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Become a MemberMay 5, 2011
I bought a Gramercy Tools bow saw at Tools for Working Wood in NYC a couple of years ago and it has turned into one of my very favorite tools.
It’s a nice gentle shape, really light weight with well made parts that work really well.
I use it for all of the typical bow saw tasks like sawing curves, pierced work and the like. I soon realized it was also perfect for waste removal. Using the bow saw much the same way you would a fret saw or maybe a coping saw removing the waste in dovetails.
Not so long ago I took it apart for transport and when I reassembled it and put tension back on the bow-
Damn…
always right in the middle of a project isn’t it?
Well, I better fix it.
Nothing fancy, no time for that, just a quick fix with some quarter sawn Ontario white oak.
The straight grain will be perfect for this application.
It went something like this…
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And the total time for this on the spot repair was……..?
Thanks for the update Tom, glad you’re posting again!
Andre,
it is my pleasure ! finally an opportunity to get back into the work shop and working on my own designs again.
stay tuned…
i am afraid of doing that to mine, so i think i am leaving it a little un-tensioned, the blade bows when pressed against
Jonathan,
thanks for the comments.
I know just what you mean, I’m always afraid of that as well, the big snap and wham !
well now I know… I found some days too little tension in the blade and then the ‘twisting’ begins which can ruin a piece..the sweet spot- just enough to keep the blade nice and straight while in use but not so much that you crack the frame. I think a sign of a dull blade is one that begins to flex and bow slightly while in use. The danger is this may be interpreted as the tension needing adjusting and crazies such as I over tighten and break our lovely hand tools. damn.
; o
cheers!