Learn how to file (and sharpen) the teeth of Rip Saws & Crosscut Saws - Never use a blunt saw again! Visit: www.blackburnbooks.com to order books, and to enquire about or sign up for individual and small group lessons in Woodstock NY.
Something I found helpful when sharpening is to run a black Sharpie pen along the top of the teeth and then file. As you file, the ink is removed and the shiny teeth are very visible, allowing you to see where you're up to and if you've missed any teeth. Any residual ink is removed as soon as you start to use the saw.
One thing that is VERY important to remember is that you set the saw before filing it. This is especially important for rip saws so that they will saw straighter. You should do this even on a brand new saw. Do so will improve the cutting process exponentially.
The saw filing guide that Lee Valley sells is worthwhile. It helps train the hand and eye to hold the file at the desired rake and fleam, until you learn you what feels right. I think it made leaning how to accurately sharpen a saw much easier' at least for me.
Well done. I have a rip saw that needs sharpening (It belonged to my father) and I'll put these video tips to work. Thanks for the video. Now to the back yard to sharpen!
Thank you. I have procrastinated learning this for years. Even though I file chain saw teeth almost non stop, no issues. For some reason, hand saws seem intimidating.
The problem I had my first (and currently only) time trying to sharpen a saw was I kept forgetting which tooth I'd just sharpened. I ended up not alternating consistently. Fortunately, I was learning on a saw I didn't care about about, so nothing was lost, but it was quite frustrating.
As far as I know you do not have to remove the set before sharpening. A plus to having the set is you can tell a little which way the the filing angle on a cross cut (at least to me since I have problems with seeing depth and angles). After filing retouch up the set.
@@gjbmunc Thank you so much for responding to my ignorance. Btw, I've inherited a dovetail backsaw from my grandfather years ago, but unfortunately the teeth are all gone. Is it possible for you to make a video of how to file new teeth to a backsaw with ripcut teeth? Thanks again.
May I ask why you say to file every other tooth 9f a rip saw and then turn the saw around. I understand that is necessary for s crosscut but a rip does not have that set. No disrespect intended to you, but Paul Sellers clearly does consecutive teeth for his rip saw demonstrations. I do enjoy seeing your tool inventory. Thanks.
Opinions vary… personally I file alternate teeth with the file cutting into the leading edge of the tooth that is pointing towards me; my belief is that the resulting burr is then down the centre line of the saw not at the outer edges and the saw cuts cleaner. Your mileage my vary.
Yes I know how Paul files, but I have always found that filing alternate teeth in the direction of the set helps keeps things even. Each to his own and whatever works best. Thanks for your comment.
I can tell you've never filed a saw, sir. you mean well, Im sure. A rip saw has all the teeth filed straight across, level and 90 degrees, and all the teeth are filed in succession; not every other tooth, as you said. Its the cross cut saw gets every other tooth, but at an angle to the line of the saw.
Yes you can do it that way but I find filing every other tooth in the direction it's set is also efficient especially in keeping the height equal. But whatever works for you. Thanks for your comment.
Hmmmm...I can't see what is achieved by filing alternate teeth on a rip saw. Filing in one gullet cuts the front of the next tooth and the back of the previous one, and the angle is identical. Swapping and filing alternate teeth from the other side doesn't produce any difference other than which side any burrs occur.
Totally agree. I think he got ahead of himself and was thinking of cross cut filing where you do skip every other tooth. When rip saw sharping, you can file every tooth from the same side.
Opinions vary… personally I file alternate teeth with the file cutting into the leading edge of the tooth that is pointing towards me; my belief is that the resulting burr is then down the centre line of the saw not at the outer edges and the saw cuts cleaner. Your mileage my vary.
