12 PATTERN MAKING 



to loosen and carry out the intervening wood. Otherwise this would 

 have to be rasped or filed out by the continued action of the saw. 

 The fleam of the side of the crosscut saw tooth is very 

 important. When filing, the file should be held horizontally 

 and at an angle of about 45 to the side of the saw, lengthwise of 

 the blade, as illustrated in Fig. 16; and each alternate tooth must 

 be filed from the opposite side of the blade, beginning at the heel 

 and filing toward the point of the saw. 



The objection is often raised by saw filers, that in filing from 

 the handle end of the saw toward the point, a feather edge is made 

 by the file and turned backward on the point of the tooth. The 

 first thrust of the saw through the board, however, will remove this 

 feather edge entirely; whereas, if the filing be done from the point 



of the saw toward the 

 handle, it is necessary 

 to file the teeth bent 

 toward the operator, 

 which causes the saw 

 to vibrate, or "chatter;" 

 and this not only renders 

 good, even filing impos- 

 sible, but breaks the 



r if'. ID. 



teeth of the file. 



For hand and back saws, a saw-set that acts on the principle 

 of the hammer and anvil, such as the one illustrated in Fig. 17, 

 is best. The spring sets, so much in use, will not give so regular 

 and even a set to the teeth as will one or more light blows with the 

 hammer on the beveled face of the anvil. By this method the 

 tooth is not bent or sprung beyond the position in which it is 

 intended to remain, and the blade of the saw is not bent or affected 

 by the stroke of the hammer on the point of the tooth. A saw-set 

 of the kind illustrated in Fig. 17 can be adjusted 1<> set the points 

 of the teeth to any depth desired : and, even if repeated light blows 

 are given, the tooth cannot be bent beyond the required distance. 

 The blow may be struck on a with u light mallet ; or it may be 

 struck from below with the operator's foot on a treadle connected 

 with e, leaving both hands free to hold and to guide the saw. 



