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Saw files

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Saw files

#1

Saw files

Peter Evans

>This page from a 1942 Disston publication - Conservation Serves Everyone - has a useful page on saw files. One thing I did not know was the instruction to use older files when reconditioning saws.

Trust this is helpful. Another hint - my eyes are pretty shot, and I find that using those cheap $ shop glasses with 2.5 etc times normal over the top of prescription lenses (only a rought fit, but works) makes seeing smaller teeth possible; otherwise I would have had to abandon sharpening anything over 8tpi.


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Re: Saw files

#2

Re: Saw files

Peter Evans

>Once files are too far gone, they make excellent dovetail chisels, including skews. I was a little surprised to see Derek Cohen and Mike Wenzloff digging deep for (albeit magnificent) Blue Spruce dovetail chisels when they must have ample supplies of worn taper files.


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Re: Saw files

#3

Re: Saw files

Tom Colligan

>Thanks, Pete. Converting an expired file into a dovetail chisel or skew chisel requires signifcant time behind a grinder, correct? I hadn't thought of an afterlife for the saw sharpening files I have so I just want to make sure I understand your post. Tia, Tom.

Re: Saw files

#4

Re: Saw files

Peter Evans

>Tom,

First grind off the teeth; the time at the grinder depends on how neat you want to be. For practical purposes the teeth simply need to be dulled across the length of the file; this does not take long.

For the section of the file that actually works as a chisel (around 1") you remove all the teeth on the grinder; and then of course put the bevel on; and then the usual honing.

NOTE: Ensure you run the three corners along the grinder to lightly take OFF the knife edge you will have ground. Like me you will probably forget - once only - those edges are very sharp.

Caveat: this works well with older files, where the steel is reliable. Those marked CAST STEEL are certainly suitable. In flea markets worn out saw files are usually around, and seeing as you grind off the rust, accessing suitable steel should not be a problem. For newer files suitability depends on the steel formulation.

Time to make some dovetail chisels?

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