Saw Handle for Craftsman 15 inch hand-saw
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I found a craftsman handsaw at my local Ace Hardware store. I really like the way it cuts but found the handle uncomfortable. So I am making a new handle. The pattern combines the front half of the existing handle design and back half of an older saw I bought on eBay. I (1) glued the pattern to the board, (2) drilled the holes with cordless hand drill and forstner bits, (3) rough cut with back-saw, (4) Chiseled to the pattern, then (5) switched to power carving it with my 2-speed Dremel. I do not know what kind of wood I am using. It is from some book shelves that I removed from my house when I bought it 15 years ago. The wood is light, soft, and splits easily.
Robin ... Richmond, Virginia, USA
The wood looks like something from the pine family. As a handle, it may not survive but what the heck, give it a go. You have the grain oriented correctly so it should work. Over tensioning the saw nuts might cause it to split or at the very least compress and the nuts will seem loose after just a short period of time.
I plan to harden the wood around the saw nuts with hot stuff super glue. That is a trick I picked up back in my wood carving days. Something in the pine family sounds right. The grain is denser then most pine I see in the home stores. Also it has a very distinctive aroma that I just cannot place – maybe a cedar like smell. I was wondering if it could be fir or red cedar, or redwood?
I have a piece of cherry the right size, but I thought it deserved to be a handle to a nicer saw 🙂
Robin ... Richmond, Virginia, USA
Could be a fir, definitely looks like some kind of softwood.
Cherry makes good saw handles. Apple was a favorite for the glory days of Disston saws.
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