D8 Panel Saw refurbishment.

[Stewie Simpson]

Hi all. I purchased this panel saw around 10 years ago. Its a Disston D8 Panel Saw; 20" saw plate; 10 ppi; crosscut tooth. Its been wrapped in storage during that time period awaiting the day I could get around to refurbishing it.

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/D8%20refurbishment/_DSC0453_zpsxmuvwqod.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/D8%20refurbishment/_DSC0453_zpsxmuvwqod.jpg.html)

That day had finally arrived.

The 1st job was to remove the ugly finish that the previous owner had hastily applied. Its rather bulky original handle shape was typical of its circa. I felt the need to include some reshaping to improve its general appearance.

http://www.disstonianinstitute.com/d8page.html

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/D8%20refurbishment/_DSC0460_zpsbjyitojh.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/D8%20refurbishment/_DSC0460_zpsbjyitojh.jpg.html)

Before;
http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/D8%20refurbishment/_DSC0454_zpsmz5wtac2.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/D8%20refurbishment/_DSC0454_zpsmz5wtac2.jpg.html)

After;
http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/D8%20refurbishment/_DSC0457_zpsfeb8fh9s.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/D8%20refurbishment/_DSC0457_zpsfeb8fh9s.jpg.html)

Next thing to do was darken the etching so it stood out more clearly.

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/D8%20refurbishment/_DSC0459_zpsxphogu9z.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/D8%20refurbishment/_DSC0459_zpsxphogu9z.jpg.html)

Before;
http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/D8%20refurbishment/_DSC0456_zpsu1k1avnt.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/D8%20refurbishment/_DSC0456_zpsu1k1avnt.jpg.html)

After;
http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/D8%20refurbishment/_DSC0458_zps5rdqhud2.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/D8%20refurbishment/_DSC0458_zps5rdqhud2.jpg.html)

With the hyphenated etching, I was able to determine the age of the saw as being post 1928. The H Disston & Sons medallion that's has been fitted to the saw is clearly not original, as its use stopped in 1917. Not of great concern.

http://www.disstonianinstitute.com/etch.html

The saw teeth are in excellent condition, and will only require a light sharpen when time permits to allow this saw to be in excellent user condition.

I would appreciate your thoughts to the changes I made to the saw handle's shape.

regards Stewie;

[Daniel Rode]

I don't know much but I think the reshaping makes it look more refined without appearing weak or fragile. Nice touches without overdoing it. I much prefer the darker color as well. It makes me want to pick it up and use it :) Really nice work.

[Robert Norman]

I like what you did with the handle, how much better does it feel in hand? Compared to the refinements the original form looks clunky and inorganic even though that's a fine saw.
You do some inspiring work.

[Stewie Simpson]

Thank you Daniel. Its sounds as though I ticked all the right boxes with the refurbishment. Appreciate your feedback.


regards Stewie;

[Stewie Simpson]

Hi Robert. The new feel of the handle is an improvement. But the ascetics is where the greatest difference is evident. I appreciate your appraisal of my work.


regards Stewie;

[Jim Koepke]

I like the new look. A nice refinement.

jtk

[Reinis Kanders]

Nice work. I like that flats are more pronounced, just crisper looking handle overall.

[Stewie Simpson]

Thanks Jim. It would be a fair comment to suggest the Disston's "D" type handsaws from 1928 were not as refined within their handle shape.

regards Stewie;

[Stewie Simpson]

Thank you for your feedback Reinis. The profile lines need to be kept sharp and crisp if you wish to enhance the overall appearance of a handsaw handle.

regards Stewie;

[Joe Bailey]

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/D8%20refurbishment/_DSC0458_zps5rdqhud2.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/D8%20refurbishment/_DSC0458_zps5rdqhud2.jpg.html)

With the hyphenated etching, I was able to determine the age of the saw as being post 1928.

The etch in your photos is not the hyphenated (D-8) etch -- yours is PRE-1928

[Stewie Simpson]

Hi Joe. I look forward to hearing more from you on this detail. I am always open to being corrected.

regards Stewie;

[Stewie Simpson]

Hi Joe. I have gone back and reviewed the information within http://www.disstonianinstitute.com/etch.html. You are indeed correct. After 1928 the model no. would be etched D - 8. This saw has the 8 etched inside the D. That translates to this saw being pre 1928, and the medallion is most likely correct for this saw. Thank you for your assistance.

regards Stewie

[Stewie Simpson]

Refiling the teeth from round to V shaped gullets.

Stewie;

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/D8%20refurbishment/_DSC0464_zpsugrhcglb.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/D8%20refurbishment/_DSC0464_zpsugrhcglb.jpg.html)

[Stewie Simpson]

Hi all. This is the final presentation of the Disston D8 panel saw refurbishment.

The handle has had 3 coats of garnet shellac. Later buffed to a nice shine.

The saw teeth have been sharpened with a crosscut profile of 10 degree's side fleam.

I also completed some test cuts with the panel saw on both hardwood & softwood to insure the work completed on resharpening the saw teeth was of an acceptable standard.

regards Stewie.

http://i1009.photobucket.com/albums/af219/swagman001/D8%20refurbishment/_DSC0469_zps1ilf4dnf.jpg (http://s1009.photobucket.com/user/swagman001/media/D8%20refurbishment/_DSC0469_zps1ilf4dnf.jpg.html) Testing the saw on Oregon.

[Stewie Simpson]

Zen Rules for Woodwork

http://www.woodreview.com.au/news/zen-rules-for-woodwork?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter%2027%20February%202015&utm_content=Newsletter%2027%20February%202015+CID_ 83f834e390927021f8bbac18237fe559&utm_source=Email%20marketing%20software&utm_term=Zen%20Rules%20for%20Woodwork

[Thomas Schneider]

I love the improved profile of the handle, it adds a lot of class, Nice job! I gotta confess though, I was about to say I liked the original finish more as usually I'm not a fan of dark wood handles. But then I saw it after the shellacking and buffing, Wow!

Tom.

[Stewie Simpson]

Thanks Tom for the feedback.

regards Stewie;

[Brian Holcombe]

I am enjoying the changes that you made to the handle, very nice work in restoring the saw.

[Stewie Simpson]

Thanks Brian for your feedback.

Stewie;

[Craig Christensen]

Beautiful work, Stewie! I really love the new countours and finish on the handle, and how well it shows off the brass. I picked up a D-8 of the same vintage at a shop a few weeks ago, but the lower third of the handle is missing, and the remainder is cracked into two pieces at the medallion. I found a blank of flame maple in the rack that is the right size, and I think I'm going to have to use your great photos to work up a handle template, as I haven't been able to find a template online yet. Thanks for setting a great example.

On a side note - if you or anyone else has advice for cutting the curved-profile slot for the saw plate in the front of the handle, I'm all ears. I'm pretty much at a loss as to how to proceed right now, but I'll be working on the Search function here to see what more I can learn.

Craig

[Stewie Simpson]

Thanks Craig.

[Jim Davis]

Very nice finish on the handle. I can appreciate the changes to the back of the handle, but having repaired a few early No. 7s with the thin lower loop, I would never thin that part of the handle. You will be very careful of your saw, I am sure, but if it ever gets dropped and a hard object contacts that lower loop, a repair will probably be in order.

I don't think I have ever seen a saw handle with a finish that looks as nice as yours does. I'm too much of a utilitarian to have the ambition to seek that level of fineness.

A nice job all around and a great saw.

Jim

[Stewie Simpson]

Thanks Jim. Appreciate the feedback.

Stewie;

[Matthew Serra]

Beautiful. Can you tell us more about the process of bringing the etch back? I also have a saw with an extremely faint etch.

[Don Slaughter]

Stewie, you turned that saw into a real treasure....thank you so much for the inspiration! I've been following saw restoreal posts here and on other forums http://lumberjocks.com/topics/27984 as I slide down this slope:D I have some really nice old saws with loads of potential that I want to do my best on. Did you use anything else finishing the handle? Just shellac?

[Stewie Simpson]

Hi Don. Just amber shellac over the stain.

Stewie;

[Rich Riddle]

You performed an incredible restoration. Those 20" saws prove very useful in the shop. They're great.