Begging the indulgence of the Porch:


Some may consider this off-topic because it's a tailed apprentice, but please
try to see this as in inquiry related to the care and maintenance of HANDsaws.


There's a Smith and Nielsen handsaw sharpening machine for sale within driving
distance.  (And, if another galoot buys it first, I'm completely OK with that. I
really don't have room for it, but since it's the only one I've ever HEARD of in
my life, I have a hunch this is a now-or-never opportunity.)


I have no idea which of the operations of sharpening a handsaw can be performed
by this machine.  Nor do I have a clear idea of what sort of handsaws it is
intended to sharpen: panel saws or lumbermen's two-man crosscut saws!


The photos show a machine with a wheel to grind teeth and a straight rack to
carry the saw.  The grinder angle can be set in at least two dimensions.  I
would suppose that this uses "contoured wheels" dressed to a vee edge.


Does the straight rack mean that the machine cannot deal with "breasted" saws?


The photos show the machine in front of a wall holding a number of wheels.  I
get the impression that it is currently useable.


Does anyone have any info on these machines? Even just anecdotes of what they
can and cannot do would help to make the decision.


I haven't been able to get any useful search  hits......


Thanking the Porch in advance,

John Ruth