Dovetail saw handle (completed)

[morfa]

A little while ago Workshop Heaven started a saw handle making competition. I saw the post and thought, that could be fun. I then largely forgot about it for a few weeks. Then about a week or so before the end of the comp, I thought, I ought to actually do that. So in a bit of a hurry I bought some wood (striped african ebony), a couple of rasps and got cracking.

First I glued the paper outline to the blank and drilled out a few holes.

I then got the fretsaw, cut out the worst of the waste and did a bit of initial shaping:

Then a lot more shaping, polishing, then cutting and chiseling to accept the blade. I did the cutting of the handle with my japanese saw. However the ebony finally did for the saw and it's pretty blunt now. There is a method for cutting the handle where you use the blade of the saw to cut the handle. I did try this on my initial handle (made out of sapele) but it didn't work well. So I just clamped it up and cut it very carefully.

I've attached a few more photos, which I took for the comp.

 

[Grahamshed]

Looks very nice. Best of luck in the comp.

 

[carlb40]

Excellent job there.

Good luck. =D>

 

[morfa]

I didn't win the comp. It was several months ago. Still I got a lovely saw out of it and it was great fun. I want to make more of them for sure. Ideally I'll get to the point where I can make my own blades as well.

 

[Berncarpenter]

After seeing this saw handle in the flesh your photos dont do it any justice .Its absolutely gorgeous and a job to be very proud of well done . =D> =D> =D>

Cheers Bern.

 

[MMUK]

Do you take commissions Morfa? I don't have the patience (or facilities at the mo) to make a saw handle. I'm looking out for a DT saw and tenon saw but I want pistol grip handles like the Veritas DT one. Would cherry be suitable for a handle?

 

[morfa]

Bern - thanks for praise. Sorry I had to rush you away the other day, but the wife wasn't best pleased that I didn't come back with compost. However I rushed out, got some and gave her a hand in the garden, so I managed to get her back on side.

Here's a much better picture:

Click for the big version.

As you can see in the above I wasn't able to get rid of all the rasp marks. Any of the more experienced saw makers got any suggestions on how to do that? I think I might need a finer rasp.

MMUK - If you don't mind waiting, then sure. I've got to get my kitchen done first. Bear in mind that the above was my second ever attempt at saw handle making. It's really not that hard, you just need a few rasps. I shelled out on the swanky wood cause I felt like it. I'm sure cherry would do well, but I honestly don't know where I'd source some from.

 

[carlb40]

When doing my handle i used files ( thats all i had) plus lots of sandpaper oh and a gooseneck scraper. So far i am at 600 grit, not yet sure whether to go to 800/1000 grit yet or not.


dovetail-saw-restoration-wip-t76516.html

 

[morfa]

Carl - I've got this micro mesh stuff that's really nice. You can buy packs of it off ebay in loads of different grades. Mine go up to 10000 or something stupid like that. Really gets into the nooks and crannies. It's cloth backed.

A scraper might be a good idea. It's just really hard to sand away the big marks from the rasp.

 

[carlb40]

I shall look for that stuff then. Cheers.

Yeah i have so far spent about 1.5 days sanding my handle. Not sure i would like to make too many of them.

I also stuck my papers to timber etc to keep the parts flat where needed and also easier to keep the pressure on.

 

[whiskywill]

As you can see in the above I wasn't able to get rid of all the rasp marks. Any of the more experienced saw makers got any suggestions on how to do that? I think I might need a finer rasp.

This stuff is good.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CleanFit-Toug ... 555wt_1295
It's available in a variety of grit sizes and last a long time.

 

[morfa]

will - This is the stuff I've got - http://www.sylmasta.com/acatalog/Online ... ves_1.html - seems like it's the same kind of stuff.

However the marks left by the rasp are so deep that even the 80 grit sandpaper won't smooth them out. Well not after an hour or two. So I think that a smaller grained rasp might help.

 

[whiskywill]

will - This is the stuff I've got - http://www.sylmasta.com/acatalog/Online ... ves_1.html - seems like it's the same kind of stuff.

However the marks left by the rasp are so deep that even the 80 grit sandpaper won't smooth them out. Well not after an hour or two. So I think that a smaller grained rasp might help.

No, the Cleanfit is different. It's a flexible open net like abrasive material. I can give you a sample of, I think, two different grades. I'm only about 8 miles from you and I'm in Aberkenfig every Wednesday evening. Otherwise pm me your address and I will drop some in the post tomorrow.

 

[morfa]

No, the Cleanfit is different. It's a flexible open net like abrasive material. I can give you a sample of, I think, two different grades. I'm only about 8 miles from you and I'm in Aberkenfig every Wednesday evening. Otherwise pm me your address and I will drop some in the post tomorrow.

I've got a box of abranet (which I've not used) is it similar to that? I'll maybe try some of the 80 grit of that I've got. However I've been looking at the rasps and mine are quite coarse. I'm definitely going to be getting a finer rasp.

 

[carlb40]

Have you got a metal file? That is what i used on my handle and was easy to sand out with 120 grit.

 

[DannyEssex]

That looks really great, well done morfa =D> =D>

 

[whiskywill]

I've got a box of abranet (which I've not used) is it similar to that? I'll maybe try some of the 80 grit of that I've got. However I've been looking at the rasps and mine are quite coarse. I'm definitely going to be getting a finer rasp.

Yes, it looks similar but with a square mesh and no velcro backing.