Added Hand Saw Sharpening Tips

We’ve covered a few basics of hand saw sharpening before, but here are some additional tips to keeping your hand saws in working order. As a recap, saw files are used for sharpening teeth. You’ll want to maintain a consistent pitch – angle of the leading edge of the tooth – while the saw is positioned lower between softwood pieces in the vise. The blade should protrude only the minimum amount while still exposing the teeth.

When hand saw sharpening, place your saw file with one of the three corners fitted into a gullet. Keep the hand saw horizontal at 90 degrees to the blade. When you’re properly positioned, file with an even forward stroke with the saw file firmly between your thumb and forefinger. Take your time and try not to get frustrated; hand saw sharpening is a skill that takes time to master.