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25 August 2017 at 5:17 pm #314677
Here is a bit of an update:
After taking off the handles and cleaning up 3 saws, I am surprised at what I found! One was a 26″ Disston D-8, 7ppi rip saw! This was exactly what I needed! I now have 2 D-8 saws, a 7ppi rip and an 8ppi crosscut! The other two that I’ve worked on are 8ppi and 10ppi that is missing a few teeth. There’s no etching on those plates. They will be good to add to my collection that I am using to teach my boys to work wood.
As per Dave’s suggestion, I bent the plates with my hands. The D-8 definitely has the better steel! Below is a pic of the three saws after working the blades. The 10ppi with missing teeth still needs to be sharpened, but I have been impressed with the results so far!
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You must be logged in to view attached files.11 August 2017 at 12:37 am #314460Derek, I am SO glad you asked! The hand print has been adopted as my maker’s mark. There is a lot of symbolism behind it.
I began to get serious about working wood in 2005. I outfitted my garage shop with a table saw and a band saw. I also had no idea what I was doing. One day, I was cutting mahogany on the table saw. It was one of the first times I ever used a push stick. It slipped. That day, I lost a fingertip, almost 2. After recovering a bit, I decided to get rid of my tools and machines. Unfortunately, the desire to make things with wood never left me. Nearly decade later, I couldn’t take it any more. One day, I ran across a Paul Sellers video on YouTube. He was talking about getting off the conveyer belt. The way he taught using hand tools inspired me. I began to slowly buy tools from EBay. When I finally had the space, I decided to start again. This time, I had instruction (YouTube videos are better than losing limbs). My first project was this bench. I couldn’t get the blasted tops square, so I dropped the whole thing again. (Are you sensing a theme, yet?) My oldest son actually inspired me to get back at it. This bench is the first project I attempted and completed since losing my fingertip. The mark is a symbol of perseverance for me and evidence that I really can.
It is my left hand that is missing the tip. Although I am right handed, I sometimes –okay more than sometimes– make mistakes as if I am not using my dominant hand. Try writing with your non-dominant hand, and you get the picture. There is more to they hand thing, but this post is long enough.
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You must be logged in to view attached files.10 August 2017 at 1:49 am #314444The vise was just attached! I took the whole thing apart and applied a coat of BLO to bring the color out.
One of my boys decided that it needed a saw kerf in the end of it. Either way, I am excited to put it to use! My first project may be a place to store my tools. Hooray!
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You must be logged in to view attached files.9 August 2017 at 7:03 pm #314441Wow! The polissoir looks amazing! I’m getting a straw broom and making one of these. today.
8 August 2017 at 7:27 pm #314429And here is what it looks like now! I was so excited when I fit the well board that I put the first coat of BLO on it before I completely finished it! Oops.
I will be picking up bolts and plywood today from the big box store to install the vise I bought from Lee Valley almost 2 years ago. I almost can not believe it. Almost finished! It is solid!
There’s a story behind the hand print, but that is for another time.
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You must be logged in to view attached files.7 August 2017 at 2:28 am #314352Craig,
Thanks for the link. It will be good to replace this blade and make this plane functional. That is the cheapest price I have seen so far!
The plane came with a 2 1/4 EC Simmons Keen Kutter that is all bent out of shape. Needless to say, it is pretty much useless to me. Interestingly, I did a little research and found out that the blade had to have been made before 1940, when the company was bought out by a competitor. Again, useless information but interesting, nonetheless.
BTW: You’re in SW Pennsylvania? I moved to Pittsburgh 2 years ago.
27 July 2017 at 2:12 am #314054Thanks for all the advice!
A friend came over with his planer. My tops are now true! We also planed the aprons.
Getting those tops flat was a huge obstacle for me. Since I’m over that hurdle, I’m moving on. Interestingly, when we gathered all of the parts of the bench, we noticed that some were much lighter than others. Come to find out, most parts were made with Douglas Fir and the legs were made with a very light pine (I’m talking near balsa wood light!). I spent the today making legs from fir. The weight difference is remarkable! Here’s to hoping that I’ll have this completed by the first weekend in August.
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You must be logged in to view attached files.22 July 2017 at 7:16 pm #313954Thomas,
A thickness planer would alleviate so many of my concerns! Actually, I’ve asked a friend if I could come over to his shop and use his. He has a planer wide enough to handle these tops (currently 11.5″). He was very hesitant to run these tops through, but he didn’t fully say no. Technically, it is still a possibility. Even so, I think it is a remote one.
I have also considered making two benches. Originally, I was going to make this bench as close to 8ft as possible (the tops are currently 94″). I think I could cut off most of the problem area and still have about 6′ length. It would be easy to simply use only one of these tops per bench and have a well. As it is, I just glued up a second apron. There is still time to mull it over. It just means purchasing another vice sooner than later.
As I think it over, I’ll chop the mortices for the legs. Thank you for the input!
8 December 2015 at 12:00 am #132988After work today, Ibought some naval jelly today and tried to clean up the blade. I debated whether to use the naval jelly or citric acid as Matt suggested. If the naval jelly didn’t work to my satisfaction, I was going to try the citric acid. However, I am very impressed with the results. While I waited for the acid to do its work, I took some 0000 steel wool to the handle. The whole saw looks stunning!
The only thing left is to file, re-cut, and sharpen the teeth. For that, I must wait until I procure some files. I lack the necessary tools for the next steps. Without a vise of any kind, it will be tough to do.
Step by step, I’m getting there!
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You must be logged in to view attached files.7 December 2015 at 1:20 am #132952Thank you, everyone! I have begun to bring it back to useable condition. Since there is interest, I will post periodic updates here. I am still in the process of slowly building my bench, so the restoration will be slow, as well.
The first thing I worked on was the back of the saw. The toe was driven too far into the spine, causing it to be skewed and the blade, bent. I took it completely off and made sure it and the blade was straight. When put back on, you can see how the blade was driven too far into the back. The next step is to get some naval jelly to work on the face as ehisey suggested. Below is a pic of the saw as it is today.
What do you think? Should I have tried to clean the rust off the faces before I straightened the back? I am very much a greenhorn, and the only thing I have to guide me are Paul’s videos and this community, both of which have been more than excellent to help me through my inexperience.
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