Saw vise height

[Thomas Wilson]

I have a Gramercy saw vise that I am going to mount to a wood bracket that can be clamped to my bench. It seems that it would be easier to use if the bracket raised the vise a bit higher than mounting at the edge of the bench. I think elevating the tooth line to elbow high would be about right (for me that would be about 42 inches). The bench is about 35 inches high. Any preferences or opinions on best working height for saw filing.

[Mike Brady]

I like to sit for filing back saws and stand for the longer panel saws. I use a shop-built vise that fits into my twin-screw vise. Daryl Wier sits for all of his filing and uses a long wooden vise he made so that he doesn't to keep shifting the saw plate. If you are going to stand for everything you will probably want to elevate the vise. Just make sure you build a very sturdy mount that will dampen the vibration and not amplify the noise of the filing.

[Thomas Wilson]

I like to sit for filing back saws and stand for the longer panel saws. I use a shop-built vise that fits into my twin-screw vise. Daryl Wier sits for all of his filing and uses a long wooden vise he made so that he doesn't to keep shifting the saw plate. If you are going to stand for everything you will probably want to elevate the vise. Just make sure you build a very sturdy mount that will dampen the vibration and not amplify the noise of the filing.

I would have to build a low bench to be able to file seated so I will start out with the bench bracket. I think I will start at 42” but I will make it so I can cut it down if that is too high. This will be my first attempt at filing. I have some blade practice samples that I got a while back from Lie Nielsen to try first.

The bracket will be sturdy. I am an engineer after all. We tend to go overboard on sturdiness. I am making the bracket of 2x8 construction lumber that has be squared up and planed flat so it can be glued and screwed.

[Mike Brady]

Sounds like you have a plan. Sharpening saws is gratifying and empowering.

[Tom M King]

Elbow high at the end of the stroke.

[Thomas Wilson]

Thank you both.

[Richard Line]

Elbow height sounds about right to me. You might want to start with a simple saw vise holder you can clamp in the bench vise to experiment with different heights. Mine was a simple upside down U shape, using 2x2's. I can clamp it at different heights. Having the 2 legs in the vise makes it sturdy, as we engineers like.

[Jim Koepke]

I have a Gramercy saw vise that I am going to mount to a wood bracket that can be clamped to my bench.

Does your bench have a vise?

My Gramercy saw vise was mounted so it can be held in a vise:

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There is a groove on the back side for the back piece:

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A block was glued in to one corner for better stability.

This was set up to be at a comfortable height while sitting on my shop stool.

The handle was a piece of apple turned and sawn to fit. It is more comfortable than the steel handle.

The mounting holes on the saw vise were drilled out to accommodate the screws on hand. If my recollector is working they were #12 wood screws.

jtk

[Thomas Wilson]

Yes, Jim. I should have said “bracket that can be clamped in the vise on my bench.”

Our designs are very similar. I used two vertical braces behind the mounting board and added a horizontal board that can be clamped with a C-clamp on the left side of the bracket. The top of the vise has a nice flat surface so I will put a table on it to draw guide lines to align the file to. I have seen this trick in somewhere in a video. Here is a sketch.
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[Jim Matthews]

I have mine mounted much like JK.

I do it standing up, so I can see down along the tooth line. I hold the file with both hands, so standing gives clearance.

[Jim Koepke]

The top of the vise has a nice flat surface so I will put a table on it to draw guide lines to align the file to.

There are many ways to align the file for the desired fleam angle. Some will lay an angle gauge on the bench below the vise and move it as needed.

Lee Valley sells a file handle with a fleam guide built in > https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/hand-tools/files-and-rasps/files/70465-veritas-saw-file-holder

My solution was to make a small bevel guide to sit on the saw:

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The blade is made from an old hacksaw blade.

There is a kerf on the other side:

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Here is the original post on this from nine years ago > https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?180440 < it mentions one part of the design that could be changed.

Since then it has had a few kerfs added. If another one is ever built it would have one wider kerf. Plastic tipped set screws would be added into the sides to make it so the kerf could be adjustable for various saw sizes.

jtk

[lowell holmes]

My work bench is 42" and I put my saw vise in the bench vise.

[Thomas Wilson]

...

Lee Valley sells a file handle with a fleam guide built in > https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/hand-tools/files-and-rasps/files/70465-veritas-saw-file-holder

..

The blade is made from an old hacksaw blade.

There is a kerf on the other side:

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Here is the original post on this from nine years ago > https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?180440 < it mentions one part of the design that could be changed.

Since then it has had a few kerfs added. If another one is ever built it would have one wider kerf. Plastic tipped set screws would be added into the sides to make it so the kerf could be adjustable for various saw sizes.

jtk
I have the Veritas Guide. I have not used it. I am in the getting-ready-to-learn-how-to-do-this phase. Your guide is very clever. Thanks.

[Thomas Wilson]

My work bench is 42" and I put my saw vise in the bench vise. The consensus here seems to be to elevate the vise to 42+ inches. It is surprising that the Gramercy instructions do not suggest a mounting bracket that high.

My bracket pieces are cut and ready to assemble but I am tied to my house awaiting a parcel requiring signature, despite my efforts to digitally sign or get a narrow time window for delivery.

[steven c newman]

Hmmm.
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Wentworth No. 1....attached to a 2 x 8. Have to allow room for the release lever to clear the bench's vise...

Somewhere just under armpit height....gets the teeth up where I can see them a little better......

[Thomas Wilson]

You can kind of see where the Gramercy folks got their design from.

[Blake M Williams]

I have a large wooden vise at elbow height. I love my Wentworth and raised it a little higher. Even with my magnified swivel lamp, I like to get close to tiny teeth without too much bending over.

[steven c newman]

I remembered seeing an old photo....long ago.....taken at a Train Station. Fellow was just sitting there, with his portable saw vise, one saw in the vise, 3 others laying at his feet. Left armwent over the saw and saw vise, right hand was busy with the file.....

Couple of kids standing there, watching him work. Like he had to get all those saws done before the train departed the station...


I might have to dig around, and see IF I can find it......I think the guy was sitting on a stool....

[Tom Bussey]

Mount the vise on a board and clamp it to your bench. Then find the height your body likes. When you find that, then make your final holder.

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[Thomas Wilson]

Here is my completed saw vise bracket. It is very rigid and I am pleased with the height. The height is 44 1/2 inches above the floor.

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I will probably cut off a lot of the clamping board to the left of the saw. I had planned to use a holdfast on the left side and needed to be close to a bench hole. The big C-clamp works just fine and does not need the extra width. That will make the vise easier to store. I will cut off the excess after I have sharpened a saw for the task.

I am still getting up the courage to file a saw. To actually begin, I need to buy the vise, build (overbuild) the bracket, buy all the tools, buy a book, study, think, then put file to saw. Almost there.
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When I am ready, I will file my grandfather's saw. It is a Disston D-23. I also have my father's D-23. It is very similar. One is from Canada, the other from the US.
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[mike stenson]

Mine's set up to use holdfasts, at elbow height. Also means I can use clamps on other benches.

https://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-KDpR98F/0/eb214e83/L/i-KDpR98F-L.jpg

[Thomas Wilson]

Looks good, Mike. How do you rate your sharpening? I am guessing because of the Veritas filing guide that you are, like me, relatively new to sharpening. How is it going?

[Jim Matthews]

I would encourage a novice to have a go at this, without too much concern over getting things wrong. If your saw is already dull, you can't really make things worse with a light filing.

Have a listen to instructional videos.
That "singing" sound as the file removes a little metal is instructive.

Start with Rip Cut teeth, there's less to keep aligned.

[Thomas Wilson]

For me it’s like getting into the water for the first time in spring. I have work up to it. I do have a tendency to procrastinate but I am building up the reluctance for entertainment here. I have three practice plates from Lie-Nielsen that are toothed but not sharpened so there is absolutely no risk at all to screwing it up. If even one of them is successful, I will make a kerfing saw.

[steven c newman]

Might start with a BIG toothed Rip saw blade, first. get all the practice on the 4-6ppi blades first, to get a feel as to how to use the file, how to set the saw in the vise, how to set the light to show the teeth the best...get used to using a file....once a rip saw is done...then move on the to "finer" teeth...
BTW: use BOTH hands to hold and guide the file....

[Thomas Wilson]

Thanks Steven. The practice blanks have coarse teeth on one edge about 5-6 tpi and fine teeth on the other, 12-14 tpi. I don’t have them with me in Atlanta to check. The material is fairly thin, like for a dovetail or sash saw. I do not have a supply of yard sale acquisitions like you to rehabilitate. The only two saws I have that need sharpening are the inherited ones. They are both crosscut. I understand that getting the angles right on a crosscut saw is harder.