10 



WOODMAN'S TOOLS AND IMPLEMENTS 



IX. Dressing of cross-cut saws. 



(a) "Jointing" means filing all cutting teeth down to exactly the same circumference. 



The tool used is called a jointer. A file is placed in the joints and by a screw pressed into the proper 

 curvature. 



(b) "Fixing the rakers" means filing them down with the help of a raker gauge. The rakers act 

 as brakes if they project into the cutting line. Outside and forks of rakers are slightly filed to remove 

 case hardening, and the point is sharpened to a planer edge. 



A raker swage is being introduced to spread the points of the rakers and to give them a hook-like 

 point, which is said to tear out long slivers instead of tearing out dust. 



(c) "Setting the cutter teeth" is done under the control of a "set gauge" with the help of a 

 "set block and hammer," giving 3 to 4 taps (the best method when done by experienced men) or with 

 the help of a "saw set." "Saw sets" are constructed either wrench-like or after the hammer and block 

 principle. 



Rules of setting are : — 



1. Setting should never go lower than half the length of the tooth; 



2. It should never exceed twice the gauge of the teeth; 



3. More set is required for long saws and for soft woods than for short saws and hard woods; 



4. When hammering, strike tooth fully '/, inch from point of tooth; 



5. If teeth are badly set, take, to begin with, all set out of the teeth; 



6. Apply side file inside file holder, to take away slight irregularities of set (after filing the teeth). 



(d) "Filing." Filing usually follows setting (except in the case of saws spanned in a vise, when the 

 set is afterward given by holding the set block on one side of the spanned saw and hammering from 

 the other). 



Rules of filing are:- 



1. File inside of tooth only; 



2. File to a bevel or fleam of 45"; 



3. Push the file away and do not draw it toward you; 



4. Do not file point to a feather edge; 



5. Do not sharpen tooth below the cutting point. 



(e) "Gumming." Gumming deepens the dust chambers, so as to preserve their original size and form. 

 Gumming is usually done with the file; the lever (punch) gummer may be used for the purpose, however. 



Remarks. A good, well-tempered saw holds sharpening and filing for three work days. Good 

 sawyers working in hardwoods sharpen and file daily. 



In the Pacific West "one-man cross-cut saws," up to six feet long are used for dissecting (bucking) 

 the bole into logs. 



A cross-cut saw file shows, on the cross section, a narrow triangle with curved back. 



"Inserted -tooth" cross-cut saws are seen in the pineries. 



The "spread set" of the cutting teeth has been tried and was found impracticable. 



(F) WEDGES. Wedges are used:- 



1. To split wood. The "axe wedge" is usually made of iron and should have straight (not 

 convex) cheeks. 



Wedges are sold by the pound. 



Iron wedges are prevented from jumping by being heated; by dirt placed in the cleft; or by a rag 

 (wet) being put over the wedge. 



Wooden wedges are made of the butts of locust, hard maple, hornbeam, black gum, dogwood, 

 and beecTi. 



Iron wedges with wooden backs are frequently used abroad. 



