WFG Meeting 6/22/2019 Summary - Hand saw maintenance

This was the final WFG meeting of the 2018-19 season.  The meeting host demonstrator was Bob LaCivita, and the topic was hand saw sharpening and restoration.

1. Bob began by demonstrating how to clean the rust off an old hand saw by placing it on a flat surface and then using 320 grit wet-dry sandpaper with WD-40.  Bob's quote of the day: "If it’s supposed to move but it doesn't, WD-40.  If it is not supposed to move but it does, duct tape"
2. After removing the rust, a small amount of acetone is used with a wet rag (or 320 grit wet-dry sandpaper) on the saw.
3. Next, a very light oil is rubbed on the saw.
4. Last, a paraffin wax is rubbed on the sides and smoothed out using a clean rag.

Bob’s tip of the day: A good hand saw for the road is a Japanese saw with a rip/crosscut combination blade.

For sharpening, Bob uses a saw vise to hold the blade in position for the file.

Bob demonstrated how to sharpen crosscut, rip, and veneer type saws.

For files, fine tapered, and double fine tapered were used, depending on the saw set, and how fine the tooth of each saw.

After removing the handle from the saw blade, a razor blade is used to scrape off any residue build-up around the handle area of the blade.

A Sharpie pen is used to mark into the gullet of each tooth so he can see where he has filed.

The file is held parallel to the bench and 90 degrees to the blade, counting his strokes.  He begins with a 1-count of file into the gullet of every tooth, or every other tooth, depending on the type of saw.

After filing, use honing oil on stone to hone the side/edges of the teeth.

There is no meeting in August.  The next meeting for WFG will be scheduled on the first Saturday in October 2019. Please welcome Bill Munch is the new WFG subgroup coordinator who will work with Bob LaCivita on new demonstration topics for the 2019/2020 season.

I want to thank Bob LaCivita for sharing with all of us, pieces of his knowledge and experience during my past few years as his subgroup coordinator.

Respectfully submitted by Robert Wyatt.