How thick is the brass back of a tenon saw?

[Matt Lau]

As I've been reading up on old hand tools, I've come to really appreciate the ingenuity and ergonomics behind a them.

Unfortunately, it's hard to find some of these tools...particularly planes.
I'd like to make a small Bill Carter-style mitre plane for my first plane project.

Does anyone know how thick is the brass material that he uses for the sides?

[george wilson]

Are you asking about saw backs or planes?

[Jeff Burks]

He is asking about the plane Bill Carter made from the brass back of a saw. More pics here.

If you want a basic answer, the folded type brass back saws usually use something close to 1/8" brass stock, so they fold over to 1/4" + saw plate. Then it depends on how much material is removed from polishing and whatnot. I just grabbed a L-N carcass saw and the back is 1/4" solid with a milled slot. The Bill Carter plane looks like he unfolded a brass back and used the just the stock thickness. I have a Disston miter box saw that measures 5/16" after it is folded over the saw plate. The saw plate is very heavy so the brass measures something like ~1/8". Say 120 or 125 thousandths of an inch. You know, Bill puts his email address at the bottom of his web site for a reason. Maybe you should just ask him?


Could also check out Norse Woodsmith's backsaw-project, which has nice pictures of the whole process. Included is the brass alloy, thickness and source vendor.

[Bill Houghton]

But why would you take a brass-backed saw, a nifty tool in its own right, and unfold the back to make a plane? Why not get some brass from a local junkyard?

[Jeff Burks]

I believe Bill was recycling a broken tool, which many of us do. Cutting up busted saws for new projects is a long standing tradition. I think I have over a hundred (~$1) pre-1930 saws in the closet waiting judgment day. Many of them are too beat down to be restored so they will be reborn as a new tool when I get time.

[george wilson]

I had forgotten about this saw back plane. It is an interesting and evocative piece. The use of the saw back is not really to use brass,but to save the stampings on the saw back,re presenting them in a unique way.

[Matt Lau]

Thanks for the insight.

I'll ask him.