Files for sharpening hand saws?

[Aaron_W]

I've got a few old handsaws, a miter, and a couple of crosscut, 1920s-50s Diston.

I've watched some videos on sharpening, but having trouble finding a variety of triangular files. All I'm finding are in sets with files I don't need.

Any good source for getting a selection of sizes and decent quality.

This is mostly for my own amusement, I have powersaws for efficiency.

 

[danielbuck]

Not sure what sizes/cut you need, but I've always ordered my files through Mcmaster, you can order them individually.

 

[finn]

Not directly related to your question, but I came across what I think is a saw tooth setting tool that was probably from my grandfather, and I have no use for.

PM me if you’re interested in it, and I’ll send it to you, once the snow melts and we return to Mi.

 

[RTM]

I've got a few old handsaws, a miter, and a couple of crosscut, 1920s-50s Diston.

I've watched some videos on sharpening, but having trouble finding a variety of triangular files. All I'm finding are in sets with files I don't need.

Any good source for getting a selection of sizes and decent quality.

This is mostly for my own amusement, I have powersaws for efficiency.

All the serious WW hand tool stores should have them. Your ace or other big box store might have crappy Nicholson or house brand, don't bother.

https://www.highlandwoodworking.com/grobet-taper-files-for-hand-saw-sharpening.aspx

LV Website down right now.

https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/tools/hand-tools/files-and-rasps/files?srsltid=AfmBOorqL3u4UEl7bDzSNiGooWAMlF0QeIGgyflV-B5MPNCh8lZCG-eL

https://toolsforworkingwood.com/store/item/CO-SAWFILE.**

 

[Wamsutta]

Hand Files | Simonds Hand Files

simondssaw.com

It's probably going to be a triangular file of some kind. The most important thing to remember is files are designed to cut on the forward stroke. Pulling the file backwards will dull the file teeth. You need to find a local industrial supply to get good files.

 

[neophyte]

Hand Files | Simonds Hand Files

simondssaw.com

It's probably going to be a triangular file of some kind. The most important thing to remember is files are designed to cut on the forward stroke. Pulling the file backwards will dull the file teeth. You need to find a local industrial supply to get good files.

The Fireball Tool guy tested this, and found that the backstroke didn’t dull the files.

As for quality files for sharpening, different saws require different shaped files, but s “Three Square” triangular file or triangular “saw file is usually recommended.
Nowadays, buying triangular files from Vallorbe by the dozen, or files made by Tome Feteira in Portugal, or made Japanese made triangular files, might be the best option.
Alternatively, see if you can find a good price on files from India made by JK Files, or one of the other brands under the same company, since this is now the World’s largest file maker, and they purchased the equipment from France’s top file maker (Talabot) when Talabot shut down.

 

[jar944]

https://toolsforworkingwood.com/store/item/CO-SAWFILE.**?searchterm=files

 

[JradM]

I wonder if diamond abrasive needle files might work better for this. My rationale is that saw blades are hardened steel. Files are harder, so that will work, but it might be easier to remove hardened steel with diamond abrasives.

 

[Wamsutta]

The Fireball Tool guy tested this, and found that the backstroke didn’t dull the files.

As for quality files for sharpening, different saws require different shaped files, but s “Three Square” triangular file or triangular “saw file is usually recommended.
Nowadays, buying triangular files from Vallorbe by the dozen, or files made by Tome Feteira in Portugal, or made Japanese made triangular files, might be the best option.
Alternatively, see if you can find a good price on files from India made by JK Files, or one of the other brands under the same company, since this is now the World’s largest file maker, and they purchased the equipment from France’s top file maker (Talabot) when Talabot shut down.

I watched that video. Very painful to watch. I'm not sure I watched the whole thing.

Somebody should tell that guy he'll never get me to change my mind in a million years.

 

[RTM]

I wonder if diamond abrasive needle files might work better for this. My rationale is that saw blades are hardened steel. Files are harder, so that will work, but it might be easier to remove hardened steel with diamond abrasives.

The Triangle (or three square as noted above) shape is important on vintage hand saws, except the Acme 120, as it files two faces at once. You want a file large enough across each face to be more than 2x your tooth height, you can get three saws sharpened out of 1 file that way. Go too big though, and the radius at the point grows, and gives you a poor tooth shape. This allows you to sharpen one tooth front, and one tooth back in one swipe, preserving the geometry, and reducing work. Of course, the duller the saw is, it may take several swipes to get it sharp.

For a vintage tree felling saw, a Cant file is often called for, and completely different procedures.

Modern saws have the very vertical Japanese style teeth, and many are impulse hardened so they can’t be sharpened. If not impulse hardened, a feather file is the tool of choice here.

 

[Aaron_W]

Thank you, I knew some of you would have some sources. Local hardware stores, box stores and Amazon seem to stock the same cheap and basic options.

 

[danielbuck]

Somebody should tell that guy he'll never get me to change my mind in a million years.

some people are just set in their ways

 

[ecotec]

I watched that video. Very painful to watch. I'm not sure I watched the whole thing.

Somebody should tell that guy he'll never get me to change my mind in a million years.

I got yelled at too many times, when I was young, to change my mind.

 

[seber]

I questioned the conventional wisdom of lifting the file on reverse when I was young. Wore out a few files doing informal testing. I could find no difference whether dragging or lifting. Now I just ignore the conventional wisdom and don't worry about it.

 

[orangeblood]

.... many are impulse hardened so they can’t be sharpened. If not impulse hardened, a feather file is the tool of choice here.

What does "impulse" hardened mean?

 

[zimman]

I've got a few old handsaws, a miter, and a couple of crosscut, 1920s-50s Diston.

I've watched some videos on sharpening, but having trouble finding a variety of triangular files. All I'm finding are in sets with files I don't need.

Any good source for getting a selection of sizes and decent quality.

This is mostly for my own amusement, I have powersaws for efficiency.

Here's a link. Good luck.

McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

www.mcmaster.com

Zim

 

[kaymccampbell]

I hunted yard sales n flea markets for my triangular files and cant file. It wasn't hard to find some decent ones for the handsaws.

 

[dscheidt]

What does "impulse" hardened mean?

The teeth are heat treated with something (laser, induction heater) that heats only the teeth, and does it very rapidly. This gets the cuting edges hard, which makes them long lasting, and keeps the rest of the saw stays soft and flexible. It's also fast and cheap. I've got a mass market handsaw in my garage that's seen enough use I'd have sharpened it a couple times if it were a traditional saw, and it's still sharp.

Impluse hardening doesn't usually go very deep, so it's often possible to sharpen these saws with a good file.

 

[milkovich]

Impluse hardening doesn't usually go very deep, so it's often possible to sharpen these saws with a good file.

The issue there is that "hardpoint saws" have a different geometry than the old timey stuff (they're sorta like the japanese pull saws). Personally, all my crosscut panel saws are modern hardpoints as they kick the **** out of my old collector saws (Disstons and Simonds). The only old saws that still beat new disposable saws in my opinion are the BIG (3-5 tpi) rip saws. Plus the handles on a 100 year old saw are ergonomic perfection.

 

[RTM]

What does "impulse" hardened mean?

impulse hardening – working by hand

Posts about impulse hardening written by spqr

workingbyhand.wordpress.com

 

[Nutria]

I hunted yard sales n flea markets for my triangular files and cant file. It wasn't hard to find some decent ones for the handsaws.

I got most of mine that way. I also see boxes of US-made, NOS triangular files on the big auction site, and I may get some of those at some point.