There is no tool so much in the hands of the carpenter as the saw, and no tool that can be more depended upon when in perfect order. The saw, however, is seldom in perfect order. The filing of it is put off as long as possible, resulting in a great loss both of time and good workmanship. Many good workmen dread filing their own saws, yet the saw is as simple in construction as any tool he has to use. It is but a strip of tempered steel with triangular notches cut in its edge.

Uniformity in the teeth, sharp points and sharp cutting edges are the great essentials of a perfect saw.

No Hard And Fast Rules

It is not intended here to give hard and fast rules for the care of saws, as a great deal must be left to the judgment of the workman under the conditions in which he is placed. These conditions will vary greatly in different localities. For instance, a saw to work in a piece of lumber in a moist climate will require different treatment from one to work in the same piece in a dry atmosphere. The intelligent workman, therefore, should learn the requirements of the saw under the different conditions in which he is placed and act accordingly. The intention at this time is rather to show how the saw will be affected by the various modes of treatment herein described.

A System Recommended

It is recommended, however, that the workman should adopt a system - the one best for his needs-and adhere closely to it. for in this way only can he train his eye and hand to produce the most perfect results.

It is also recommended that the novice who desires to become an expert in saw filing take strips of soft metal, such as soft steel or brass, about the thickness of a saw blade, and practise on these in bringing the teeth to the state he wants them. In this way he will save his saws, files, and time while training his eye and hand.

Shape Of Teeth

Saw teeth, whether of cut-off or rip saws, are triangular in shape, consequently what is known as a three-cornered file will touch one edge of two teeth in filing. This is the way a saw should be filed, for it gives the correct form to the teeth, and steadies the file. A saw should never be allowed to get dull, therefore frequent filing is recommended.

Hand, Panel, And Back Saws

The teeth of all saws designed to cut across the grain are a series of sharp-pointed knives which cut the grain of the wood first at one side of the kerf, and then at the other, and carry the chips off in what is commonly known as sawdust. All the teeth in a saw should be uniform in length, pitch, size, bevel, and set. The more bevel a tooth has the smoother it will cut in soft woods. Saws for hard wood should have less bevel than for soft. Butchers' saws also should have but little bevel. The more pitch a tooth has the faster it will cut, but if too much pitch is given, the saw will neither run nor cut so smoothly as with less pitch. The length of a saw tooth is its height from base to point, and is determined by the number of teeth or points to the inch.

The pitch sometimes called the rake or the hook is the angle of the cutting edges of the tooth to the line of the points.

The bevel, sometimes called the fleam, is the amount taken off the thickness of the tooth back from the cutting edge.

The size of a tooth is its width at its base.

The set of a saw is the distance the teeth stand out beyond the surface of the saw blade.

The kerf is the channel cut by the saw.

The heel or butt of the saw is the end that has the handle attached ; the toe or point is the other end.