Recently I've read a lot of posts on the forums I frequent asking for recommendations for where to send a hand saw to be sharpened. In fact, there have been so many in the last few weeks that I think it's time for a blog about it. You see, I find it interesting that there is so much talk about the best waterstones and diamond stones and lapping compound, etc. but little talk about sharpening saws yourself. Why?!
Honestly, would you send your plane irons and chisels out every time they needd to be sharpened? I would hope not as that would mean you'd be without your tools a whole lot more that you had them in your shop. You probably wouldn't get too much work done. Or worse, you'd work with dull tools because you put off sending them off to get sharpened. Yet it seems like this is exactly what most folks are doing with their hand saws.
Unfortunately, what this means is that the majority of folks are probably working with saws that aren't really sharp. I really don't understand why there is so much fear of sharpening a saw. It seems like everyone is willing to dive right in and learn to sharpen their plane irons and chisels but very hesitant to consider sharpening their saws. But sharpening saws is so easy! And so much cheaper to get set up than buying yet another set of water stones (which I don't use by the way but everyone else seems to prefer them so that's why I mention them instead of oil stones). For the price of a single water stone you can get everything you need to sharpen your saws.
I'm not going to go into great detail on how to do it here as Pete Taran's saw filing page is a better resource than I could ever put together so no sense reinventing the wheel. Besides being here, the link to his saw sharpening pages is always in the Woodworking Links box at the right. Get yourself a couple of files (a mil file for jointing and a triangular tapered saw file or two depending on the saw[s] you need to sharpen). If your saw needs some set added, also pick up a plier type saw set. That's it for equipment! About $25-$30 worth of sharpening gear. That's about what it would cost to send a saw out for a single sharpening. Pete Taran's instructions will get you the rest of the way.
Make a simple saw vise in your shop with a couple of pieces of wood. I simply used my bench vise with a couple wood scraps to clamp the saw plate for a long time before I got a saw vise. I still do it this way sometimes as I'm not too fond of my current iron saw vise. You could also make a nice vise if you want to and there are plenty of plans for them on the net. Just search for saw vise or saw chops for several very good examples.
So that's my rant for today folks ;). If you read my post from a couple of days ago, maybe you might make saw sharpening your chosen new skill to learn this year. I gaurantee that once you try it and learn it you'll kick yourself for not learning to do it sooner. It really is as easy as I am making it sound. Your saws will thank you too as they will no longer have to suffer being less than optimally sharp. They will perform better for you, and, having sharp saws will improve your woodworking, I gaurantee it :)!
RSS Feed