Restoring a WW1 tenon saw

[t8hants]

I have had this Tyzack & Turner 19" tenon saw since I was a boy, and only bought it because it was dated 1917.
I would like to get the old thing up and working for its centenary, but it has lost a tooth about midway.

Now I might just pluck up the courage to sharpen and set the thing, but a file an new set of teeth is quite beyond me as I have never put file to saw before.

Anyone recommend a professional company?

Gareth

 

[bugbear]

Can you post a photo of the other side?

BugBear

 

[AndyT]

If it was mine, I'd try just sharpening the teeth that are there and not bothering about the one that's missing. You will always be cutting wood that is wider than a single tooth, so the gap will always be bridged and it will cut just fine.

 

[t8hants]

Hope this helps

The saw has surface rust, but no major pitting, there is a lot of black mouldy dust, but the blade should clean up quite well.
It has 8tpi and has lost nearly all of its set.

Gareth

 

[AndyT]

While not disagreeing that this saw could well have been made in 1917, and assuming that you didn't buy the saw new (!), it's quite unusual to see dates on tools like this, if it is a date. (It's also unusual to see pattern or catalogue numbers.)

Has anyone else got any dated tools of similar age? Was it something mostly done for military contracts? (I have a Brades axe marked 1944 next to the WD arrow.)

 

[t8hants]

Being of an age, when tons of surplus WW2 tools were being sold of, everything was dated. Most had the crows foot ordnance mark, but ex RN and RAF may not have done, although most RAF should be marked, AM (Air Ministry).

I did wonder about ignoring the missing tooth, but was too shy to mention it!

 

[rmp]

Apologies if this is a silly question but is this worth restoring?

The reason I ask is that I have a few old brass backed tenon saws in the garage I inherited from my late step-father, and I have never known what to do with them. They are also marked Tyzack.

When you can buy a brand new Bahco or Irwin tenon saw for about £10, I wonder if it's worth taking them to a saw doctor to be put right? I hope someone will tell me that it is

 

[undergroundhunter]

Apologies if this is a silly question but is this worth restoring?

The reason I ask is that I have a few old brass backed tenon saws in the garage I inherited from my late step-father, and I have never known what to do with them. They are also marked Tyzack.

When you can buy a brand new Bahco or Irwin tenon saw for about £10, I wonder if it's worth taking them to a saw doctor to be put right? I hope someone will tell me that it is

If you dont want them just pop them in the post to me .

Seriously some people (me included) prefer a resharpenable saw for a few reasons, the main one being that you can resharpen it!

Resharpenable..... is that a real word?

Matt

 

[AndyT]

I think a good old saw like Gareth's is well worth putting back into use.

Modern hardpoint saws are impressively sharp and cheap, but in my experience the balance is all wrong. There were good reasons for shaping handles to fit hands and the relationship between the angle of the handle and the blade is all wrong on modern saws.

However, unless you are very lucky, the general opinion on here about commercial saw doctors is that they are no longer the people to take handsaws to, with stories of crudely recut teeth.

 

[Cheshirechappie]

That's a 'true' tenon saw, as understood in the 18th and early 19th centuries. They seemed to shrink quite a lot once we got into the 20th century - perhaps the long ones became less useful as machinery took over in joinery workshops?

Worth restoring - YES! They are rare these days - I'm not the most avid watcher, but I've never seen one come up on Ebay (***sits back and expects to be proved totally wrong almost instantly!***).

As for saw doctors, don't bother. Go onto Youtube and watch Andy Lovelock's 2-hour video 'Sharpening Western Saws', then do the job yourself. It really isn't as hard as all that, and rip is easier than crosscut, which will help in this case.

 

[Cheshirechappie]

Apologies if this is a silly question but is this worth restoring?

The reason I ask is that I have a few old brass backed tenon saws in the garage I inherited from my late step-father, and I have never known what to do with them. They are also marked Tyzack.

When you can buy a brand new Bahco or Irwin tenon saw for about £10, I wonder if it's worth taking them to a saw doctor to be put right? I hope someone will tell me that it is

Restore them. Once you've experienced the comfort of properly shaped wooden handles, you'll only use the hardpoints for cutting chipboard and firewood. (Hardpoint saws are not a bad starting point for someone new to woodworking and stretching their budget, but they're not for life!) Don't bother with saw doctors, either. Cleaning and sharpening saws is not that hard once you've overcome the trepidation and have a go.

 

[Bod]

Apologies if this is a silly question but is this worth restoring?
Don't bother with saw doctors, either. Cleaning and sharpening saws is not that hard once you've overcome the trepidation and have a go.

Ain't that right!
Since I started learning to sharpen my saws, what I would have considered before to be "OK" is now blunt!
The difference between before and after, when you've done it right, is amazing.
Give it a try.

Bod

 

[t8hants]

Thanks for the info Cheshirechappie I often wondered if my oversize monster was some special army type, but it intereasting to know that mine is the more traditional style.

I can see I am just going to have to brave on this one, make a saw clamp and grab the file by the handle. Although I had better invest in a saw set first.

Gareth

 

[bugbear]

Thanks for the info Cheshirechappie I often wondered if my oversize monster was some special army type, but it intereasting to know that mine is the more traditional style.

I can see I am just going to have to brave on this one, make a saw clamp and grab the file by the handle. Although I had better invest in a saw set first.

Gareth

Eclipse 77 is good, common and cheap.

BugBear

 

[Sawyer]

I think a good old saw like Gareth's is well worth putting back into use.

Modern hardpoint saws are impressively sharp and cheap, but in my experience the balance is all wrong. There were good reasons for shaping handles to fit hands and the relationship between the angle of the handle and the blade is all wrong on modern saws. .

Quite so. They come sharp and cut well when new; but in all other respects, they are NASTY. To my mind, they look horrible, feel horrible in the hand, and have poor balance. Nor do they come with such desirable features as a breasted toothline or taper-ground blades. With cheap handsaws, something also feels wrong to me about the 'spring' and temper of the blade (maybe due to inferior steel?).

Use of a quality saw in good condition turns sawing from a chore into a pleasant activity, which once experienced will make one view hardpoint saws with distaste. I keep one (out of view) for sacrificial uses - near walls, where nails are suspected, for lending out, &c. &c.

 

[rmp]

I'm really pleased to hear that they are worth restoring, and yes do they feel far nicer in the hand than modern plastic handles.

Since the general opinion seems to be that saw doctors are not all that, can anyone post a link to a site or video explaining how to re-sharpen them at home?

 

[AndyT]

I'm really pleased to hear that they are worth restoring, and yes do they feel far nicer in the hand than modern plastic handles.

Since the general opinion seems to be that saw doctors are not all that, can anyone post a link to a site or video explaining how to re-sharpen them at home?

https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/post783733.html#p783733