Hollowing saw vise jaws
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What are some effective techniques for hollowing the jaws on a saw vise to get firm clamping pressure along the entire saw length? Just wing it with a spokeshave? Or work progressively outward from center with a smoothing plane? Ideally the result would be a smooth curve such that pressure at the center results in even pressure along the length.
Texas Heritage has an article for their saw vise and he recommends doing what you are talking about (I think). If I’m understanding you correctly, it’s called a spring joint. I read that you start from the center and take progressively longer plane strokes until you take a full length stroke. I don’t think it takes many strokes (just a few). That way the center is a little hollow and this creates a lot of clamping pressure on the saw.
I think Paul talks about this concept just a little when he laminated the aprons in the bench build. Only he did it in reverse where the middle was bellied. I think when you do this while laminating you don’t need as many clamps.
FYI I have never done this. So take what I say with a grain of salt.
You don’t have to Spring the jaws very much, especially if the wooden jaws are in the 1” range or thicker. As long as the wood on the ends contact first and you get full contact under pressure, you are good.
I’d use a card scraper. Start with a short stroke in the middle of the jaws and work progressively outward, making each pass a little longer than the previous one.
And you only really have to do one face.