Following Alf's lesson at the bash, I have become addicted to sharpening saws (she did give a warning). I have now done 9 back saws both cross cut and rip from 20tpi to 12 tpi. My farther left me 6 old saws that were rusting away in an old ammunition box in the garden shed. I de-rusted them all using the green hammerite gel, removed the handels, and removed what varnish was still on them. On one saw all the teeth except for 3 were missing so after filing the blade flat ( sort of joining) I made up a paper template and made pencil marks and assumed a TPI of 12. I stuck it on the blade and used this as a reference to make a small v with the file. I then continued back and forth each side until a rip form was produced using a 4 degree rake. It cuts a real treat although a little hard to start.
I found that you need to be real careful with filing cross cut to maintain the rake and fleam. Alf was right about the files I bought several from classic tools they do wear out quite quick. I even went and bought a LN dovetail saw (now completely addicted) it is ok, surprisingly 3 teeth were over set but when I put that right it tracks perfectly, however it does not cut any quicker that the refurbished saws but it does feel nicely balanced in the hand.
My wife finds it difficult to understand why I now have so many saws. One thing she did say which was of course a joke (I think) "I suppose I should not use that LN saw for cutting any tree roots", I said it would not be any use because it is for ripping not for X cut, she seemed confused. One last thing before you drop off, a rip at 4 degrees seems to X cut nearly as well as a real X cut, but the Xcut does not do as well ripping particularly in hardwood, interesting.
I found that you need to be real careful with filing cross cut to maintain the rake and fleam. Alf was right about the files I bought several from classic tools they do wear out quite quick. I even went and bought a LN dovetail saw (now completely addicted) it is ok, surprisingly 3 teeth were over set but when I put that right it tracks perfectly, however it does not cut any quicker that the refurbished saws but it does feel nicely balanced in the hand.
My wife finds it difficult to understand why I now have so many saws. One thing she did say which was of course a joke (I think) "I suppose I should not use that LN saw for cutting any tree roots", I said it would not be any use because it is for ripping not for X cut, she seemed confused. One last thing before you drop off, a rip at 4 degrees seems to X cut nearly as well as a real X cut, but the Xcut does not do as well ripping particularly in hardwood, interesting.
