Keeping the Cutting Edge: Setting and Sharpening Hand and Power Saws

I'm having a really hard time writing a review of this pamphlet. To call it a book is absurd. It's not sitting in front of me, but it was maybe a couple dozen pages long. However, brevity is not necessarily a function of worth. I have no interest in circular saws and such, so I didn't read those couple of pages. I was and am interested in the techniques for sharpening handsaws of all kinds: panel saws, tenon saws, carcass saws, dovetail saws, frame saws, fret saws, bow saws, Japanese style pull saws, Western style push saws, one and two man buck saws and pruning saws. Never thought about sharpening hack saws, but that could be another type of interest. However, this book does not treat these saws as requiring different types of treatment. It boils down the process to "Are you sharpening for a crosscut or a rip cut" . It then goes into great detail about the skill required for the fundamental strokes used which is highly informative. The pictures and the text inside the modern cover look remarkably like WWII training materials and likely are since it is not an infringement to reprint them. The author is the son of a saw sharpener and been around it all his life, so the treatments given are very practical and useful. Unfortunately after the basics are presented, there is little detail provided about options like different rakes, fleams and gullets. When to use which, why, pros and cons, ramifications of choices, types of wood, resultant cuts etc. I went into the book not knowing any more than Lie Nielsen published on YouTube and the pamphlet gave me a lot of information, particularly if you take the time to study the illustrations. I didn't get all I expected from it, but I did learn a lot from it. So I settled on four stars and would recommend it to beginners who are thinking of starting to sharpen their own saws. You'll need much more than this if you are going to start manufacturing saws, but this is a great text to get you started. I was also disappointed it did not address progressive pitch as that was my primary interest in starting to sharpen my own saws, so, again, don't expect much beyond basics, there are no details on treatments to be had from this.

Keeping the Cutting Edge Setting and Sharpening Hand and Power Saws This is a good book on hand sharpening saws of all kinds. I haven't done or seen this done since I was a young child of 8 to 12 years of age. My father knew how to but sent his saws to an older man to be sharpened for some time. I used to watch him as he sharpened my fathers saw but never was taught. I did recognize the tools and explanation from memory. The book is very well written an should be easy to understand by all. I'm now looking for the proper tools to sharpen my saws.Rev. Joseph

The use of handsaws and the care of them is slowly disappearing. For the next generation, books like these are needed.I loved this book for the explanation of different saws and how to care for them. It even had a section on chain saws. Nice primer.

Good reference for one of those disappearing how'd they do that back when...

Ok, where do I start........ I have been deep-diving into the study of saws for about a year now. I have found all open source info and I have studied it carefully and applied it to my own journey. I have bought and read books published in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s by names such as Wells and Disston (quite reputable folks in the world of all things saws). Recently, I purchased this book for $10 hoping to run across at least one new facet I could learn about hand saws. What I have found instead is the most basic information about sharpening that you could possibly imagine. I mean, literally, the absolute MOST BASIC information about sharpening that I learned on day 1 of this hand saw journey. It’s the same info that you’ll read 100 times before actually reading this book. I figured the author might just try to cover all the bases before getting into saw sharpening theory, interesting facts, or ANYTHING later in this book...... NOPE. The author (who refers to himself as “Dynomite”) simply covers the basics before covering fallacies that contradict everything I’ve ever read about saw sharpening from reputable sources. The so-called ‘book’ is actually more of a pamphlet that will simply make you worse at saw sharpening while teaching you the incorrect history of saws.***BONUS*** If you’re interested in restoring hand saws, the author has a section where he actually takes a BEAUTIFUL antique Disston saw, cuts it in half, and throws away a beautifully shaped/perfect condition apple handle in favor of an HK Porter era, self-made pine handle, that represents the geometric shape of a Lego block.So, if you’re interested in learning nothing about saw sharpening, incorrect historical facts, and how to destroy beautiful antique hand saws, this $10 pamphlet may be right up your alley.If you're interested in improving your hand saw skills and knowledge, put the $10 towards a reprint of the Disston Lumberman's book, another reputable histotical book, or check out FREE open-source knowledge such as the Blackburn Tools website section covering saw sharpening, Pete Taran's Saw Filing Treatise, etc.

This book pretty much covers sharpening handsaws soup to nuts with lots of illustrations and detail. Includes topic of rejuvinating old saws and creating your own handle.It also has a few pages of detail on sharpening chainsaw blades as well as standard steel blades ( which is pretty dated with carbide tablesaw blades replacing steel blades )Best book I've read on sharpening handsaws ( filing - setting - planing teeth level - etc.)

A very informative book on the sharpening and setting of handsaws. Hopefully someday I will have a shop where I can put some of these techniques to work on the assortment of handsaws I have accumulated.

It's not the best, but it is informative.

Clear and concise sharpening advice.