Flinn dovetail saw

[whiskywill]

On my way to work this morning I called in to a car boot sale and spotted a dirty old open handled dovetail saw stamped with Thomas Flinn on the back/spine. This appeared to be steel and was sloping towards the front end of the blade. Did they make saws with steel backs and when, and does the slope suggest that it was loose? I didn't buy it because I went without any money.

 

[jimi43]

On my way to work this morning I called in to a car boot sale and spotted a dirty old open handled dovetail saw stamped with Thomas Flinn on the back/spine. This appeared to be steel and was sloping towards the front end of the blade. Did they make saws with steel backs and when, and does the slope suggest that it was loose? I didn't buy it because I went without any money.

Thomas Flinn still exist as saw makers...a very rare thing in this day and age CLICK FOR THOS FLINN WEBSITE

Amongst their brands now are PAX which are highly regarded saws.

Saws may be either brass or steel backed and that shape is normal not loose.

This much older saw from my collection by I.Hill LATE Howel shows this...

Try next week with some money...it might be worth getting!

Jim

 

[Argus]

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Flinns are very good saws. Steel backs and brass back are still around and you can find them quite easily secondhand. I believe that Steel backs were a cheaper option.

Saw blades may slope like that for two reasons:

1 - It's been re-cut that way......

or

2 - The blade has been set forward in the back; in other words, the top edge of the blade does not go all the way to the base of the back. A tap on the tip of the blade is sometimes enough to move it forward into the spline. The other end is fixed by the handle bolts and cannot move.

I have a Dorchester dovetail saw that was re-bladed this way by Flinns and a Tyzack sons and Turner tenon rip saw that I re-handled was similarly set forward in the brass back when I got it.
It may not be apparent in the pictures but I did manage to tap the blade home before fitting the handle. Tapping it home like this is sometimes advanced as a cure for a warp in the blade.

I'm not sure why they are set this way from new......

If you do buy it............ try re-sharpening; if all else fails I believe that Flinns may be able to fit a new blade into it.

All best

 

[whiskywill]

Try next week with some money...it might be worth getting!
Jim

Thanks for the information. I'll be there bright and early next week .... with some money.

 

[Argus]

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Jim,

That is a very nicely 'handled' handle on that little plane.
It's done some serious work in it's time.

.

 

[jimi43]

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Jim,

That is a very nicely 'handled' handle on that little plane.
It's done some serious work in it's time.

.

Hi Will....I think it would be advisable if you can try!

Yes Argus...looks real doesn't it! :wink:

Unfortunately it wasn't quite like that when I got it....

Can you see the join?

And the steel proved past recovery so Pedder replaced it...

As I said at the time...I think Messrs. Hill and Howel will be smiling with happiness rather than turning in their graves...I hope so anyway.

Jim

 

[Webby]

If i may say nicely done as regards handle ...good to see it back in use

Dave

 

[Argus]

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Hats off to you and Pedder....... very nicely done.

.

 

[pedder]

This appeared to be steel and was sloping towards the front end of the blade. Did they make saws with steel backs and when, and does the slope suggest that it was loose?

Hi Will,

this shape of the blade/spine suggest she had have gotten :?: some
hits on the front end of the spine to straighten the blade. The same on Jim's saw.
The blade was rectangular once released from the spine.


Cheers Pedder and thanks for the kudos.

 

[jimi43]

Indeed!

And just to finish of the hijack of your thread Will (sorry )....here is a close-up of the Meister's work....

I reckon she's got another 100 years on her now...or two!

Jim