● Saw Vise – part 2

Let’s finish a saw vise for sharpening. The ability to sharpen your own saws keeps your work flowing. There is no need to leave it at a saw sharpening shop, that is, if you can even find one.

You can learn to perform this task. First thing to determine is how the saw blade will be secured in order to do a safe job. A saw vise will help to sharpen a blade nicely. A variety of vises, vintage or new, are available. Or you, as a woodworker, can make one from wood. That is what I started in part 1.

When I left off, the vise was looking pretty good.

Purpose of the saw vise legs

The maple legs define the saw sharpening experience in this way:

  • the short leg rests on the bench and determines how much you have to bend over your work,
  • the longer leg is securely clamped in the leg vise and holds the entire operation steady. 

I cut tenons on the end of both legs to insert and pin them into the mortised jaws of the vise.

Handling the saw vise 

I did not like the cold metal hardware grips. I found two old Disston file handles and adapted them as grip covers.

The grips of the saw vise being covered with old file handles.
Adapting old Disston file handles as handle covers for the vise grips.

A shallow mortise is chiselled out of the back of the short leg. This stabilizes the acme screw plate that will facilitate controlling and tightening the vise jaws by way of the rotating handled grips.

A mortise for the saw sharpening vise acme screw.
Mortising one leg for the acme screw plate.

The jaws open and close by pulling them apart slightly (again by way of the acme screw), inserting the saw and then spinning the grips to tighten. I fitted a spring over the screw bound by the legs to make the jaws move a bit easier. 

Note the screw and pivot block below.

Fulcrum or pivot block on one leg of the wood saw vice.
Fulcrum or pivot block.
Detail of the spring covering the acme screw and the pivot block at the saw vise leg.
See the spring encircling the acme screw for opening and closing the vise jaws. Also, note the fulcrum or pivot block at the bottom.

The completed saw sharpening vise

The longer leg is clamped in the leg vise and the shorter leg rests on the bench. Using wood to make the saw vise allows flexibility in height, width, and design.

Front of saw vise clamped in the leg vise.
The vise clamped in the leg vise.

Here is the back of the vise showing the acme plate mortised in the back leg. It anchors and stabilizes the acme screw (keeps it from turning) when opening and closing the jaws.

The back of the saw vise to show acme screw anchor plate.
Reverse side of the saw vise showing the screw plate on the shorter leg.

I applied a water-based satin topcoat finish. Now the project goal, to finish a saw vise, has been accomplished.

Sharpening as much as you need

The first time that you put a file on a saw you feel a real sense of clarity. The fog of powerlessness clears as you look down that seemingly long row of teeth. Suddenly, you are facing the fact that a saw is in need of attention. Now, however, you can do it. 

A view down the long saw line of a saw in the saw sharpeing vise.
Looking down the long saw line. See the glued on strip of leather the width and length of the upper jaw on each side of the saw blade.

Get ready for sharpening

Prepare a saw sharpening kit with files sized for your saws big and small. You can buy the files as needed over time. A saw setter and hammer for laying in the teeth ensure smooth and straight cuts.

Rags, oil, and wax to clean and lubricate the saw blade are essential. A properly oiled, smooth blade will glide through lumber with an ease that rewards your saw sharpening efforts.

Lessons in saw sharpening

Whether you have a saw vise or not, do not leave off sharpening your saws. If you do not know how to sharpen, information can be found in books, videos, and workshops. One important thing you will learn, if you have not already, is that a sharp tool blade is safe and more efficient for working. I will offer a short primer to show how I do it with this wood saw sharpening vise in a future post.

What a way to finish a saw vise!

There is danger lurking

One other thing: sawdust, real metal sawdust. These are micro-particles of metal that form from the friction of the metal files on the metal teeth of the saw. The particles are very light and very dangerous.

They can be suspended, or swept into the air by any kind of movement, accidently ingested, or breathed in through your nose. This is a dangerous hazard that you do not want entering your lungs.

Metal saw dust beside the saw teeth after sharpening.
Dangerous metal “sawdust” (above-left of the teeth) is a hazard!

You do not want this in your eyes either. Be aware that rubbing your face or eyes with your hands can help transmit the particles to delicate mucus membranes. Make use of these lesser used tools in your shop: gloves, maskshop jacket or apron, safety goggles, and safety shield.

A small gentle hand held vacuum promotes easy and safe cleanup of the particles on the vise jaws and bench. Another solution is a moistened paper towel dragged across the vise that captures the particles and prevents them from flying in the air.

You will treat yourself and your tools better and get results as your understanding grows.

Another look at the saw vise.

Don’t worry, saw sharpening is a task that you don’t have to do very often. If you use your tools, however, more opportunities to practice will appear.

Front view of the finished saw vise.
Another view of the saw vise.

All done for now.

——-

This is the end of part 2 of 2 of the Saw Vice Series. Here is the rest:

Saw Vice – part 1.

Next time: cleaning and refurbishing an old saw.

S💚

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