Odd Saws

[harry strasil]

Have any of you used some of the odder saws from days of yesterday?

Bishop Adjustable Backsaw, rip teeth on one side, crosscut on the other.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/bishopadjustable.jpg

Atkins Floor Saw.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/floorsaw.jpg

Atkins Nail Cutting Saw.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/nailsaw.jpg

[Mike Wenzloff]

Yep, I love the double-sided saws.

http://www.wenzloffandsons.com/temp/bishop_0001.jpg

Bottom one is the original Wuest patent. A year or so later Bishop bought or licensed the patent form Wuest and made the middle one. Less than a year later the adjustable back was patented and added. I use the Wuest saw a lot, the Bishop adjustable less. But have used 'em for dados.

The flooring saw I've never seen a need for--but always wanted one. Somewhere I have a Disston metal cutting saw. I've even used it before I bought my recip saw.

Take care, Mike

[harry strasil]

MIke I have only used the flooring saw twice, it was gift from an old mentor of mine, that was the first saw I sharpened, LOL

[Alan DuBoff]

Harry,

I have one of the Atkins metal cutting saws, it was given to me by a guy I bought a 10" Harvey Peace saw from. He gave it to me as he forgot to send the Peace saw after my check had cleared, and I ping'd him to find out where my saw was...I hadn't known very much about the saw, but in doing a little research it turned up to be a metal cutting saw, simliar to yours, but possibly a bit older.

http://www.softorchestra.com/woodworking/tools/saws/handsaws/atkins16/small_atkins16_left.jpg
http://www.softorchestra.com/woodworking/tools/saws/handsaws/atkins16/

The catalog showed the toe looking the same, so that might have been common for certain sizes or years. It needs to be cleaned up.

[Alan DuBoff]

Somewhere I have a Disston metal cutting saw. I've even used it before I bought my recip saw.Was that a No 69? I bid on a 69 recentely and didn't watch the auction, so got outbid...:-(

If you do have a 69, what size teeth does it have?

[harry strasil]

I have no idea, this one had been awful rusty when I got it, no logo or number, I think the teeth are about 15 or 14, I just touched them up a bit.

[Mike Wenzloff]

Hi Alan, iirc, it is a 240. Pretty thick blade. I also don't think it had much if any set. Next time I'm rumaging around in the attic above the shop I'll pull it down--if I remember.

Harry, I don't know what it is about the flooring saws, I just like the shape. Maybe I'll make myself one sometime.

Take care, Mike

[Mark Stutz]

I'm having trouble visualizing how the flooring saw is used.:confused: Why the curved blade?

[harry strasil]

LOL, it is kind of confusing the way it looks Mark. You start on a line drawn on the floor anywhere and start sawing using the circular part of the blade to cut into the floor, when you are deep enough to be thru the floor a little you stick the pointed part with teeth on both edges in the area you cut thru and and make it wider and then use the saw like a conventional hand saw, when you get to a joist you use the curved part again and saw horizontally till you get past the joist aways and then use the tip again and so on till you get to the end of your cut. Then you start all over again in another direction. I seems rather odd and time consuming but with 10 tpi it goes rather fast.

This is another type of floor saw that was one of the mystery tools on Canadian Home Workshop in July of 2002. There is a pretty good explanation of its use there. Someday I am going to attempt to build one of these jewels. LOL

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/mystery_jul02.gif

Here is the link to that site, I have guessed most of the tools, but I am not eligible so I don't post there.
http://www.canadianhomeworkshop.com/contest/mystery_tool02.shtml

[Mark Stutz]

Thanks, Harry. I have a good mental image. Thanks for the explanation.

Mark