50. A Guide to Saw Filing

[@arvinmeyer6414]

One thing that is VERY important to remember is that you set the saw before filing it. This is especially important for rip saws so that they will saw straighter. You should do this even on a brand new saw. Do so will improve the cutting process exponentially.

[@gjbmunc]

Hmm. I'll give it a try.

[@Cmxx1v]

I retired 2 years ago after 52 years as a carpenter and never learned to file my own saws. I wish I’d seen this 40 years ago. You’re a good teacher

[@gjbmunc]

You're very welcome!

[@mrstandfast2212]

Something I found helpful when sharpening is to run a black Sharpie pen along the top of the teeth and then file. As you file, the ink is removed and the shiny teeth are very visible, allowing you to see where you're up to and if you've missed any teeth. Any residual ink is removed as soon as you start to use the saw.

[@gjbmunc]

Great tip!

[@bentontool]

A black Sharpie, or traditionally, chalk, which helps to keep the file from clogging.

[@ianpearse4480]

I like that one, Cheers.

[@br3fl3]

Thank you sir, just subscribed. Extremely helpful.

[@gjbmunc]

Very welcome!

[@vasiaa3656]

Vielen Dank, sehr einfach erklärt und auch unterhaltsam. Bleiben Sie gesund Herr Blackburn

[@gjbmunc]

Danke, gleichfalls!

[@chdnorm]

The saw filing guide that Lee Valley sells is worthwhile. It helps train the hand and eye to hold the file at the desired rake and fleam, until you learn you what feels right. I think it made leaning how to accurately sharpen a saw much easier' at least for me.

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks for the info!

[@nickmastro9287]

Great video! Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.

[@gjbmunc]

Glad it was helpful!

[@terencebarnett113]

Thank you, I’ve been doing it wrong with xcut saw I’ve been filing both sides of each tooth thank you for putting me right.cheers terry

[@gjbmunc]

You are so welcome!

[@DraganIlich-r1s]

Thank you very much Sir.🎉

[@gjbmunc]

Most welcome

[@ArchEdge]

Thank you Graham - Restoring a saw or generally sharpening/cleaning tools is somewhat theraputic when you have nothing to make :)

[@gjbmunc]

Great!

[@MCsCreations]

Fantastic, Graham! Thanks a bunch!!! 😊 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks, you too!

[@ga5743]

You always make things look so easy Graham, I guess when you know, you know. Thank you once again for a great lesson. Enjoy your day.

[@gjbmunc]

You're welcome!

[@pettere8429]

Most metalworkers would point out that a file should not be pulled back while in contact with the work.

[@gjbmunc]

Yes indeed.

[@johnford7847]

I suspect you omitted a lot of detail about choosing the angles - LOL! Thank you. Clear and concise.

[@gjbmunc]

Just trying to keep it simple.

[@dirdick43]

Well done. I have a rip saw that needs sharpening (It belonged to my father) and I'll put these video tips to work. Thanks for the video. Now to the back yard to sharpen!

[@gjbmunc]

Good luck!

[@andrewkent4913]

I am filing a complaint against my saw. It has been somewhat blunt lately. It might try to bite back, but I am not worried as it has no teeth!

[@gjbmunc]

Time to get to work!

[@jrkorman]

Don't believe you mentioned it. Should the "set" be removed before planing and sharpening?

[@enchantedwooddesigns3462]

As far as I know you do not have to remove the set before sharpening. A plus to having the set is you can tell a little which way the the filing angle on a cross cut (at least to me since I have problems with seeing depth and angles). After filing retouch up the set.

[@gjbmunc]

Exactly!

[@markbaldwin975]

Another great video. some other ideas for videos might be saw-setting and how to straighten a bent saw. thanks!

[@gjbmunc]

That's more of a metalworking problem - but possible.

[@adevwco7013]

Excellent, thank you

[@gjbmunc]

You are welcome!

[@hubrigant]

The problem I had my first (and currently only) time trying to sharpen a saw was I kept forgetting which tooth I'd just sharpened. I ended up not alternating consistently. Fortunately, I was learning on a saw I didn't care about about, so nothing was lost, but it was quite frustrating.

[@jsaurman]

Mark them all with a sharpie before you begin. The filing will remove the ink so you won't lose your place.

[@gjbmunc]

Good tip!

[@dpmeyer4867]

thanks

[@gjbmunc]

You're welcome!

[@plakor6133]

Thank you. I have procrastinated learning this for years. Even though I file chain saw teeth almost non stop, no issues. For some reason, hand saws seem intimidating.

[@gjbmunc]

Glad it was helpful!

[@richardwilliamswilliams]

Good morning from Copperhill Tn.

[@gjbmunc]

Same to you!

[@ianpearse4480]

Simples. LOL. Thanks for sharing.

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks for watching!

[@liveoak4124]

Thank you

[@gjbmunc]

You're welcome

[@AliakberLokhandwala-ey9hj]

Dear Mr. Graham, is it possible to convert a rip cut saw in to a cross cut saw by altering the teeth geometry ?

[@gjbmunc]

Absolutely.

[@neutralglider]

Great instructions. At 8:29 what do you mean by "after I've removed *half* the shiny spot of whatever I've achieved before"?

[@gjbmunc]

First file in one direction/side, then reverse the file and file the other half of what remains of the shiny spot.

[@neutralglider]

@@gjbmunc Thank you so much for responding to my ignorance. Btw, I've inherited a dovetail backsaw from my grandfather years ago, but unfortunately the teeth are all gone. Is it possible for you to make a video of how to file new teeth to a backsaw with ripcut teeth? Thanks again.

[@christopherharrison6724]

Where can you buy files for saws from I can’t seem to find them online.Thanks Graham.

[@gjbmunc]

I just checked Amazon for triangular files and found several, but any decent hardware store (Ace, for example) should have a selection.

[@JoJoJenkns]

Where is a good source for the correct files? I’ve seen some on on leevalley, but the names and sizing is was dreadful last time I looked

[@gjbmunc]

Try Lie-Nielsen.

[@edwardkopczyk4699]

Why would you not just do all the teeth consecutively rather than missing a tooth? Is there a reason for this?

[@gjbmunc]

It helps preserve the set.

[@edwardkopczyk4699]

@@gjbmunc simple when you think about it

[@TermiteUSA]

May I ask why you say to file every other tooth 9f a rip saw and then turn the saw around. I understand that is necessary for s crosscut but a rip does not have that set. No disrespect intended to you, but Paul Sellers clearly does consecutive teeth for his rip saw demonstrations. I do enjoy seeing your tool inventory. Thanks.

[@ChiefTiff]

Opinions vary… personally I file alternate teeth with the file cutting into the leading edge of the tooth that is pointing towards me; my belief is that the resulting burr is then down the centre line of the saw not at the outer edges and the saw cuts cleaner. Your mileage my vary.

[@gjbmunc]

Yes I know how Paul files, but I have always found that filing alternate teeth in the direction of the set helps keeps things even. Each to his own and whatever works best. Thanks for your comment.

[@donataspimpasas]

How many larger saws can you sharpen with one file?

[@gjbmunc]

I guess it depends on how much filing is needed.

[@curiousgeorge555]

A+

[@gjbmunc]

Thanks!

[@aereo1100]

Thank you for your effort in making this video Sir. Nonetheless, I'd rather just buy a new saw...

[@gjbmunc]

Just buy a good one!

[@gjbmunc]

Fair enough!

[@gjbmunc]

Fair enough!

[@jsaurman]

What about using a saw set? You completely forgot about that.

[@gjbmunc]

Covered that in a previous episode.

[@sethwarner2540]

I can tell you've never filed a saw, sir. you mean well, Im sure. A rip saw has all the teeth filed straight across, level and 90 degrees, and all the teeth are filed in succession; not every other tooth, as you said. Its the cross cut saw gets every other tooth, but at an angle to the line of the saw.

[@gjbmunc]

Yes you can do it that way but I find filing every other tooth in the direction it's set is also efficient especially in keeping the height equal. But whatever works for you. Thanks for your comment.

[@MikeAG333]

Hmmmm...I can't see what is achieved by filing alternate teeth on a rip saw. Filing in one gullet cuts the front of the next tooth and the back of the previous one, and the angle is identical. Swapping and filing alternate teeth from the other side doesn't produce any difference other than which side any burrs occur.

[@michaeldoto4673]

Totally agree. I think he got ahead of himself and was thinking of cross cut filing where you do skip every other tooth. When rip saw sharping, you can file every tooth from the same side.

[@ChiefTiff]

Opinions vary… personally I file alternate teeth with the file cutting into the leading edge of the tooth that is pointing towards me; my belief is that the resulting burr is then down the centre line of the saw not at the outer edges and the saw cuts cleaner. Your mileage my vary.

[@gjbmunc]

Yep, see my previous reply. Thanks however, for the comment.