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

I saw the same item this morning, and was intrigued, but not enough to really
consider purchasing, in part as I have no space. If you bite, please let me
know, as I would enjoy pictures of it in operation.





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My main concern would be the wheel used. Grinding steel is a sophisticated
art as practiced by most, and an interesting science as practiced by few.
You need to use the correct abrasive, binder, surface speed and maintain
the profile regularly (unless a bonded wheel). Otherwise, you'll at best
have a less-than-ideal edge or in the worst cases either a re-tempered
tooth or abrasive grit embedded in the steel (which which dull your files
more quickly during touch-ups).

I have a Foley Filer which I purchased only for it's cheapness and
proximity (I was already at the estate sale on the last day and the seller
was getting desperate). I can guarantee that I can sharpen, by hand, a well
maintained saw faster than I can set up the Foley to run. My only intended
use for the Foley is re-toothing using a modified holder (in the some-day
project folder). I can't speak to the S&N but I'd assume it will be limited
in usefulness. The Foley won't match the contour of breasted saws but it
will somewhat follow the profile of the rail, if any.

B.J.M.R.