Jessica Pierce-LaRose
04-18-2011, 8:45 AM
I've been looking for some full size handsaws and panel saws for a while now, but everything I've run across in my area either has been sharpened until the etch is in the teeth and the tip is a point, the handle is totally destroyed, or the thing is pitted almost all the way through. Usually all three, with a blade that's as wavy as a surf; and the folks selling it are convinced it's rare and worth a ridiculous amount. (Also, apparently there's a market on 15 year old plastic handled saws from Sears, because they still keep selling used for more than you could just buy a new one.)
I'm hoping as the weather warms up and the "season" starts, I'll have better luck at the flea markets and antique shows and such. I'm cheap, and not in a hurry, as I can get by, so a nice saw from a modern maker is out of the budget right now.
So anyway, I went with my wife to an antique show yesterday. We were going to go Saturday, but car problems prevented it. Usually hitting these things on the tail end of Sunday means nothing good is left, but there was a decent amount of stuff, and now I know who's booth to look for next time there's one of these things. I was surprised as well, because most of the stuff we saw was reasonably priced, even the furniture.
Picked this up for 12 bucks. Probably could have haggled if he had anything else left I also wanted, but I was sleepy and 12 bucks was still within "throwing around money" for now.
Disston No. 12, 11 TPI rip 22 inch. I'd still like something else coarser and longer, but I feel like this will be a good rip saw for a lot of the rips I'm doing right now. Blade is fairly pitted in spots I guess, but it's not too awful bad. Etch is fairly visible, but damned if I can figure out how to photograph it. The handle is fully intact, couple of chips/dents on the front near the medallion, but the horns are in perfect shape. I think I bought it for nothing else than it just feels terrific in the my hand. It's got an intact nib, but it's a tiny one. Doesn't look worn down or anything, just small, but damned if I know much about what nibs are supposed to look like. Has the common turn of the century "Philada" medallion, but appears to have a "one son" etch. I'm just assuming the second "s" has been lost to the years.
The blade is kink and wave free, but it didn't occur to me to look at much else about it until I got it home. It seems to have minimal to no set, at least as far as I can measure, and binds in the cut as a result. (Although needing a sharpening probably also doesn't help) And the tooth line is pretty far out of straight. I haven't measured it, but it's going to need a fair amount of jointing. I'm reasonably confident in my ability to sharpen a saw, but I'm not sure if I can do this one right. I guess I'll be careful, and have a go.
I didn't do much to it other than lightly sand with 320 grit on a sandingblock with some mineral spirits to remove the worst of the crud and light rust, and then wax the blade. Looking at the photo, I now see I have a fingerprint to clean up, and I guess I managed to put a few scratches in the plate. I don't remember sanding with a swirling motion, however. Weird. The big swirls in the third picture are from the wax.
I guess I have no real reason for posting this, I know it's not unique, special or amazing, I'm just happy to find a saw that I hope can turn into a good user, for a non-ridiculous price, locally. That it has the same super comfy handle as the similar vintage backsaw I picked up the other week makes me even happier.
191899191900191901191902
I'm hoping as the weather warms up and the "season" starts, I'll have better luck at the flea markets and antique shows and such. I'm cheap, and not in a hurry, as I can get by, so a nice saw from a modern maker is out of the budget right now.
So anyway, I went with my wife to an antique show yesterday. We were going to go Saturday, but car problems prevented it. Usually hitting these things on the tail end of Sunday means nothing good is left, but there was a decent amount of stuff, and now I know who's booth to look for next time there's one of these things. I was surprised as well, because most of the stuff we saw was reasonably priced, even the furniture.
Picked this up for 12 bucks. Probably could have haggled if he had anything else left I also wanted, but I was sleepy and 12 bucks was still within "throwing around money" for now.
Disston No. 12, 11 TPI rip 22 inch. I'd still like something else coarser and longer, but I feel like this will be a good rip saw for a lot of the rips I'm doing right now. Blade is fairly pitted in spots I guess, but it's not too awful bad. Etch is fairly visible, but damned if I can figure out how to photograph it. The handle is fully intact, couple of chips/dents on the front near the medallion, but the horns are in perfect shape. I think I bought it for nothing else than it just feels terrific in the my hand. It's got an intact nib, but it's a tiny one. Doesn't look worn down or anything, just small, but damned if I know much about what nibs are supposed to look like. Has the common turn of the century "Philada" medallion, but appears to have a "one son" etch. I'm just assuming the second "s" has been lost to the years.
The blade is kink and wave free, but it didn't occur to me to look at much else about it until I got it home. It seems to have minimal to no set, at least as far as I can measure, and binds in the cut as a result. (Although needing a sharpening probably also doesn't help) And the tooth line is pretty far out of straight. I haven't measured it, but it's going to need a fair amount of jointing. I'm reasonably confident in my ability to sharpen a saw, but I'm not sure if I can do this one right. I guess I'll be careful, and have a go.
I didn't do much to it other than lightly sand with 320 grit on a sandingblock with some mineral spirits to remove the worst of the crud and light rust, and then wax the blade. Looking at the photo, I now see I have a fingerprint to clean up, and I guess I managed to put a few scratches in the plate. I don't remember sanding with a swirling motion, however. Weird. The big swirls in the third picture are from the wax.
I guess I have no real reason for posting this, I know it's not unique, special or amazing, I'm just happy to find a saw that I hope can turn into a good user, for a non-ridiculous price, locally. That it has the same super comfy handle as the similar vintage backsaw I picked up the other week makes me even happier.
191899191900191901191902