Ben Ellenberger
05-21-2020, 8:41 PM
So, I had already learned to stop and sharpen whenever my chisels and planes aren’t feeling quite right. Yesterday I finally learned to stop and sharpen when my saw doesn’t feel quite right. It turns out they cut better when they are sharp.
I haven’t been using western saws for very long, so I’ve just had to joint and file my back saws and panel saws once before. When I got my 26” rip saw it pulled to one side, which I was able to correct by stoning it. I’ve been pretty happy with my sharpening results just clamping my saws between two battens in my vice. When I sharpened my crosscut saws I set a bevel gauge with the fleam I wanted and lay it on the bench behind the saw as a guide to help keep the right angle.
I sharpened my rip saw for the second time and it has noticeably less set. So, I think it will be time to set it the next time I sharpen.
Questions:
How often do you sharpen your saws? I’ve gone several months between sharpenings, but I think I’ll start doing it more frequently, especially for the saws I use to break down stock.
How many rounds of sharpening do you do before you set your saw?
What technique do you use to set your saw? I see the saw sets you can buy, but I’ve also seen the Paul Sellers video where he demonstrates setting a saw with a nail set and a hammer. It looks pretty straightforward and I’m tempted to try that and see how it works for me.
I haven’t been using western saws for very long, so I’ve just had to joint and file my back saws and panel saws once before. When I got my 26” rip saw it pulled to one side, which I was able to correct by stoning it. I’ve been pretty happy with my sharpening results just clamping my saws between two battens in my vice. When I sharpened my crosscut saws I set a bevel gauge with the fleam I wanted and lay it on the bench behind the saw as a guide to help keep the right angle.
I sharpened my rip saw for the second time and it has noticeably less set. So, I think it will be time to set it the next time I sharpen.
Questions:
How often do you sharpen your saws? I’ve gone several months between sharpenings, but I think I’ll start doing it more frequently, especially for the saws I use to break down stock.
How many rounds of sharpening do you do before you set your saw?
What technique do you use to set your saw? I see the saw sets you can buy, but I’ve also seen the Paul Sellers video where he demonstrates setting a saw with a nail set and a hammer. It looks pretty straightforward and I’m tempted to try that and see how it works for me.