OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

7011 enbrinson@a... 1996‑09‑30 BOWSAWS:TO JON LEXAU, ET AL
Galoots, picking up on bowsaw thread, I'm encouraged by the various postings
from galoots who say they use a "wider" as opposed to a "narrower" bandsaw
blade for their bowsaws.  Good! This is encouraging news for obvious reasons,
one of which is that a broader blade should give greater stability and control,
especially in sawing a straight kerf.  I'll definitel give it a try!

especially in sawing a straight kerf.  I'll definitel give it a try!

Authors I've read who discuss making your own bowsaw:

Michael Dunbar in his *Windsor Chairmakin*   ...one of the jobs he does
with his bowsaw is cut out the solid seat pattern; another is to cut the
curved arms on some styles of Windsor chairs, etc.

Drew Langsner in his *Green Woodworking*  Langsner recommends a bandsaw of
about 1/4" width with 8tpi, but who knows?  This might be the only size he's
ever tried and is simply recommending something in his own experience that
works.

Moral for me:  I'll try the wider blades, too, because of all the positive
reports about wider blades.

Coping saw:  Actually, a bowsaw is just a larger version of the coping saw,
which in my experience, works very well to rip the long grain of even green
sappy wood.  About a week ago, for example, I used my little coping saw
(my bowsaw still on the drawing board) to cut along the long grain of a
piece of green, sappy, pear wood with which I made a kitchen spoon. You
other galoots have whetted my apetite to use a broader-bladed bandsaw!
As I said, I'll just make two saws, at least two!  But the coping saw
did a very fast and easy job on that piece of spoon wood!

Thanks,

Ed Brinson

P.S. Another galoot mentioned STRING MATERIAL for the bow frame:

this 

This reminds me of yet another author whose name is bandied about by 
galoots on this list, and that is Roy Underhill....Roy's book called
*The Woodwright's Companion: Exploring Traditional Woodcraft* has a
chapter on saws in which Roy talks about all kinds of different hand
operated saws, etc., including the bowsaw, and for the CORD MATERIAL
he says that the heavy waxed linen thread used for leather stitching
is the "best-looking and longest lasting cord."

Dunbar, on the other hand, mentions a LEATHER THONG OR "TURN BUCKLE"
as recommended material.  I'd think that this would be still subject
to controversy.  I've been thinking of doing mine with a length of
good strong wire and a clothesline type turnbuckle.

Anybody else have good ideas on CORD MATERIAL???

Oh, Langsner gives no mention, that I can remember, about cord
material preference.  Traditionally, I would imagine it is 
leather thong as in Dunbar's book.

Ed Brinson


7026 David Kirtley <dkirtley@t...> 1996‑09‑30 Re: BOWSAWS:TO JON LEXAU, ET AL
enbrinson@a... wrote:
>
> Galoots, picking up on bowsaw thread, I'm encouraged by the various
> postings from galoots who say they use a "wider" as opposed to a
> "narrower" bandsaw blade for their bowsaws. Good! This is encouraging
> news for obvious reasons, one of which is that a broader blade should
> give greater stability and control, especially in sawing a straight
> kerf. I'll definitel give it a try!
>
> especially in sawing a straight kerf. I'll definitel give it a try!
>
> Authors I've read who discuss making your own bowsaw:
>
> Michael Dunbar in his *Windsor Chairmakin* ...one of the jobs he does
> with his bowsaw is cut out the solid seat pattern; another is to cut
> the curved arms on some styles of Windsor chairs, etc.
>
> Drew Langsner in his *Green Woodworking* Langsner recommends a bandsaw
> of about 1/4" width with 8tpi, but who knows? This might be the only
> size he's ever tried and is simply recommending something in his own
> experience that works.
>
> Moral for me: I'll try the wider blades, too, because of all the
> positive reports about wider blades.

This may be a dumb question but why doesn't anyone use the big raker
tooth pruning blades from the handy local garden supply house? Although
they are crosscut, they should do a pretty good job at slicing away
some wood. Also some pretty good bucksaw blades are generally
available. These would have the obvious advantage of being able to be
sharpened as rip.

David


Recent Bios FAQ