Disston handle onto new S&J handsaw?
Welcome! / Forums / General Woodworking Discussions / Tools and Tool Maintenance/Restoration / Disston handle onto new S&J handsaw?
- This topic has 4 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 5 years, 4 months ago by Henry van den Top.
-
AuthorPosts
-
21 November 2018 at 2:44 am #553370
So I’ve got 4 Disston and two new 22″ S&J handsaws. The Disstons have lovely handles, and the S&J’s have lovely blades … a match made in heaven? Or an unholy alliance creating a frankensaw?!
Of the Disstons, the three Philada ones all have various dents and kinks, and the more recent Disston USA one seems to be made of steel crossed with butter: easy to sharpen but blunts at the first sniff of timber, even plantation pine.
The S&Js cut like a dream especially now I’ve wiped off the silly lacquer with meths and replaced with 3 in 1 oil. But the handles are uncomfortable and too large.
I guess I am inspired by Paul’s recent blog on a Groves handle on an S&J tenon saw to try the same in the handsaw world. Part of the temptation is storage: ie reducing my 6 imperfect saws to 3 near-perfect ones (the 26″ Disston works ok despite its dents). I’m just hesitating due to the irreversibility of getting the sawnuts off the S&Js.
What do people think? Any ideas how hard it’ll be to get the handle to fit wobblefree? Will I rot in hell for destroying the history?
Andy
21 November 2018 at 3:18 am #553371Oh, you may rot in hell, but probably not for messing with a couple of wonky saws.
Tools that feel good and work well are more likely to survive, and fifty years from now will be interesting history. So go for it. The likelihood you are ruining some priceless museum piece are infinitesimal.
As to problems, the only ones I see are plate thickness being compatible with the saw kerf in the handle and holes matching up. Worst case is you have to shorten the plate a little to get fresh purchase. As to the sawnuts, that’s always a risk, but you have 6 sets.
10 December 2018 at 9:31 pm #553817Thanks Larry and Dave.
I’m now pretty keen to try this, partly because I’ve realised it’s non destructive as far as the Disston’s go, and the S&Js are replaceable.
Thanks to Dave’s observation about plate hardness I’ve held off until I can get a special drill bit; I’ll update this thread if I make any progress …
12 December 2018 at 10:13 am #553824Paul has written a blog on lumberjocks about reshaping the handling instead of completely replacing it. Worth a read, as it is a viable option for newer saws with ugly handles. http://lumberjocks.com/projects/48683
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.