church

>Hi Mike,

Beautiful job! About uncomfortable handles - I'd suggest that whenever one runs into them that they be redone so that they are comfortable to the user. Even if the handle (and the tool too, I guess) is new. It seems to me that there is no point in having a tool that is uncomfortable to use. Everyone seems to look at planes as "kits" to be refined after purchase - I'd suggest that saws are no different. :)

Skip

Re: Disston backsaw handle

mikew

>Thank you, Skip!

And just so everyone reads it again in case they missed it the forst time:

"...It seems to me that there is no point in having a tool that is uncomfortable to use. Everyone seems to look at planes as "kits" to be refined after purchase - I'd suggest that saws are no different. :) Skip"

We are woodworkers. Shaping a handle is simply personalizing the saw. A good fitting saw just plain feels better.

Take care, Mike