Grayson West
As you continue to use your saw, it will eventually become dull. Knowing how to sharpen a saw will not only help you maintain your tool in good condition but also save you money. Any saw owner can sharpen one with the proper knowledge. In this 15-step guide, we will take you through the process of sharpening your saw!
Gather Necessary Tools
First, get all the important tools for this venture. Some essential tools are a set of triangular files for sharpening and a saw vice to hold the saw in place. Also, get a ruler for measuring the teeth’ height, work gloves to protect your hands, and safety glasses to shield your eyes.
Secure The Saw
Before you start sharpening, use your saw vice to hold your saw in place. There are specialized vices that hold the blade and reveal the teeth. Clamps can replace them. They will keep your saw attached to your work table. Do this so your tool won’t wobble or shift under pressure.
Inspect The Teeth
Now, it’s time to examine the teeth. Check for broken teeth or those that are noticeably shorter than others. You can also run your fingers across the tooth line to feel for inconsistent heights. If you notice any damaged tooth, you may need to replace it first or refile the saw completely.
Jointing The Saw Teeth
Jointing aims to level all the teeth to the same height so that even teeth can be obtained after sharpening. Take your flat file and run it along the top edge of the teeth in one smooth motion. As you repeat this, the taller teeth will start reducing and eventually level with the shorter ones.
Set The Teeth
The teeth of a saw should be cut slightly wider than the width of the saw so that it can move smoothly through the wood. To do this, bend the teeth in different alternating directions. There should be a balance, as bending too much will make the cut too broad, and not bending enough will prevent your saw from cutting freely.
Identify The Tooth Pattern
You’ll know how to approach sharpening your saw when you know its pattern—crosscuts or rip cuts. The first is like knives with teeth lying around 65 degrees and is for cutting against the wood grain, while the second is chisel-like with teeth at around 90 degrees and is for slicing along the grains.
Choose The Right File
A triangular file is highly recommended for sharpening saws. However, the size should match the size of your saw’s teeth. The bigger the teeth, the rougher the file will be; the smaller the teeth, the finer your file will be. Ensure the file fits comfortably between the teeth and is clean and sharp.
Sharpen The Teeth
Based on your saw type, pick the right angle and start to file. As you file, do your best to keep the pressure consistent throughout so some teeth won’t lose more material than others, and so they’ll maintain equal height and sharpness. Aim to remove only as much of the material as is necessary.
Sharpen Every Second Tooth
You’ll notice that the teeth of most saws are alternated in direction, so you’ll need to go for every second tooth. Pick a side, and after you file, jump one tooth and file the next. For rip cuts, you can attend to each tooth without jumping any, and the next step does not apply to it.
Flip The Saw And Sharpen The Others
Once you have finished sharpening every other tooth on one side, change sides and sharpen the rest. You’ll use the same angle as you used for the other side, but just in the opposite direction. Your filing technique will not change. Remember to maintain the same pressure so both sides are even.
Use Light Force
Light force should be used to avoid overfilling the teeth. Excess force can wear down the teeth or affect their shape. Also, light filing puts you in control, as you can file multiple times to achieve what you want, unlike heavy filing, where you can’t take back any over-filing.
Check The Sharpening Progress
As you work, pause occasionally to confirm that each tooth is being sharpened uniformly. You can use a magnifying glass to examine each tooth and see if any is shorter or if any edge looks sharper than the other. It’s better to catch mistakes early on and fix them. Adjust your technique and keep filing.
Deburr The Blade
You may find small burrs or rough edges along the blade. With a flat file or fine sandpaper, you can get rid of them. Gentle run the file or paper to smooth out the rough edges. Don’t overdo this step; it may affect the sharp points you have just created.
Test The Saw
Now it’s time to see if you did a good job, so grab a piece of scrap wood and make several cuts on it. The saw should not bind, drift, or require you to use too much effort. If your cutting process goes smoothly, you have successfully sharpened your saw.
Clean And Lubricate The Saw
Before keeping your saw back in your tool space, wipe the blade thoroughly so that filings and residues that can cause rust or dull the teeth will get off. Use a neat and dry cloth for this. After that, apply a thin coat of oil or use an oil prevention spray on it.