How To Sharpen A Crosscut Hand Saw

Rob Cosman shows you how to sharpen a crosscut saw.
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[@moj0ryzin]

Rob, I have learned how to sharpen my own hand saws as a result of watching videos like yours but I have to say that this latest one with the large wooden mock ups of the saw teeth and file are exactly what beginners need in order to grasp the concepts. This is the first video I’ve actually been able to see clearly the relationship between the teeth and the faces of the file. Thank you - well done.

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

So glad we were able to give you some useful info

[@luciannawilliams6572]

Very intresting like

[@johbob5l]

Excellent video ! Details of explanation,takes the guesswork out of " I'm I doing right " Thank you Rob

[@garyblake3130]

This really is a dying art Rob, I still sharpen my own but like you say most people buy the throw away saws. In the UK we teach about the angles and different type of tooth but learners have no requirement to demonstrate their competence in the art. In the days of needing to recycle, resharpening makes perfect sense.

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

Not to mention its easy to do!

[@kentboys5017]

This is an intimidating process to sharpen a handsaw. Your method is well explained and easy to follow. Thanks for sharing such a great video!Take care👍🏻

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

Its really easy...trust me. Just try it and you will see how easy it is

[@jeremiahparker5026]

I enjoy watching your videos and I also learn a whole bunch. I wanted to thank you for the tutorial on crosscut saw sharpening. I have a whole bunch of old hand saws.

[@jerrygillette854]

Many years ago, I would watch my grandfather, a carpenter by trade, sharpen his hand saws. Wish I could have gotten his saw vice, but fortunately, I was able to get one of his RIP saws. Just wish I would have paid more attention to his technique. Thanks for the video, Rob.

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

At least you got his saws!

[@pierreclaudelpaintings]

Hi Rob, I am trying to figuring out angles for saw sharpening, and I just checked a newsletter article on your website I now understand why you set the protractor at 60 degrees : it is for a 30 degrees fleam angle. (zero starts at 90 on the protractor : 90 - 60 = 30. this is considered as a high fleam angle : better for soft wood. the more fleam, the cleaner the cut, the easier to push, and also a less durable edge. As always, thanks for your videos and teaching.

[@TheGamefisher1]

Many thanks Rob easy to follow and informative. Cheers

[@emersonassis7154]

Hi Rob...this is a fantastic video class...I remember my father sharpening his Greaves &Sons expensive saws after set the teeth at Stanley #42 saw set..I hated that sound from file angainst fine saw metal teeth/body when my father was sharpening...about good quality file for sharpening saws a company called Tomé Feteira (Made in Portugal) still making excellent files since 1856...I have many but never tried to sharpening a saw ...your video class make the task "easier" to understand and the special lens can be the tip of tips (in this case)... Thank you for make our way to see dificult task much simple

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

I will check out those files

[@emersonassis7154]

My father loved the 4 " extra fine triangular file..He told me it was the best size for that saw pitch..20 years ago

[@ryananthony4840]

Thanks Rob!

[@debojyotipaul4409]

Nice presentation thanks

[@Hansenomics]

Thanks for the solid instruction.

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

Glad it was helpful!

[@JamesSmith-su3oz]

Rob and crew, This video, and others that you all have made are having a positive efect on hand tool wood working. Grate video BTW.

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

Helping you take your Woodworking to the next level

[@scottb.2022]

Thank you. Another great, usefull video.

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

Glad you liked it. Thanks for tbe comment

[@glencrandall7051]

I have a couple of saws to try your method on. Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe.🙂🙂

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

Let me know how it comes out

[@twcmaker]

Just the way I was taught. Glad to see nothings changed over the last 40 years or so. I did have one of my students tell me once, in fact he insisted that you can sharpen a cross cut saw from one side. Well, I did it. It was miles out, horrible, I had to dress the sides with a stone to correct the tracking. Keep up the great content 👏👏👏

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

Thanks for sharing! Thats a funny one. Did you have enough metal to turn the fleam around?

[@miketaylor4597]

I have my Dad’s old Disston crosscut hand saw that I can use to practice your technique. Thank you!

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

Glad it was helpful!

[@carlogle6207]

I like the popsicle trick. Thanks, Rob.

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

Only downside is you have to eat a lot of popsicles...wait is that a downside or upside!!!!!!

[@jeffmyatt4203]

Outstanding video. Great tips and easy to follow. Hope you are feeling well, sounds like you have a cold!

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

Froggy throat. Almost gone now

[@tempescott]

Using the strip of wood at the end of the file is a nice tip. I'm going to try that next time I sharpen. 2 Questions: How often should you joint the teeth to get them all at the same height? And how often do you redo the set of the teeth?

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

As a general rule joint and set every 3 to 4 sharpenings

[@tim_biller]

Thank for this, Rob. Hope you feel better soon.

[@twcmaker]

I'm still listening and not heard Rob mention he's not well. I must have missed it. Thank you for mentioning it. Get well soon Rob

[@tim_biller]

@@twcmaker - just from his voice. I know I sound like that when I'm poorly.

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

Its just a froggy throat. I always seem to get one this time of year.

[@jewishmafia9801]

About dragging the file, Fireball tool did some in-depth tests on this matter and found it to have relatively no negative effect on the cutting action of the file nor does it reduce the life of the file.

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

Yes I looked at that after I did the video on sharpening a rip file

[@jimhyslop]

Is this the video you mean? kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpPcnJyZYpKGgaM I stumbled on it about a month ago 🙂

[@coolmamaass]

great stuff

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

Thanks for watching

[@JamesWilliams-en3os]

Thanks for doing this video, Rob. I've looked at a dozen different online articles trying to explain how to sharpen a crosscut saw, and they were all basically as clear as mud. This video makes it crystal clear! Also: finding a decent crosscut hand saw these days is hard! Rip saws abound, but not crosscut saws. Any links to a good source would be appreciated!

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

What type of crosscut saw are you looking for a backsaw or a panel saw. If backsaw look on our website.

[@douglasbrown3493]

Still sporting the Guy Lefleur hair cut. Nice!

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

My wife says its sexy!!!

[@themountainraven]

I finally tore down a few old rusty nasty saws I've had for quite sometime. Got 'em cleaned up, Filed the teeth about half off because the original profile was rusty and by the looks of it somebody tried to use a large half round file at one point. I filed new teeth and set the teeth as well. I'm a rookie by all means, and I'm telling you I've never had a full size panel saw cut this good ever in my life. Not sure why I was so intimidated in the past.

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

As I tell everyone sharpening saws is easy

[@Xo-jb1rk]

Great video but, what about the set? If I want to sharp a brand new blade with no set on the teeth what I do first? The set to the teeth or file them before setting? Cheers

[@bradleytuckwell4881]

After watching this tutorial with all those tips I feel confident to sharpen my antique cross cut. So thanks Rob

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

Go for it. Its really easy

[@1deerndingo]

Great little video on a topic that needs promoting. Not enough people sharpen their saws and even less sharpen for crosscut. BTW, does your wife like the new voice. Does it go with the hair.

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

I never understand why folks are so intimidated by saw sharpening

[@tintansigloXXI]

Hola, cual es el largo de esa sierra, tengo una pero creo que es muy larga cual seria la medida ideal??

[@ricos1497]

Lovely video Rob. I've yet to sharpen my good crosscut saw, so will likely do it this weekend. In terms of the file height being twice that of the tooth depth, won't the angle of the adjacent tooth be greater than the straight up and down measurement? Not sure it'll make a huge difference to me, but the example you showed with the wood might have given a slight overlap on cutting the back of the next tooth if you see what I mean? Obviously, it was just a piece of wood, but I'm assuming you'd always want to be more than double the longest edge (probably not an issue on crosscut I suppose).

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

Yes more tha double the longest edge. Not sure my wood teeth model is perfectly made

[@ricos1497]

@@RobCosmanWoodworking it's beautiful! Cuts like a dream I expect.

[@jimhyslop]

Excellent timing on this video - I have a cross cut saw that needs sharpening. Now I don't have to search everyone's videos to find the angles to use! Your voice sounds pretty rough. I hope it gets better soon!

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

Thanks, I am on the mend

[@bakerzermatt]

How many full sharpenings can you get out of one of those Swiss files?

[@rknott2006]

Can you reshapen a rip cut blade into a crosscut? I have a few old dovetail saws, but no crosscut saws.

[@malcolmsmith5903]

Good job. Slight niggle with file size. For me, the file should be significantly more than twice the tooth depth. The back of the tooth is also being filed and is longer so best to use that as the measure to check for wear.

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

Good point

[@mrfirestop415]

Thanks for the great video Rob! "....accidently get out of sync or miss one..." Hopefully you can get into this topic that is basically never covered: how to fix mistakes.

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

You mean when sharpening?

[@fayz44awad]

👌👌👌

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

👍

[@hectormontemayor5385]

Mr Cosman i recently purchased a used disston saw that has 8 TPI. Which file from your site should i purchase???

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

The largest of the three sizes

[@hectormontemayor5385]

@@RobCosmanWoodworking Mr Cosman, i need further clarification. Is it the Grobet saw file: 12-16 TPI; Grobet saw file 18-22 TPI; or Cosmanized Grobet mil bastard file: 10"?? Thanks.

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

@@hectormontemayor5385 next week we will have the larger size (7-10tpi) available on our site.

[@hectormontemayor5385]

@@RobCosmanWoodworking thanks. I'll visit your site then.

[@jamesnasmith984]

Super lesson. But look after your throat infection! MD.

[@n8sot]

Great info ...as always Rob!!!! Thanks!!! Hope your doing OK........kinda sound.......well....you kinda sound a bit ill. Stay safe bud!!!!

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

My annual fall frog throat

[@n8sot]

@@RobCosmanWoodworking LOL!!! Ok Rob. Take care!!!!

[@bobdriggers6111]

How about taking a few days to get over your flu/cold or allergy attack that you are dealing with. We got your back Rob!

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

Its just my annual froggythroat. Got it from yelling at Luther all week!

[@michaelk1266]

Can you sharpen the saws you sell?

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

Of course

[@paulcottingham241]

Instead of "paining" with a marker, use machinists layout blueing with a small brush. It takes about 5 seconds.

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

Tools at hand. Everyone has a marker.

[@thomasmcglynn5353]

Hi rob are you ok your voice is funny in this video

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

Just a froggy throat

[@thomasmcglynn5353]

@@RobCosmanWoodworking good glad to hear that keep well

[@J.A.Smith2397]

TKS n you sound rough Rob, tis flu season

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

Froggy throat season

[@mihailmihaylov9617]

I find painting the teeth redundant. The metal shavings on the jaws of the vice tell me where I've been when I accidentaly lose my place :)

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

For the extra 45 seconds it’s worth it

[@twcmaker]

Hi guys. Is Rob okay? His voice sounds different.

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

Just my annual froggy throat I always get this time of year

[@haroldshipley8900]

I am greatly enjoying your videos on youtube. You sound hoarse in this one. Hope it is just a temporary tickle.

[@dpmeyer4867]

Barry White

[@jeffdutton1910]

...sounding a little hoarse Rob. I hope you are well.

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

My annual froggy throat

[@e.langbang8097]

How many rip in 1inch

[@michaelk1266]

Can you sharpen the saws you sell?

[@RobCosmanWoodworking]

Absolutely