I want to make a bow saw?

[Lord Nibbo]

I want to make an English pattern bow saw, any ideas where I can get the metal bits needed in the UK?

 

[bugbear]

I want to make an English pattern bow saw, any ideas where I can get the metal bits needed in the UK?

You just need some rod!

In case you haven't found it, here's my plan plage:

http://www.geocities.com/plybench/bowsaw.html

BugBear

 

[AndyT]

I know this isn't quite answering the question, but might be useful. It's probably what you have just been reading, but Bugbear has a detailed study of this at his website:

http://www.geocities.com/plybench/bowsaw.html

I think the answer is to not be too finicky - and think in terms of a suitable size bolt / screw / mild steel rod sunk into a turned handle (possibly flatted and glued with Araldite) with a simple slot and hole drilled and filed into the open end. Look at the fittings on a coping saw and scale up.


Also, D&M tools have the right blades for sale, with a pin across the end:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/5-x-12-Carpenters ... 0041746536


Andy

 

[Lord Nibbo]

You just need some rod!

In case you haven't found it, here's my plan plage:

http://www.geocities.com/plybench/bowsaw.html

BugBear

I've already got your web page book marked Bugbear so many thanks for mentioning it. You made some good drawings on the bow construction but nothing showing those pins, ok you write about them in some depth but a picture says a thousand words as they say.

What I was thinking was something like Gramercy offer in this pic

 

[matthewwh]

Why not order them from TFWW? The shipping is hardly likely to be much on a set of those.

 

[Lord Nibbo]

Why not order them from TFWW? The shipping is hardly likely to be much on a set of those.

I could find out what the shipping to the UK is from them but I was wondering if there is anyone in the UK making anything similar.

I'm also taken with this idea for tensioning the blade

 

[Ray Gardiner]

Hi Lord Nibbo,

In addition to Bugbear's excellent plans, here is another way of doing the handles http://www.backsaw.net/cpg/thumbnails.php?album=13

All you need is some threaded brass rod.

One thing I would recommend, is that you make them tapered so that they tighten-up when the blade is tensioned and the blade can't easily rotate, when you don't want it to.

Nothing like a turning saw that turns by itself...

Regards
Ray

 

[Lord Nibbo]

Hi Lord Nibbo,

In addition to Bugbear's excellent plans, here is another way of doing the handles http://www.backsaw.net/cpg/thumbnails.php?album=13

Ray

Thank you Ray, you make it look so easy, that's an excellent description of how to do it. Many thanks. I believe your name popped up a lot when I was googling the pics on bow saws, you must be quite an authority on the subject. =D>

 

[bugbear]

Why not order them from TFWW? The shipping is hardly likely to be much on a set of those.

I could find out what the shipping to the UK is from them but I was wondering if there is anyone in the UK making anything similar.

I'm also taken with this idea for tensioning the blade

You'll need left and right handed taps and dies to make that. LH thread cutting equipment ain't cheap.

BugBear

 

[Lord Nibbo]

I got better plans than actually making the bottlescrew bugbear, I'm thinking stainless steel bottlescrews swaged on to stainless steel wire as in this marine SITE I can get one made to measure over in Plymouth :lol:

 

[Racers]

Hi,

I made this one from maple with brass rod fittings, they have a hole drilled through and a pin to stop rotation and then are glued in to the two piece handles. It uses coping saw blades and you can really get some tension on the blades so they track really well.

Pete

 

[lurker]

I got better plans than actually making the bottlescrew bugbear, I'm thinking stainless steel bottlescrews swaged on to stainless steel wire as in this marine SITE I can get one made to measure over in Plymouth :lol:

Now, thats a clever idea!!

 

[Ray Gardiner]

Thank you Ray, you make it look so easy, that's an excellent description of how to do it. Many thanks. I believe your name popped up a lot when I was googling the pics on bow saws, you must be quite an authority on the subject. =D>

Yeah right!...

Maybe because I was asking lot's questions on various forums about bow saws a while back.

I made a couple of turning saws, and one of these days I want to try one of those big german style ones that Frank Klaus uses to cut dovetails.

Sawing with a bow saw is a whole different feeling, the highly tensioned blade gives a sort of lively feel. Hope that makes sense.

Good idea to use a steel tensioning rod, only downside to that is it will add a bit of unwanted weight exactly where you don't want it.
You generally see that tensioning method on the bigger european style bow saws. Most of the smaller turning saws just use chalk line.

Regards
Ray

 

[graween]

Hi.

I would follow Ray method, but would simply take a 'screw' (don't know exact word, I'm french) like this one : http://www.legallais.com/produit-quinca ... %C3%89.htm and cut the end.
It's easier that filing the screw on a lathe, at least I think.

I have bought 2 like this ti make a bowsaw like bugbears, but never had time. :?

One can also use items like the one on the bottom of this page : http://www.fine-tools.com/gestell.htm, and 'counter screw' the balde like in jeweller scroll saw.

Hope it helps.

Ps :

 

[bugbear]

Hi.

I would follow Ray method, but would simply take a 'screw' (don't know exact word, I'm french) like this one : http://www.legallais.com/produit-quinca ... %C3%89.htm and cut the end.
It's easier that filing the screw on a lathe, at least I think.

In English that's a "coach bolt"; very useful for making things from, as you say.

You can see one in this gadget; the square section made drilling the hole for the split ring most convenient.

What is it, you ask?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shalf/134679849/

BugBear

 

[wizer]

What is it, you ask?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shalf/134679849/

BugBear

GENIUS! O'm going to use that. I'm a shaky shooter

 

[graween]

Hi.
Interesting idea !
Thanks also for the translation, I'll try to remember the word.
Yes they're practical to make thing of.

 

[bugbear]

What is it, you ask?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shalf/134679849/

BugBear

GENIUS! O'm going to use that. I'm a shaky shooter

Note that mine is "jazzier" than the usual. To keep the string clean, I added a hook, that is intended to latch onto a shoe lace. This avoids having to have the string under your foot in the mud.

The piece of aluminium is a combination length adjuster and string storage device. One might want various lengths for waist level, eye level and high level shooting.

BugBear