Tiger Myrtle Backsaw Build.

[Stewie Simpson]

After profiling both sides of the handle and inner cheek.

Mortise fit for the hardback.

14" saw plate assemby after being fitted to the handle.

Shaping to the saw handle completed.

Saw handle after 220 grit sanding; followed by coating of garnet shellac. 400 grit sanding still required.

Stewie;

[Mark Stutz]

Maybe my favorite one to date. Beautiful wood!

[george wilson]

I like the treatment of the decorative notches just outside the saw back. And,the properly rounded "pips" rather than sharp ones. Very neat and proper work,Stewie.

On my personal saws,I ground 45 degree facets on the top and bottom of the brass back. It gives the back a lighter,more graceful look. I also chamfered the front edge of my back on the closed handle saw. I did not think to do it on the open handle one.But I could go back.

On the saws we made for the museum,we could not do this as this feature is 19th. C..

[Stewie Simpson]

Hi George. Profiling to the hardack will start shortly. I made a change to the usual way I apply the decorative areas close to the spine mortise. Very pleased with the new look.

regards Stewie;

[Stewie Simpson]

Maybe my favorite one to date. Beautiful wood!

Thanks Mark. TM is a wondeful looking timber. Getting more difficult to come by knowadays. Expensive to buy.

regards Stewie;

[Kees Heiden]

The Seaton chest Kenyon saws also had 45 degree chamfers on the back. So that is solidly in the 18th century!

[george wilson]

They did on the bottom edge,but the tops were round,just as bent. Mine are beveled on both top and bottom,and I haven't seen any 18th. C. saws that went that far (Though I certainly haven't seen every 18th. C. saw extant!)

[Stewie Simpson]

Hi George. I hand file my brass back bevels. I do like the look of your brass backs with the bottom edge bevel included but its just too much extra work for me, so I wont be including it.

regards Stewie;

[george wilson]

Actually,I didn't file the bevels. They were freehand ground on the Square Wheel grinder. That was a lot faster,if you can grind accurately. It would be trouble to hold the backs for filing the tops beveled,without closing up the groove for the saw blade. And,since my backs were folded and deep,the groove was even more delicate to maintain.

[Kees Heiden]

They did on the bottom edge,but the tops were round,just as bent. Mine are beveled on both top and bottom,and I haven't seen any 18th. C. saws that went that far (Though I certainly haven't seen every 18th. C. saw extant!)

Indeed, my bad. I really thought they were chamfered along the top too, but looking closer at the pictures and the drawings, I see that they are only chamfered along the bottom and the front edge.

Stewie, this one is shaping up marvelously again.

BTW, I have chamfered the bottom side of my sawbacks freehand on a bandgrinder, which worked surprisingly easy and quick.

[george wilson]

As you likely know,Kees,the Square Wheel grinder is a powerful type of band grinder,2" x 72" belt.

[Tony Leonard]

Wow...just wow!

[Frederick Skelly]

Beautiful Stewie. Just beautiful. Where you going to stamp the brass back?

Man you're prolific! Seems like you crank out another beautiful saw at least once/week. I thought you were retired and didn't WANT a new job!

[Stewie Simpson]

Beautiful Stewie. Just beautiful. Where you going to stamp the brass back?

Man you're prolific! Seems like you crank out another beautiful saw at least once/week. I thought you were retired and didn't WANT a new job!

Hi Fred. The stamp will be located central to the brass backs length. To answer your 2nd question here is an announcement I made during the week on the Australian Woodwork Forum.

A while ago I mentioned I would like move away from making backsaws. Once Ray http://www.backsaw.net/ completes my order of 20 x 14" slotted brass backs, I will hopefully have enough saw making stock available to make a further 19 backsaws. (excluding some additional saw bolt assemblies from TFWW). I wont be purchasing any extra saw making stock in the future.

I suspect on current trend that it will take me close to 12 months to complete the remaining backsaw builds. When that ends I will continue to offer an after sales service on any of my saws for an additional period of 6 months.

I should also mention my primary motivation into saw making was never about commercial gain. Any money I have made from selling my work has gone straight back into replenishing my stock. If commercial gain was my indeed my primary focus I would by now have purchased a Foley Toothing Machine, as well as simplified my saw handle designs so the shaping work to be done by machine.

Promoting the values of early traditional techniques will continue to be my primary focus.

Stewie;

[Frederick Skelly]

[I]A while ago I mentioned I would like move away from making backsaws.

I suspect on current trend that it will take me close to 12 months to complete the remaining backsaw builds.

I should also mention my primary motivation into saw making was never about commercial gain.

Promoting the values of early traditional techniques will continue to be my primary focus.

Stewie;

That sure makes sense to me Stewie. Any thoughts yet on what you'd like to make next, when the backsaws are all done? Think you might make different tools, or just work on personal projects like furniture?

I sure enjoy seeing your work!
Fred