Hand saw repair

[Leigh Betsch]

I bought a old Dillson hand saw for 50 cents at a garage sale yesterday. Is it possible to repair a blade that has a few bends in it? The edge has a few kinks. I know that it could be sharpened but is there a way to remove the edge kinks? I tried squeezing it in a vice but it just springs back. I also bought an old Stanley 71 1/2 router plane for $10 to hang on the wall, do these planes have any real value?

[Ray Gardiner]

Kinda depends on how badly it's bent, but start with Bob Smalser's post

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?p=753688

[Jim Koepke]

I also bought an old Stanley 71 1/2 router plane for $10 to hang on the wall, do these planes have any real value?

Yes, depending on what all came with it and what condition it is in.

Do a search on eBay for Stanley 71. Looking at these you will also find the 71-1/2.

That will give you some idea about what you have and how complete it is.

Also check out the Blood and Gore web site for more information.

jtk

[Phillip Pattee]

Many find the router planes useful. I don't have one, but my frienk Karl does -- he really likes to use it to adjust the depths of dados. It is a pretty handy plane.

[Leigh Betsch]

thanks a bunch for the info. I did a bit of searching on fea-bay to get an idea if the plane was worth the $10 I payed for it. I guess my real question should have been is it useful. I'm not real sure that I'm into the Neanderthal thing just yet. I have a stable full of ww power tools and it's growing every day and I also have a few very select metal cutting tools. I just don't have time to do it all.
I should have said the handsaw is a Diston Bros #3. I think I'll just put it aside for a while until I get more time to work on it.
I have 27 hand plane blades out for heat treat, a shoulder plane and bench plane in process of building, a new used dust collector waiting installation, 3 new used chisels needing to be sharpened, a homemade version of the Work Sharp in progress, new software for the cnc mill to install, a mount for the pedestal grinder to make, a DP table to mount, and 450 BF of cheery and maple waiting to become a bedroom set for the wife. Oh and a hunting dog to train. I gotta hire someone to help with my hobbies. The dovetail saw is going to have to wait.

[Bob Smalser]

Advanced Saw Filing and Reconditioning
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=66090&highlight=life

Straightening Bent Handsaws
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=63325

[Leigh Betsch]

OK I cleaned up the handsaw a bit and it is actually a Disston and Sons No 68, I think. The etching is pretty faint, the 8 looks like a 3 and I can't see the 6. I bought it as a user, if I can get it straightened out. My question is, is it worth restoring and using, should I just set it aside and not bother with trying to fix it, or is it to valuable for a power tool junkie like me to keep?

[Johnny Kleso]

A 68 is a small gents back saw if I remember right but you can check here
http://www.disstonianinstitute.com/

and find out from handle and blade shape what saw you might have..

[Bill Houghton]

There are enough Disston saws around in good shape that I wouldn't spend time on straightening one. Treat it as a lesson (and one that I've learned, too): never buy a handsaw without sighting down its length on both the toothed edge and the back. If both are straight, and the price is right, great; otherwise, walk away.

Re the router plane: these are handy little tools, but only if you're prepared to slow down a little. They'll clean up the bottom or adjust the depth of a dado with a lot less noise, excitement, possibility for error, and setup time than any power tool I know of, but, for production, they'll probably take longer. Lee Valley sells replacement cutting irons that are said to fit just fine, at reasonable prices.

[Bob Smalser]

The #68 is one of the world's better dovetail saws and worth saving if possible. I have two in different lengths and thicknesses.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/5536778/70921478.jpg

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

[Leigh Betsch]

Well I glad it's not a collector saw. I'd rather have a saw that I bought for 50 cents be a user than something I would be afraid to use. As far a restoring it, I guess I'll just wait until I have the time and then give it a try.