Disston Saws
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- This topic has 41 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 2 months ago by Mark68.
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The seller wants £46, I offered £26, they replied asking for £36.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272525581886?ul_noapp=true
Is this a good deal?
- This reply was modified 7 years, 2 months ago by Mark68.
6 February 2017 at 6:56 pm #309024My limited experience says that it’s ok but £36 +p&p is probably top money for it, the plate doesn’t look too bad. This one http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Antique-Tenon-Saw-E-J-Birch-Kentish-Town-Brass-Back-14-inches-Free-PP-/201788970171?hash=item2efb8f54bb:g:hfsAAOSw5cNYgiQM caught my eye although it looks quite pitted but what a beautiful handle not dissimilar to my Groves saw. I have a failing in that I want to fix everything!
One thing I would say is don’t get too hung up on one maker. Some of these saws, especially the English ones, look so similar I often wonder if a lot of them were made by the same manufacturer?
A useful link (if it hasn’t been given already) for dating Disston saws is http://www.disstonianinstitute.com/medv2.html
You have had me looking at saws for the last half hour or so going “oooh aaaah, isn’t that nice” at saws I don’t need! 🙂 Must resist!
I should point out to you that posting ebay links is going to bring these items to the attention of hundreds of woodworking readers and will probably drive up the selling prices. Again, the best way to get a sense of retail values is to do a Completed Auction search to see what similar items have sold for.
I’ll echo what Cragglerock has said. While older Disstons are excellent saws there were plenty of saw makers on both sides of the Atlantic back in the day who made similarly fine saws. If I was in the UK I’d be looking at British saws which will probably go cheaper and be every bit as good as Disstons. (I’m referring mainly to back saws. Full size vintage Disston handsaws MIGHT have an edge over their British competitors although I couldn’t make that case myself.
dAVE
I just bought this saw for £35.50 p&p inclusive:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/272525581886?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
It might have some pitting toward the front middle of the panel but I’m hoping she can be restored to a satisfactory level.
EDIT: I think I just noticed some serious pitting on the reverse of the saw’s panel near the mid bottom. It might just be discolouration but it looks pretty bad now I’ve noticed it.
- This reply was modified 7 years, 2 months ago by Mark68.
7 February 2017 at 9:50 pm #309057Glad you got one and I’m sure it’ll be fine. Have fun restoring it and most of all using it!
Post some pictures when you get it done, I’d love to see it.
Best regards
Craig
My saw arrived this morning, I’ve taken some pictures of it.
It has pitting but it doesn’t feel that bad, but then I’ve nothing to gauge this by. It does feel rather smooth under my finger tips, not much rougher than the Disston labelled engraving in the brass back:
http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w433/cmjo/Saw%201_zpsbm5wlzgv.jpg
- This reply was modified 7 years, 2 months ago by Mark68.
- This reply was modified 7 years, 2 months ago by Mark68.
- This reply was modified 7 years, 2 months ago by Mark68.
- This reply was modified 7 years, 2 months ago by Mark68.
- This reply was modified 7 years, 2 months ago by Mark68. Reason: Difficulty uploading pics
- This reply was modified 7 years, 2 months ago by Mark68.
- This reply was modified 7 years, 2 months ago by Mark68.
Again I’m not sure but the teeth look like they’ll need a lot of care:
http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w433/cmjo/Saw%203_zpsn7pyasup.jpg
Closer look at the teeth
http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w433/cmjo/Saw%204_zpstfhdq0y5.jpg
- This reply was modified 7 years, 2 months ago by Mark68.
- This reply was modified 7 years, 2 months ago by Mark68.
- This reply was modified 7 years, 2 months ago by Mark68.
And again
http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w433/cmjo/Saw%206_zpso93hx0uc.jpg
- This reply was modified 7 years, 2 months ago by Mark68.
The pitting will naturally affect the teeth, but as it’s not too deep I think you should be fine. At the end of the day you have a lot of saw plate left so if you hit a snag with a pitted tooth you can just take the whole tooth line down a bit more.
Pitting can make the teeth brittle, and is more challenging in crosscut than rip patterns, given the loss of width of the plate. Might be worth switching to a rip cut as you have a decent tpi on there already and you need to sharpen a lot.
Give it a go and see how you get on.
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