Sharpening large cross cut saw.

Dave Shepard · August 16, 2015, 08:19:26 PM

I have a 42" one man cross cut saw I'd like to play with. I've done a little bit of sharpening and cleaning and have gotten it cutting, but I think it has a lot more potential. I have not jointed the teeth and rakers because I don't know what their relationship to each other is. Do they get set to the same height, or are the rakers slightly less proud than the teeth? I've seen two man crosscuts at the competitions cut an 8"x8" poplar cant in three strokes in about two seconds, so I know this saw has the potential to cut pretty fast compared to a 26" hand saw that I would normally use for cutting timbers, I'm just not sure how to proceed. Anyone here sharpen these saws? It has a left and right set tooth, then a fish tail raker then another left/right tooth. I believe it's called a Tuttle pattern saw.

beenthere · August 16, 2015, 09:45:30 PM

The cutters need to end up higher than the rakers. The idea being the cutters cut the wood fibers and the rakers come along and scoop (rake) it out. Very hard to cut wood with the rakers going first, followed by the cutters.

Jeff · August 16, 2015, 09:51:11 PM

The Crosscut Saw Manual

Brian_Weekley · August 17, 2015, 10:26:22 PM

Dave,

I have a 1/2 man timber saw I've wanted to try sharpening too. Here's an informative "how to" on YouTube:

http://youtu.be/FrYsFlx3OSY

Brian

Dave Shepard · August 18, 2015, 07:05:37 AM

Thanks for the manual, Jeff, that looks like just the sort of thing I was looking for. Brian, I'll watch that when I get home. That is the same tooth pattern I have.

addicted · August 30, 2015, 08:44:42 PM

Hi Dave,
I've got an old saw with the same tooth pattern and in need of a new handle, rust removal, and I'm sure a good tune up as well. Did you have any success with the manual? Sounds like a good winter project.
Rusty