Video: How to Re-tooth a Hand Saw

If you are a fan of old hand tools, I’m sure you’ve seen some of the same sorry old hand saws that I often run across. You know the ones; they look like they were used to saw through nails and then sharpened by a one armed blind man weilding an angle grinder and a fifth of scotch. I’ve seen a lot of saws with pretty sad teeth since I’ve started the Saw Sharpening and Restoration Service. Sometimes these saws can be fixed with a little selective filing and a good dose of patience. Other times, it just makes more sense to clear the deck and start all over. Contrary to common belief, re-toothing a saw isn’t difficult at all, and doesn’t require any fancy expensive equipment. All it takes is a mil file, a tapered saw file (or two) and a little patience. Basically the same things it requires to sharpen a saw that already has good teeth. Here’s how easy it is.