Reply To: Refining Spear & Jackson Saws
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I’m not familiar with those particular saws, other than what Paul Sellers has written. The original post referred to the poorly shaped handle section and there lots written about this.
As far as the plate and its cutting effect is concerned, as it is a new saw, i would expect that the plate would have been stamped, shaped and a basic set applied in the manufacturing process. Even though it will cut, don’t expect it to be ‘right’ for your purposes. Most tools when new, even the very best, need a little fettling to adjust to a user’s satisfaction.
Going forward, learning a little saw-doctoring is a very useful, if not essential skill to acquire – this will keep your saws in good usable order.
Paul Sellers has plenty on the subject in free videos and there is plenty more on Y-T. However, be prepared to spot occasional contradictions and sort out the basics for your needs from what is offered.
You will need files. My personal preference, given the quantity of poor quality files available are made by Bahco, but don’t let that stop you experimenting. Next you’ll need a saw-set. My absolute favourite is a Stanley 42x. but they haven’t made those since the last war – they are scarce and expensive. The eclipse type is what you’ll see most of. Even so, these need some attention to work properly – more on that at another time if needed.
Finally you’ll need to get your ingenuity to work on a saw-vice to hold it. Again Paul has ideas and suggestions on this in his videos.
Search ‘Bahco-saw files’ online and you should find details from various vendors of what’s available giving the length, face-width and stitch rate for the teeth.
You’ll only need files to suit your saws, so don’t buy sets but work out which one that you need given the formula of needing twice the longer face of the tooth across the width. Files are expensive and wear out. You’ll need a handle, but you could make that yourself.
Finally, with regard to your new saws, make a saw-vice to suit: mount the saws and (I’m assuming the they are rip-saws), starting at the toe lay the file in the gullet until it settles in place. MAKE A NOTE OF THE RAKE ANGLE! With the file dead level across and at right angles to the plate, give a short gentle stroke forward. Put the file in the next tooth and repeat an exact stroke of the same length and of the same pressure. The pressure should be as much as you’d stroke a cat….. gently, don’t force it. Light, single, one-way strokes, don’t rub it. Repeat all the way up in each tooth and try it.
If the saw cuts without binding in the wood, then the set is OK.
Good luck