Hi guys,
As I have started getting more into hand tool wood working I have found that I really like old hand saws. I have picked up several and really am finding that I enjoy cleaning them up and getting them sharp and turning a piece of junk into a great saw. This has raised three questions though.
1) Most of what I have so far is more of an opportunity purchase (good deal on craigs list, pawn shop find, etc...) and I want to get a bit more tactical on looking for the right saws. So my first question in what are your top five or ten most used hand saws (excluding back saws).
2) I feel like I am getting a handle on sharpening although likely have a long way to go. But I really dont know what to do with bent or kinked saw plates (I did straighten one bowed one with boiling water with so/so results). My understanding is that hammering them on an anvil can solve this but online research is not coming up with many resources describing this and I have only found two videos on you tube and one is garbage and the other mildly suspect. It almost seems like a combination of art and science that is quickly disappearing. There are plenty of cheaply had bent saws out there to practice on out there and I would really like to learn this skill, any pointers on resources for it would be appreciated.
3) This one may be more of a stretch but if anyone knows of any local resources in MN that teach any of this it would be great. I know Mike Siemsen teaches a class on sharpening and I intend to take it, the hammering part is of particular interest to me though.
Anyway any help would be appreciated.