THE YOUNG FARMER'S MANUAL. 431 



were filed deeper, as the points wear off there would be no neces 

 sity for^jjj|r gumming saws at all. 



660. Gumming is often done with a cold-chisel and hammer 

 while the saw lies on the smooth face of an anvil, or an equiva 

 lent to an anvil. If gummed in this way, it must be done with 

 a thin, sharp chisel and a rather light hammer ; and the operator 

 cannot be too particular in having the part of the saw opposite 

 the chisel rest level on the anvil. One careless blow has often 

 broken a good saw, or damaged it by kinking it or cracking a 

 tooth. Both ends of the saw should be supported as high as the 

 surface of the anvil, and then, with a narrow cold-chisel, about 

 one-fourth of an inch wide, work crossways of the saw, with the 

 edge of the chisel parallel with the edge of the saw. Never 

 cleave at one cut more than one-eighth of an inch, unless the chip 

 be cut loose first on the ends. If the chisel stands crossways of 

 the saw, in working the spaces deeper there is great danger of 

 stretching the edge of the saw, or of starting the teeth near the roots. 



661. Gumming saws with a machine is done with a kind of 

 punch playing in a die of the shape of the spaces, which is at 

 tached to a strong lever, and the saw is placed between the die 

 and punch, and the spaces are worked deeper by nipping a little 

 at each descent of the lever. In gumming with a machine every 

 alternate tooth should be gummed with the saw the other side up. 

 If the gumming be all done on one side it is apt to lend the saw ; 

 and straightening it back stretches the edge ; and, in stretching the 

 middle, by striking the saw a few smart blows on opposite sides 

 with a hammer having a roundish face, when the saw lies on a 

 true anvil so as to make the edges straight, there is great danger 

 of breaking a saw. The cutting edge of the punch should have 

 about three-sixteenths of an inch bevel, so as to make a cleaner 

 and easier cut when gumming it. 



662. There is always more or less danger of damaging a good 

 saw while gumming it ; therefore it is far better to expend a dol 

 lar in gumming with a file than to pay a dollar for gumming with 

 a chisel or gummer. 



663. In order to have all the spaces and the teeth of a uniform 



