How many hand saws does one really need?
Some old texts would have you believe that gimlet bits cannot be sharpened. However, this is not the case.
Auger bits had several advantages over center bits and shell bits, so it comes as no surprise that auger bits came to replace the older style bits. Here’s how to sharpen the most common bit found in today’s hand tool kits.
Whether you use a wooden block or a commercial version is a personal decision, but some kind of guide is definitely a big help when sharpening saws.
A properly sharpened center bit should bore a clean hole with no chipping around the edge. Here’s how to get there when your bits don’t.
Rust on a saw blade makes for a dirty cut, a saw that sticks in the kerf, and teeth that just won’t get as sharp as they can be. For a saw to perform at its best, the blade should be clean, free of rust, and smooth. Here’s a tried and true process for cleaning up just about any old saw.
The dilemma of home center lumber. We’ve all heard from the curmudgeons who would never buy their lumber from a home center and are appalled that anyone else would either. But is home center lumber really that evil?
Deciding whether to use a Western style saw or the Japanese equivalent can be a tough choice. They perform the same tasks, so what’s the difference?
In traditional woodworking we often use the phrase “saw to the line”. But what exactly does that mean?
Being able to saw to a line is a skill that takes practice. If you don’t do any hand sawing but joinery, you won’t get enough practice to saw straight and true consistently.
