Steps to Cleaning a Hand Saw

Cleaning a hand saw isn't very difficult, although it is messy. Being prepared with the proper equipment and selecting a place with good ventilation will help make the job easier.

Next, for cleaning your hand saw, gather the following materials:

o A thin-bladed screwdriver (only needed if you are removing the handle)

o Mineral spirits

o A razor blade with a safe razor blade holder

o Silicon carbide sandpaper

o Boiled linseed oil

o Steel wool

o Paper towels

o Rags

o Paste wax

o Protective gloves

CAUTION: This is a very important safety issue. Mineral spirits, boiled linseed oil, paper towels and rags make a dangerous combination that can spontaneously combust if left unattended in a pile. Proper precautions should be taken to dispose of these items after use. Rags soaked in linseed oil should be laid out flat outdoors away from any structures to dry. When completely dry, they may be put in the trash. Store rags soaked in mineral spirits in a plastic bag away from all structures until dry before disposing of them. Do not use mineral spirits near an open flame, as the vapor can catch fire. Even the pilot light on your furnace or hot water heater may be enough to ignite the vapors. Mineral spirits can also cause nerve damage if used for a prolonged period or in a confined space. Make sure you have good ventilation and that you are not using the mineral spirits for long periods of time. If you don't feel comfortable working with these hazardous materials, you may want to hire this job out. Safety first!

Now we're ready to begin.

If you need to remove the handle, use a proper-fitting screwdriver. Be sure to place the screws somewhere secure where they won't get misplaced. If the saw is very rusty, it may take a bit of effort to pull off the handle.

Once you've removed the handle, place the saw blade on a board or other flat surface. Use the razor blade to scrape off rust, dirt, wax or other crud that has built up on the surface. Work from the handle end towards the tip of the saw. Repeat the process on the other side.

Now that any loose debris has been removed apply a small amount of mineral spirits to the saw blade. Take a small square of the silicon carbide sandpaper and apply it to the blade using the mineral spirits as a lubricant. Move the sandpaper along the length of the blade, not back and forth from the teeth to the back. When you're done, wipe off any excess spirits with paper towels. Repeat on the other side then set the blade aside to dry.

Use the razor to scrape any build-up off of the handle. Finish with steel wool. If the handle looks dry, use a rag to apply a small amount of boiled linseed oil. Make sure all surfaces are well-coated. Remove any excess oil with a clean rag. The handle should be completely dry in a couple of days.

Wipe down the dry hand saw blade with a rag to remove any residue, and apply some paste wax with a clean rag to protect the blade from future rust. Let the wax dry for ten minutes, then buff off any excess. Reassemble the handle when it has fully dried.

Choose a Blade

Saw blades play an important role in the job related to wood working.The proper type and the use of the blades also determine the level of finesse the worker can command.In all the major lumber jobs,there are four categories of blades that are used frequently in various kinds of saws.The categories are determined on the basis of the features and functions that the blades do have.

The main function of the saw blade is to cut the wood and that too in a proper manner without spoiling the effect and the texture.Therefore it is necessary that the blades should be sharp and should have a non-corrosive touch so as not to get spoiled by the different elements present.

But before you decide upon a saw blade,there are certain things which need to be considered.It is always a good idea to be choosy when you want to buy a blade.After all it is this component of the saw which is going to cut your wood and give it the required shape and size.Any individual who has some basic knowledge about the various kinds of saw blades available in the market can do a bit of research and arrive at a logical conclusion.

There is no dearth of saws and their blades in the market depending on the quality and performance preferred by the customer.There is,in fact,an abundance of blades some of which are really cheap and some fine hand saws, which fall in the costlier category.

It is generally said that the number of teeth on the blade determine the finesse and quality of the cutting work.It has been found that if the blade has more number of teeth then the results are much better as compared to the blades which have lesser number of teeth. Blades are used to cut various objects,both metallic and non-metallic.And the strength of the blade is determined by the material that it is made up of.

There are generally four types of blades which are in popular use:

Rip Blade – A rip blade really does just that – rip apart the log that is being cut.A rip blade has a lesser number of teeth but takes lesser time to cut.On the downside,it doesn’t have a very clean finish.

Cross Cut Blade – Such kind of blades are used to cut all types of woods across the grains.The blade moves and cuts in alternate moves as its teeth are located in an alternate manner.The teeth cut into one direction first and then into the other side.It gives out a finished cut while moving.

Combination Blade – It is a fine mixture of both the rip and the cross cut blade.This kind of blade is in widespread use.The blade can consist of a minimum of 24 teeth or a maximum of 80 teeth.The main premise being the number of teeth determines the quality of cut.

Carbide Tipped Blade – These kinds of blades are more toughened and durable.They have a longer life and are most useful for cutting ferrous metals like steel and aluminum.

Depending on the kind of work you are doing,proper selection of a blade is an essential.Each blade is made with a different function in mind and if we do put up a wrong blade at a wrong place,then the whole activity is going to be adversely affected.

Hand saw honing

Honing steel

Sharpening straight edges (knives, chisels, etc.) by hand can be divided into phases. First the edge is sharpened with an abrasive sharpening stone, or a succession of increasingly fine stones, which shape the blade by removing material; the finer the abrasive the finer the finish. Then the edge may be stropped by polishing the edge with a fine abrasive such as rouge or tripoli on a piece of stout leather or canvas. The edge may be steeled or honed by passing the blade against a hard metal "steel" (which may be made of ceramic) which plastically deforms and straightens the material of the blade's edge which may have been rolled over irregularly in use, but not enough to need complete resharpening. Hand saws need care to keep an edge!