Restoring/ cleaning (potentially collectible) saws
-
- Global Moderator
- Posts: 2648
- Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2020 8:27 pm
- Location: Cherryville, B C
- Has thanked: 561 times
- Been thanked: 1011 times
Restoring/ cleaning (potentially collectible) saws
I joined a facebook group of people who like to collect and restore old saws. One of the members of that group posted his methods for cleaning them up. I'm posting his pdf for anyone that might be interested.
I got interested a while back when I kept reading how some of the older joinery saws were superior to most of the ones available today and I started seeing some of them at the local auction house. One, a Slack Sellars and Co. #55 Black Knight back saw made in Sheffield has turned out to be exceptional. I filed it for rip cuts and it cuts faster than my Japanese pull saws. It was in a lot with 2 common crosscuts which I won for $5.
I got interested a while back when I kept reading how some of the older joinery saws were superior to most of the ones available today and I started seeing some of them at the local auction house. One, a Slack Sellars and Co. #55 Black Knight back saw made in Sheffield has turned out to be exceptional. I filed it for rip cuts and it cuts faster than my Japanese pull saws. It was in a lot with 2 common crosscuts which I won for $5.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
- Stick486
- CS/TS
- Posts: 20483
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2021 7:40 am
- Location: Central Colorado
- Preferred name: Stick486
- Has thanked: 657 times
- Been thanked: 580 times
Re: Restoring/ cleaning (potentially collectible) saws
PDF link won't open...
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
SNORK” Mountain Congressional Library and Taxidermy...
- Stick486
- CS/TS
- Posts: 20483
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2021 7:40 am
- Location: Central Colorado
- Preferred name: Stick486
- Has thanked: 657 times
- Been thanked: 580 times
Re: Restoring/ cleaning (potentially collectible) saws
BITE ME....
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
SNORK” Mountain Congressional Library and Taxidermy...
-
- Global Moderator
- Posts: 2648
- Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2020 8:27 pm
- Location: Cherryville, B C
- Has thanked: 561 times
- Been thanked: 1011 times
Re: Restoring/ cleaning (potentially collectible) saws
It copies the file to my downloads folder when I click on it.
Some of the guys in that group do use WD40 when they scrape the surface rust off.
- DaninVan
- Registered User
- Posts: 2371
- Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2020 6:12 pm
- Location: Sunshine Coast, BC, Canada
- Has thanked: 302 times
- Been thanked: 417 times
Re: Restoring/ cleaning (potentially collectible) saws
Lol...I meant on his .pdf, not his saws (Stick luuuvvvves his WD40 ;0 )
- Stick486
- CS/TS
- Posts: 20483
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2021 7:40 am
- Location: Central Colorado
- Preferred name: Stick486
- Has thanked: 657 times
- Been thanked: 580 times
Re: Restoring/ cleaning (potentially collectible) saws
the link showed as a link to your HD and not as a PDF...Cherryville Chuck wrote: ↑Fri Nov 11, 2022 7:44 pm It copies the file to my downloads folder when I click on it.
it's fixed now...
thanks... good easy method...
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
SNORK” Mountain Congressional Library and Taxidermy...
- Stick486
- CS/TS
- Posts: 20483
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2021 7:40 am
- Location: Central Colorado
- Preferred name: Stick486
- Has thanked: 657 times
- Been thanked: 580 times
Re: Restoring/ cleaning (potentially collectible) saws
he wasn't saying to use WD on the tools....Cherryville Chuck wrote: ↑Fri Nov 11, 2022 7:44 pm Some of the guys in that group do use WD40 when they scrape the surface rust off.
if DiV got himself a WD enema he'd think differently about that shid...
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
SNORK” Mountain Congressional Library and Taxidermy...
-
- Global Moderator
- Posts: 2648
- Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2020 8:27 pm
- Location: Cherryville, B C
- Has thanked: 561 times
- Been thanked: 1011 times
Re: Restoring/ cleaning (potentially collectible) saws
It's what I've seen other members of that group recommend when asked. Spray on some WD40 and then scrape with a single edge razor blade.
As for the enema, there you go recommending it for things not specified by the manufacturer again. Like using it to blow vacuum cleaners up.
- DaninVan
- Registered User
- Posts: 2371
- Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2020 6:12 pm
- Location: Sunshine Coast, BC, Canada
- Has thanked: 302 times
- Been thanked: 417 times
Re: Restoring/ cleaning (potentially collectible) saws
"Like using it to blow vacuum cleaners up."
well...that would suck.
well...that would suck.
-
- Global Moderator
- Posts: 2648
- Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2020 8:27 pm
- Location: Cherryville, B C
- Has thanked: 561 times
- Been thanked: 1011 times
Re: Restoring/ cleaning (potentially collectible) saws
I grabbed one of the saws slated for restoration and started cleaning it up. I was pleased to find out it was an old Disston D8 8 point. The etch is still in perfect condition. The medallion in the handle dates it to 1896-1917. Some very light pitting on the blade but still in very good condition for a saw over 100 years old. Very minor damage to handle. This should make a nice user.
I tried using WD 40 with some 600 grit wet or dry paper I needed to use up before it fell apart. That worked pretty good. It created a nice slurry and helped get rid of some of the corrosion.
I tried using WD 40 with some 600 grit wet or dry paper I needed to use up before it fell apart. That worked pretty good. It created a nice slurry and helped get rid of some of the corrosion.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
- Stick486
- CS/TS
- Posts: 20483
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2021 7:40 am
- Location: Central Colorado
- Preferred name: Stick486
- Has thanked: 657 times
- Been thanked: 580 times
Re: Restoring/ cleaning (potentially collectible) saws
use a non-woven pad instead...Cherryville Chuck wrote: ↑Fri Nov 18, 2022 1:35 pm I tried using WD 40 with some 600 grit wet or dry paper
better results...
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
SNORK” Mountain Congressional Library and Taxidermy...
- DaninVan
- Registered User
- Posts: 2371
- Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2020 6:12 pm
- Location: Sunshine Coast, BC, Canada
- Has thanked: 302 times
- Been thanked: 417 times
Re: Restoring/ cleaning (potentially collectible) saws
If you remove the wood handle it'll make it easy to immerse in an electrolysis bath.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
-
- Global Moderator
- Posts: 2648
- Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2020 8:27 pm
- Location: Cherryville, B C
- Has thanked: 561 times
- Been thanked: 1011 times
Re: Restoring/ cleaning (potentially collectible) saws
I suggested to someone to try using a scotchbrite pad on his saw and one of the more experienced members nixed that immediately. I think he said they were hard on the etches. If you aren't talking about using a scotchbrite then you need to specify what you mean by non woven. All the experts there say to use wet or dry with a sanding block for holder. Most are using water I think. Some may add a little soap. I tried water too. Both it and WD40 work. WD40 doesn't dry up as fast and where water promotes corrosion, the WD 40 helps prevent it. The final method is still a work in progress I need more experience to decide on.Stick486 wrote: ↑Fri Nov 18, 2022 1:56 pmuse a non-woven pad instead...Cherryville Chuck wrote: ↑Fri Nov 18, 2022 1:35 pm I tried using WD 40 with some 600 grit wet or dry paper
better results...
-
- Global Moderator
- Posts: 2648
- Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2020 8:27 pm
- Location: Cherryville, B C
- Has thanked: 561 times
- Been thanked: 1011 times
Re: Restoring/ cleaning (potentially collectible) saws
Did that with some auger bits and it worked okay. Quite a few on the plane restoring group site use it for planes and plane parts, particularly if they are trying to save the patina. Electrolysis converts Fe2O3 but not the one for patina which is I think Fe3O4. No one in the saw group uses it to restore saws. May not be kind to the etches.
A few months back a bench top sand blasting cabinet came up at the local auction and I got it and 2 buckets of sand for about 1/2 new price. I had bought an old Liberty Bell model Stanley plane and wanted to restore it but those planes were stamped out of steel plate and the sides folded and the guts riveted to the base. Impossible to get a wire brush where it needed to go and electrolysis would have only done part of the job. In just a few minutes I had it down to bare metal. I bought some glass bead blasting media which is supposed to be a little kinder to the metal and I'll try it next in a week or two when I get current projects finished and am ready to start on planes. I could use it on saws but I'd have to build an enclosure first as the cabinet isn't big enough for them.
-
- Global Moderator
- Posts: 2648
- Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2020 8:27 pm
- Location: Cherryville, B C
- Has thanked: 561 times
- Been thanked: 1011 times
Re: Restoring/ cleaning (potentially collectible) saws
Oh BTW, baking soda may work but washing soda is the one that is recommended. Arm and Hammer sells it, can't think of the name for it. Canadian Tire sells 6 or 7 pound boxes for about $7.
- Stick486
- CS/TS
- Posts: 20483
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2021 7:40 am
- Location: Central Colorado
- Preferred name: Stick486
- Has thanked: 657 times
- Been thanked: 580 times
Re: Restoring/ cleaning (potentially collectible) saws
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
SNORK” Mountain Congressional Library and Taxidermy...
-
- Global Moderator
- Posts: 2648
- Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2020 8:27 pm
- Location: Cherryville, B C
- Has thanked: 561 times
- Been thanked: 1011 times
Re: Restoring/ cleaning (potentially collectible) saws
I think that is the same thing as in the link I'm adding. I have one for an angle grinder and have pretty much worn it out doing planes mainly. I wouldn't use it over an etch I don't think. The big drawback with them is the cost. https://www.kmstools.com/3m-4-1-2-quot- ... sc-xc.html
- Stick486
- CS/TS
- Posts: 20483
- Joined: Thu Jan 21, 2021 7:40 am
- Location: Central Colorado
- Preferred name: Stick486
- Has thanked: 657 times
- Been thanked: 580 times
Re: Restoring/ cleaning (potentially collectible) saws
hand pads, not machine pads...Cherryville Chuck wrote: ↑Sun Nov 20, 2022 11:59 am I think that is the same thing as in the link I'm adding.
Non-Woven Pads
.
Durable non-woven, open web construction won’t shred, rust or splinter
Flexible pad easily conforms to contours and reaches into tight spaces for hand applications
Waterproof, rust-proof pad can be used with solvents, washed and re-used
Ultra fine silicon carbide mineral removes light oxidation and rust
White pads replace #0000 steel wool for fine smoothing, Gray pads replace #000, Maroon replace #00 and Green replace #0 for rough work.
.
a whole bunch of information....
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!
SNORK” Mountain Congressional Library and Taxidermy...
- DaninVan
- Registered User
- Posts: 2371
- Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2020 6:12 pm
- Location: Sunshine Coast, BC, Canada
- Has thanked: 302 times
- Been thanked: 417 times
Re: Restoring/ cleaning (potentially collectible) saws
Yeh; in fact, in-spite of what the diagram shows, I use washing soda myself.
-
- Registered User
- Posts: 264
- Joined: Thu Oct 29, 2020 12:34 pm
- Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
- Has thanked: 57 times
- Been thanked: 78 times
Re: Restoring/ cleaning (potentially collectible) saws
Chuck, forgive me for asking, but how is it that there is so much stuff on auction in your part of the world? You seem to acquire stuff on a weekly basis. Sounds like either the area is rapidly depopulating (death and taxes?) or a lot of businesses are going bust.
- DaninVan
- Registered User
- Posts: 2371
- Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2020 6:12 pm
- Location: Sunshine Coast, BC, Canada
- Has thanked: 302 times
- Been thanked: 417 times
Re: Restoring/ cleaning (potentially collectible) saws
Heh... can't speak for Charles, but my experience over several decades is that in small towns and rural areas here in Canada, nothing old and or used ever truly gets thrown out. Thrift stores, garage sales, 'Buy and Sell', Farmer's markets, Estate sales, are a way of life (well, maybe not the Estate sale... ).Biagio wrote: ↑Sun Nov 27, 2022 10:08 am Chuck, forgive me for asking, but how is it that there is so much stuff on auction in your part of the world? You seem to acquire stuff on a weekly basis. Sounds like either the area is rapidly depopulating (death and taxes?) or a lot of businesses are going bust.
'One man's junk...' wait; that doesn't mean what it used to! *shock!*
-
- Global Moderator
- Posts: 2648
- Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2020 8:27 pm
- Location: Cherryville, B C
- Has thanked: 561 times
- Been thanked: 1011 times
Re: Restoring/ cleaning (potentially collectible) saws
The local auction house used to do weekly sales on site. It's a small building and doesn't have room for a lot of people and goods. They previewed a few hours before the sales (Wednesday nights) and it's nearly an hour drive so I never went to one since there was a good chance that there wouldn't be anything there of interest. Covid made them change business tactic and they signed up with an online auction service and starting posting pictures of the items so I could preview (and bid) from home. I think a good portion of what they sell are estate sales.Biagio wrote: ↑Sun Nov 27, 2022 10:08 am Chuck, forgive me for asking, but how is it that there is so much stuff on auction in your part of the world? You seem to acquire stuff on a weekly basis. Sounds like either the area is rapidly depopulating (death and taxes?) or a lot of businesses are going bust.
I also keep an eye for deals on Facebook Marketplace.I see a lot of old tools that are either handed down to uninterested children and grandchildren or sometimes sold by the original owner. It's kind of like Dan said, people don't throw much out here, especially old tools. We just build more sheds to store them in. As an example, I bought a few saws from a gal who was moving her 80 something year old dad into a home and the saws were handed down to him by his dad who probably bought them new around the 1920s. There were Shurly and Dietrick and Shurly, Dietrick, and Atkins (after 1931) which was one of the better Canadian saw makers of that period.