I have had good success filing rip saws with a very basic, match the teeth that are on there and just file straight across at a 90 degree angle kind of plan. I have not such good success with cross-cut saws. One old backsaw I tried to rehabilitate is barely useable, and I think it is a combination of a bad plan laying out the teeth, a lack of understanding of how the file is supposedly sharpening both the front tooth and the back tooth simultaneously (if that is what it is supposed to be doing) and inadvertently applying way too much set. I think I also used poor judgment trying to file and set teeth I can barely see for my first attempt.
I have a couple of panel saws I want to get into shape, along with a couple of backsaws. I am going to start with a panel saw, 8 TPI is about what is on it, and I am looking for some advice on a very basic, unlikely to lead to complete disaster, kind of filing scheme. I do not need rocket assisted sawdust ejection or the other things I read about for this one, I just want it to work reasonably well, and hopefully gain a little more understanding of how and why it works in the process. Really looking to just crawl across the room here, not so much walk or run. So some basic questions:
How far off of 90 should I align the file laterally, how far above or below the tooth line (anglewise, on the Z axis or whatever) should I align the file handle, and should I be bearing more on the teeth ahead of the file or behind (or is that not even a question that makes sense)? Those are my basic questions as to filing. If it helps I have read the information at Vintage Saws, but I think I am having trouble visualizing what he is explaining.
I have a decent file, a decent vise, and two saw sets. One is an Eclipse, and the other is a Millers Falls 214, which I read somewhere is idiot proof, so it is the one I will probably use. If anybody has any experience with that model, and has particular tips or a source for a manual to help me make sure I don't do anything to sully the reputation of the Millers Falls Company, I would appreciate it!
As to setting, I think I want to start with the smallest number on the Millers Falls dial and work up from there until I get enough set. Is that a good plan? That is not what I did with the Eclipse, because I was told to match the number on the dial to the TPI, and I think that is why I ended up with a bad case of overset on the backsaw.
Many thanks in advance.