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Tool Restoration and Maintenance

Understanding Saw File Sizes

Files are sized by length and by their thickness (shorter files are naturally thinner to start with). Then, there is a variety of sizes available in each length... This is what follows after the length, e.g. a 6" 'Slim Taper'.

The common size tapered saw files you will find are 4" through 8" long, and are listed as (in order from widest to narrowest): Read more about Understanding Saw File Sizes

Saw Filing Templates

Something I am always asked for are the saw filing templates in PDF form that I made for my backsaw project.  They're the ones that are just lines on a page showing an angle to file a saw at or lines showing ppi to aid in cutting new teeth, like in this shot:

There were a few sizes missing - I made some additional templates to cover more sizes and angles, hopefully these will help you out.

I've compiled them all into one document and put them here:

Saw filing templates

They are all in PDF format - if you plot them without scaling them to fit the page (no scaling, in other words), they should print to scale properly.

EDIT:  For those daring types, here's a pair of progressive pitch templates, one for 6 ppi - 9 ppi Toe to Heel on a 9" (22.86cm) blade similar to Lie-Nielsen and another that is 7 – 13 PPI over 14” similar to their progressive-pitch filed tenon saw...

Progressive Saw Filing Templates

Have fun filing!

Leif Read more about Saw Filing Templates

Waxing Philosophic - on Wax

 Someone asked me recently about what I use to protect the finish of my saws (and by proxy other tools, both hand and machine tools).  The answer is straight forward, though perhaps not as simple as I initially thought…  I use paste wax to help protect them from rust and also to reduce friction in their use.  I also use paste wax on some of the furniture I make and restore also.  I have often sensed a bit of confusion on using waxes, what they are and how they work, in conversations I've had with others.  Some revile it – likely because of a bad reaction with a finish of some sort or perhaps in some cases because of unrealistic expectations.
 

Finding Files and Other Saw Sharpening Tips

I've been getting a few questions lately on saw files - what to get, and where to get them, mostly.  Here's some highlights from those correspondences that others might find useful. Read more about Finding Files and Other Saw Sharpening Tips

Oil Stone Boxes

<p class="rteleft"><a href="http://norsewoodsmith.com/files/images/oil/oil1.jpg"><img width="180" vspace="10" hspace="20" height="135" align="left" src="http://norsewoodsmith.com/files/images/oil/large_oil1.jpg" class="trigger" alt="" /></a></p>

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by Dr. Radut.