Disston D8 Restoration: Rust removal, etch preservation, re-shaping teeth | Veritas saw file holder.

~~ ENABLE CLOSED CAPTIONS FOR THE DETAILED NOTES ~~
I purchased this Disston D8 rip handsaw for $10 AUD online. It was in pretty terrible condition, with a very rusty plate, and a bone dry and cracked handle. You don't see Disstons too often around here in Australia, however, so I took a chance on it still having its temper.
First thing I do is repair the structural cracks in the handle. I did this before filming, as it would be a totally different video if I had to make a new handle. I clean the handle with mineral turpentine, then oil it and give it a light sand and scrub with 0000 steel wool.
For the plate, I scrape off the surface rust with a spare plane blade, then clean up and polish the plate with a whetstone I use just for this purpose. I lubricate the stone / scraping with more mineral turpentine, but on reflection singer oil would have been a better choice. I remove the rust manually because a chemical method would likely remove any remaining etch on a plate this rusted. I was very happy with how much of the etch I was able to save. It's more clear in person than on video.
After this I joint the teeth, and fully re-shape them. This took a long time, but it was worth it, because after sharpening and setting, this saw works like a dream. It follows a line perfectly and cuts faster than any other saw I've used - I took a lot of care with the filing and used the Veritas saw filing guide, so this may be why I got such a good result.
If you're wondering why I didn't repair the crack in the cheek of the handle, or the missing part of the horn - it's because I didn't need to. This is a tool for me to use, not to look at, and those are both cosmetic and don't effect the function of the saw. The saw bolts hold that crack closed, and I suspect it will close itself up as the wood gets used to being oiled again.
Hope you enjoyed the video.
00:30 - handle cleaning
01:14 - rust removal
03:18 - sanding/oiling handle
05:22 - jointing saw teeth
06:10 - setting up filing guide and filing teeth
09:10 - setting teeth with a saw set
09:55 - cleaning bolts and re-assembling
10:30 - stoning the plate
11:00 - final test
#traditionalwoodworking #handtools #antiquetoolrestoration
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
About me:
www.littlebearsloyd.com.au
Littlebear Slöjd is Julian's Spooncarving business. Littlebear refers to Ursa Minor, and Ursula, which is his Daughter's middle name. Slöjd (Anglicised as "Sloyd") is the Swedish word for practical and useful handcrafts. It also refers to an educational philosophy about teaching wood and leather craft, especially wood carving, to young people.
Julian is a certified wooden spoon tragic and has carved hundreds of spoons since picking up the hobby on a trip to Canada. He also has a bachelors degree in history, with research into spoon carving in Wales for his final project. Joining together the craft of spoon carving and the study of material culture history is his way to rediscover the role of the wooden spoon in the household. Julian uses his spoons every day and encourages others to make functional objects and do the same.