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Permalink Reply by Goldsmithexile on April 29, 2015 at 11:45pm

Rip saws are easier to file because they are filed straight across(no extra "rake" or "fleam" angles as you need on a cross cut) You could convert a crosscut into a rip (if it has biggish teeth) just by filing straight across. Old disstons are good. I have one or 2 from around 1860/1880, I'd rather have them than 1000 disposable hardpoints....

If you are dexterous enough to learn chord shapes and such, then you are dexrerous enough to learn how to file and set a saw, its not that hard to get the basics, and practise, as they say, makes perfect. Its just that nowadays power saws are ubiquitous for most site work, and in most home shops, and hand saws manufactured today are generally hardpoint ones (ie disposables) It is getting harder to find decent files...

There is lots of stuff online for saw filing, google is your friend

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Permalink Reply by Goldsmithexile on April 29, 2015 at 11:48pm

Paul Sellers is as good a starting point as any..

https://www.youtube.com/user/PaulSellersWoodwork/videos

He ruffles feathers sometimes, because some folks like their "tailed beasts" whereas he is a big advocate for the use of manual skill using traditional hand tools and traditional methods for prepping, setting out, etc etc

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Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on April 29, 2015 at 8:08am

You can also YouTube search "Jeep vs. Pool" to see how to disassemble a backyard pool, but I don't recommend that either.  I grew up on a farm where we had to rig all sorts of stuff in a less than safe way, but there's no way I'd ever mess with this circle saw becomes table saw thing.  I got through 42 years so far with all 10 fingers attached (maltreated, mind you, but attached) and I'd like another 42 or so at least.

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Permalink Reply by jawbone on April 29, 2015 at 12:48pm

Hey all - I just wanted to say that I love my bandsaw. It is much quieter than the other tools, runs at a more reasonable speed. Much smoother cut and more predictable. The only thing that I really need to watch is cutting round material, feed real slow and have a darn good grip. 

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Permalink Reply by Jim Morris on April 29, 2015 at 1:03pm

Any spinning blade makes me scared. I still use them but let's see. A table saw gave me my worst injury and it wasn't even contact with the blade. It was "kickback" where a piece of maple took the tips off two fingers and almost got my head. They were sewn on and I can fairly well use them. I've also given myself nasty cuts with something as simple as a chisel. Lots of ways to hurt yourself if you don't pay attention. I've grown into the "only use a tool as it was intended" school of thought but I still do stuff I ought not do with tools because "I'm not a smart man" (Forrest Gump)

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Permalink Reply by john mackay on April 29, 2015 at 9:53pm

guys even a fork will give injuries if its use wrong.

the idea above is a poor mans tool.

I've made about 20 saw benches using old motors(this is when saw benches cost over £200 back in the 1980's.

I used to work for a stairlift company,that is where I got the old motors from.

they were binned so the company let me have them.

just over a 1/4 hp.they would cut 1/2" no problem but struggle to cut 1".

always let the blade do the cutting.

I know it sound daft but folks try to force the wood through.

I sold them all and this was before ebay came along.

ideal for model makers.

its all very well saying don't dick around buying are tools cheap enough.

the very same bloke tells us don't buy cheap tools!

some of you as I know don't have regular income so its a case of make do.

I've used all kind of tools inc home made.

back in the days when I had a big mortgage,2 kids and a wife to look after with one income .

you had to improvise. and guess what I still have 8 fingers and two thumbs.

its all about paying attention in what you are doing.use a stick to push the wood through the saw not your fingers.yes its that simple.

ask yourself this do you look out the window whilst putting food onto your fork?? of course not.

treat all tools with respect. 

 

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Permalink Reply by Jim Morris on April 29, 2015 at 11:06pm

Understood John. I for one certainly didn't want to make light of your idea or suggest it shouldn't be done. You're right, good tools are expensive and improvising is a good thing so long as nobody gets hurt. I forgot to mention earlier my attempt to convert a bench grinder into lathe to round off banjo pots. It didn't end well so I'm a bit gun shy. Certainly folks with limited means can use information like this to help them achieve what they want to build.

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Permalink Reply by Jim Morris on April 29, 2015 at 11:07pm

Oh yes, and I have injured myself with a fork!

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Permalink Reply by 14 buck bass (aka antonio) on April 30, 2015 at 3:12am

I would have to say im in the quiet tool category and like hand saws and planes scrapers and spokeshaves. But I do use the heck out of my table saw .  About the only power tool i really use quite a bit.  And it is one tool that commands respect. I doubt Id Be rigging one up out of my buffer motor though.   But, its cause I already have a table saw.  really thinking about it though... I mean adjustable table , height, angle etc.  by the time you make a way to do all that you might as well get a 10 inch table saw you can buy em all over craigs list for cheap.  if you arent doing all that then you are just making a powered cut off saw. then might as well use a hand saw and a couple horses right ?  or am i missing something

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Permalink Reply by Goldsmithexile on April 30, 2015 at 5:16am

I was doing a giutar neck earlier today. I used a rip saw, elbow adze, bent knife, spoke shave and block plane (all very sharp tools). It didnt take long, it was very pleasurable, no noise no invisble asthma inducing dust.

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Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on April 30, 2015 at 7:19am

I have a smaller list of tools, but very similar technique.  I too like this way.  Nothing wrong with rippin' a lil' by hand.  :)

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Permalink Reply by Marcus Darwell on April 30, 2015 at 5:01am

This is kinda like that bumper sticker:"Give Blood....Play Rugby" except it's "give digits/limbs...make a tool do something it's not designed for"

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