9

Traditional saw sharpening of

non- hardpoint saws

INTRODUCTION

Hardpoint, throwaway handsaws have virtually super-
seded traditional handsaws for the following reasons:

1. they are cheap to buy; 2) they retain their original
   sharpness for a long time if used without hitting metal
   objects such as hidden nails, and 3) when the saw is
   blunt or damaged, there is no need to lose time in
   sharpening or paying for the saw to be sharpened.
   However, traditional non- hardpoint saws (that require
   to be sharpened when blunt) are still being sold. I
   know a number of craftsmen – and therefore suspect
   that there are many others – who still retain tradi-
   tional tenon- , panel- , crosscut- and rip- saws in their
   toolkits or workshops and look upon them as their
   ‘good saws’, even though they mostly use hardpoint
   saws for convenience!
   This chapter, therefore, is for those hand- skills’
   enthusiasts who want to attempt and master the high
   degree of skill and judgement required in successful
   sharpening of traditional saws.

SEQUENCE OF OPERATIONS

There are four separate operations involved for saws
in a bad condition; these are known as 1) topping, 2)
shaping, 3) setting, and 4) sharpening – and, for best
results, they are performed in that sequence. However,
if a saw is in a good condition, has not been neglected
or abused, but has lost its edge through normal use,
then the action needed is less drastic and it will only
require sharpening.

TOPPING

Figures 9.1(a)(b)(c): Normally, the points of the saw’s
teeth conform to a straight line or – with some saws –
a slightly segmental curve in the length of the saw. If,
however, through lack of the joiner’s time or skill, the

saw is sharpened roughly on a number of occasions, the

line or camber will lose its original good shape and the

teeth will become misshapen and unequal in size and

height. Such teeth are known as dog teeth. To remedy

these faults, the teeth must be reshaped and the first

step is known as topping. This means running a flat

mill file over the points of the teeth until the tips of the

lowest teeth have been ‘topped’ by the file, as indicated

in Figures 9.1(a) and (b), and the overall shape has

been regained in the length of the saw. To achieve this,

periodic sightings – looking along the line of teeth at

eye- level – must be made during the filing operation.

Topping line

175 mm

100 mm

28 mm

Heel

Heel

Use topping

tool from heel

to toe – do not

draw backwards

(a)

(b)

(c)

Figure 9.1 (a) Misshapen teeth highlighted by an imagi-

nary ‘topping line’; (b) the teeth after topping to the lowest

tooth at ‘x’; and (c) The topping tool.