Making handsaw handles from scratch
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- This topic has 9 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 6 years ago by Alan.
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13 February 2018 at 1:17 am #470485
I’ve been finding that my smaller hands don’t appreciate the large handles on my handsaws. Does anyone have plans/videos about how I could go about making one to fit my hands? I love making/restoring my old tools and this is one thing I’ve been looking forward to. Any help would be appreciated.
PR
13 February 2018 at 2:24 am #470531I would start by evaluating why they don’t work for you. I would then take your most beat up one, glue in wood, auto body filler etc and rasp it till it fit and then use it for a pattern for the others. The hard part will be making them fit your hand and the saw at the same time.
This may be of help…
https://www.toolsforworkingwood.com/prodimg/gt/pdf/GT-DKITXX_INST.pdf
Best regards,
Paul13 February 2018 at 6:24 am #470635@Eric The handles don’t work for my hands because the main handle is too big. I have some old (1910s) Disston saw handles and they have much smaller handles and my hand fits much better in them. However, these handles are also quite old and were not taken care of before I got them and they are beyond repair. I wanted to be able to make the handles but was looking for instructions on making them.
Bonjour Peter,
you should find the good template here:
http://blackburntools.com/articles/saw-handle-templates/index.html
…and some other very good ressources!
SY
Bob
13 February 2018 at 7:35 am #470654Two guys in a garage has a bunch of PDF’s for many saw handles, including several of the old Disston styles.
They can be scaled when you print.
http://www.tgiag.com/saw-handle-scans.html
Wenzloff and sons also has Disston patterns as pdf’s
https://www.wenzloffandsons.com/faq/36-saw-kit-tech/71-saw-patterns.html
- This reply was modified 6 years, 2 months ago by Larry Geib.
13 February 2018 at 11:08 am #470715I had the same problem as you. If the handles are in good shape, simply re-shape them. An old cabinet maker shared with me that all his saw handles were shaped the same as his hammer handle. Sometimes just rounding over all the edges makes quite a difference.
Paul did show us how to reshape modern Spear & Jackson handles with a spokeshave, rasping the tight corners to get a custom fit. He finished by carving ‘ears-of-wheat’ designs. I can’t find the video anywhere, but there are snippets in Paul’s blog. https://paulsellers.com/2014/10/questions-answered-sizing-saw-handles/
Paul also modifies his Stanley plane totes. Taking a little from the leading edge at the base. Apparently, a fraction removed here and there makes all the difference, improving comfort, balance, and control. I concur with @Eric, I’d start with a scrapper handle that already fits the saw-plate to determine the shape for you, before starting from scratch. -
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