Sharpen that saw yourself

[Timberwolf]

Here's how Roy does it.........

https://www.pbs.org/video/woodwrights-shop-sharpen-saw/

[bandit571]

Just using "Visual Aids" to teach the subject, is all.   

I might get out the bow saw blades....someday..

[TraditionalToolworks]

I might get out the bow saw blades....someday..

Why? Nothing wrong with a bow saw, Frank Klaus used one the majority of time, although he had some western style saws as I recall, but maybe not.

Underhill is a good guy to learn from, IMO, good tip Jack!

He just does so many useful projects, many of which are done within a day. Others much more complicated. Best is Roy shows practical use of traditional hand tools, so anyone interested in hand tools should be able to find so many cool projects he's done over the years.

Speaking for myself, I just always thought it was cool how he was walking through the city to his shop, with that beautiful retriever...really makes one feel like you're going back to another time in history from the modern world...classic...


EDIT: I just remember, I think the Woodright series had a show on making a saw vise. If you don't have a way to hold your saw to sharpen it, search for saw vise and one should pop up. There are a number here on Woodnet also, but not sure if they have a video, and it's worth watching him with his dog, IMO.

[Admiral]

Why? Nothing wrong with a bow saw, Frank Klaus used one the majority of time, although he had some western style saws as I recall, but maybe not.

Underhill is a good guy to learn from, IMO, good tip Jack!

He just does so many useful projects, many of which are done within a day. Others much more complicated. Best is Roy shows practical use of traditional hand tools, so anyone interested in hand tools should be able to find so many cool projects he's done over the years.

Speaking for myself, I just always thought it was cool how he was walking through the city to his shop, with that beautiful retriever...really makes one feel like you're going back to another time in history from the modern world...classic...


EDIT: I just remember, I think the Woodright series had a show on making a saw vise. If you don't have a way to hold your saw to sharpen it, search for saw vise and one should pop up. There are a number here on Woodnet also, but not sure if they have a video, and it's worth watching him with his dog, IMO.

https://woodcentral.com/articles/handtoo..._925.shtml

[muermon]

Why? Nothing wrong with a bow saw, Frank Klaus used one the majority of time, although he had some western style saws as I recall, but maybe not.

Underhill is a good guy to learn from, IMO, good tip Jack!

He just does so many useful projects, many of which are done within a day. Others much more complicated. Best is Roy shows practical use of traditional hand tools, so anyone interested in hand tools should be able to find so many cool projects he's done over the years.

Speaking for myself, I just always thought it was cool how he was walking through the city to his shop, with that beautiful retriever...really makes one feel like you're going back to another time in history from the modern world...classic...


EDIT: I just remember, I think the Woodright series had a show on making a saw vise. If you don't have a way to hold your saw to sharpen it, search for saw vise and one should pop up. There are a number here on Woodnet also, but not sure if they have a video, and it's worth watching him with his dog, IMO.

I always describe his shows as the best history series on TV.  The integration of history with the work and instruction makes those shows such a joy to watch.

[TraditionalToolworks]

https://woodcentral.com/articles/handtoo..._925.shtml

Yes, thank you for pointing that out, I didn't know one existed on WoodCentral, but I don't really hang out on too many forums and have been more interested in metalworking for several projects and repairs, as well as welding. Kinda broadens out one's skills, but most use power.

I do quite a bit of handwork though.

I recently mentioned Dominic in a post, but haven't seen him. Hope he's going ok and I do remember this vise. In fact, I remember seeing it right here on Woodnet in this forum when he was moderator. He was moderator after I was banned. Hey, if I act up will I get rebannded? *groan*

Just to add a couple things. This wooden type saw vise was rumored to be used by craftsmen to sharpen their saw in the window light, at least I remember Chris Schwarz posting something about that once upon a time, and if anyone knows history and who invented it, it would probably be Chris.

Anyway, the smaller metal vises do not work that well, but I admit that I use 2 x Disston 3D vises, side by side, when I need to do a long saw. And as a bonus, now that I know how to weld/braze I can fix those pesky 3D vises that are always broken...hehehe and the Emmert vises. I'm not capitalizing off all my skills nowadays...but I may have mentioned this here in the past, that I don't know...but I have always had a vision to create a saw vise that rather than clamping, used either rare earth magnets with some type of lever to open/close or modern magnetic fasteners to flip the poles with a lever to secure/release the saw plate.

I have of course always pictured it in my head as being two pieces of exotic hardwood with brass inserts along the top edge that holds the plate, but just how I think about toolmaking. I like nice wood on tools, and certainly handles. Modern botique sawmakers are a case in point.

As a bonus (i.e., tool porn), I'm going to include a picture of a small sawmaker's anvil, about 10#, that I bought from an old blacksmith I've bought several old anvils and a post drill from. I took the post drill down to move recently, but I have it mounted in my hand tool shop area. Knotty pine walls and ceiling and purple heart flooring.

Oh, what do we see in this pic? Yes, the saw was dropped and the folded back smashed down and needs to be reset. Pretty sure that's been done, since. This saw is from the era of saws I like most. Not the best example of a handle, but not too bad. Not one of the saws in my working quiver, some of which are below it.

   

[adamcherubini]

Having met Roy and worked with him, I have to wonder if the reason for the episode was really just the cheese cutting jokes. And physically cutting cheese on the show. I think these are the things that get him out of bed each morning.

[Jack01]

Here's how Roy does it.........

https://www.pbs.org/video/woodwrights-shop-sharpen-saw/

Thanks for sharing, it is great.

[TraditionalToolworks]

Having met Roy and worked with him, I have to wonder if the reason for the episode was really just the cheese cutting jokes. And physically cutting cheese on the show. I think these are the things that get him out of bed each morning.

I would say yes, and go so far as to say this is why Roy Underhill became a household name for hand tool use and has inspired more people that anyone, unless you consider exposure to folks like Roubo eclipses him. Underhill made things so entertaining and enjoyable that thousands if not millions of followers that many call him a Saint, which probably confuses you.

The only thing I can relate this to is I see much of the handwork as being more colonial based, as the work you do. It is more proper, based on formal style from England. The saw is held property, with the perfect amount of grip, never too hard, held with the proper posture and cutting with the correct motion. This is akin to the traditional woodworking you seem to be involved with, but I haven't seen any of your stuff other than posts I've seen recently on this forum, so not sure. I always associated you with the Williamsburg reenactment, if it's even acceptable to give it a name, just because of the clothing you wear, has giving me the impression you practice those common practices from England. In America this is kinda like our first problem, getting the Brits out of our homes and breaking them of the habit they could tax or control us like they did in England.

Roy Underhill, OTOH, represents the American way, "grab 'yer saw, whatever it is, and try to cut as close to the line as you can", "you can use whatever you have laying around, you can find most any saw cheap at your local flea market <varumph!>". (I added in that varumph just for you Adam!


The land wasn't really anyone's no matter what anyone believes, people will continually settling and claiming the land as their own, fighting existed and ownership changed, but it was the Brits, IMO, who started all this taxation prior to anyone from that side of the pond setting foot over here. Just my $0.02. America started out with the concept of get 'yerself an axe, a mule, take a claim on land with trees, and build a life, possibly with a soul mate you meet. Then that evolved into being able to process dimensional timber, and easier methods of nails to assemble, with a handsaw and a hammer w/nails, homes could be built. Chisles and planes existed, but the minimum you needed was just those basic tools, a ruler of some type and a scribe. You could build a house, and you could build your own tools even if you needed to forge them...

That is kind of how Underhill's style is, it's not for everyone. I am trying to just think about building with wood, everything is not a delivery to the Queen. I certainly have projects that are detailed with exotic woods, but that's not practical for basic wall framing. Even so, I have enough to do that I don't want to be dimensioning it with a handsaw, possibly a cordless circular saw at min, but just buy it in 12' sticks. I have enough that I just don't have the time. I'm a bad galoot...LOL

I'm not meaning to be disrespectful, and hope you see that. You have saws that you create for people that are based around your ideas on working wood by hand. Whether they do follow the English flavored style, it doesn't even matter. I just want to see people use any tools, whatever they have, whatever they can afford, find a way, break stuff apart to get wood to use if you have to, but just build something or even build with limbs with mortise/tenons. The world is not only comprised of Queen's Ann style furniture any more than it is Greene & Greene, or Frank Lloyd Wright, Prairie style, Japanese style, Shaker style, et al...and this is exactly why there is no perfect workbench either, build what works for you and if it doesn't modify or build another.