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#1 ·
Antique folding frame / buck saw (and building my own).

Antique folding frame / buck saw
and building my own.

Intro; Back after new year here, as I said I have a bunch of unposted blogs and projects on my laptop, so here is the first one, most of them are related to green woodworking, hiking, some forging (another part of my woodworking passion these days) and knife making as usual, since this was was started my wood working journey - so it will not all be wood only.


We better start here, to make some understanding. Me in the woods, last year with a foldable frame saw, that I just made for my hammock adventures.

But it all really started, when I visited my friend Flemming at a antique fair in January last year (2018), here I took a wee look around and something caught my eye… It was a beautiful antique foldable carpenters frame saw.
(Buck / bow/ frame - what ever you prefer to call it, in Denmark it's often called a rammesav, meaning frame saw).


Here it is, the antique frame saw folded up, back in my workshop.
Really happy for the saw and that I got it at a fair price, after a wee hackling with the old lady who sold it. She did not know what it was, but just found it really beautiful.
(I paid 150 DKK / 18 GBP / 23 USD for it).


The brass part with the tensioner, taken of.
(A tenon is missing on the left side, I gave it a new one, out of old wood).


Opening up the side arms.
The cross arm doubles as a blade protector, when closed up.


Now we are getting there.
It almost look like a frame saw.


Look at the details, the tensioner, glides over the top and fits in the notch.
Wonderful mix of craftsmanships.


Tenon in place.


Sawblade are helt with this brass pin.


The saw needed a wee attention, a new tenon, saw blade clean up and a little oil and some of my home made wax.
(The augers in the back are some I made for birch sap collecting).


Here it is, ready for some sawing.


Nice handy carpenters saw, this will be a joy to use, even just to open and close up after use.


Closed up and ready to go.


Back to the inspiration…
This beautiful old saw, inspired me to make my self a foldable saw for my hammock hiking.
So I bought some blades from Bacho and that is where next part of the blog will start.

See you soon, hope you all came well into the new year.

I think the English call it a frame saw and the Americans a buck saw…
Wiki: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bow_saw
Frame saw / rammesav, names and meanings in Danish: https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armsav

Hope it can be to some inspiration, perhaps just some joy this time.

Best thoughts,

MaFe
 
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#10 ·
Looks like a COOL saw… easy to setup, use, and take-down…! What could be better?!
 
#17 ·
What a clever design Mads, a really good find. I've never seen one like that before. Exploring the past is so much more fun and interesting when old hand tools like this appear on the scene. I'm sure you will put it to good use. When you reach my age you can open a museum to show all of these fine old tools!
 
#21 ·
That's a beauty Mads and a great design. I've never seen one that packs together like that. Funnily enough, I spent an everning during the week doing a preliminary restore on a big old turning saw just to see if it could be a useable saw again. I was please to see that it is worth restoring so I'll hopefully get to it soon. It needs a bit of repair and a couple of new parts. I'm looking forward to seeing your saw when you post it.
 
#22 ·
It looks fabulous Mads. I just love your blogs, they make mine look so boring haha.

I love how the pipe always sneaks into the pics too.

Wishing you a safe and happy 2019 mate.
 
#23 ·
Hi,
Thank you all for the comments.
lew, I agree, that saw is a gem, sometimes we get lucky.
Jim Rowe, I have done my best… happy new year.
swirt, smiles.
Dave Polaschek, I know that dilemma, I have a bunch too and enjoy them all. Have made one rule; I can only have one of each kind… ;-D
Jerry, thank you.
madts, ;-)
Jim Jakosh, cheers.
steliart, happy new year buddy, a new year must start with something beautiful.
Joe Lyddon, big smile, yes what could be better… Champagne, old hand planes, a vintage Japanese saw… Naaaa no reason to compare. Life is sweet!
Tim Dahn, thanks, happy new year back. Yes I have a nasty habbit of marking my tools, especially those who leave the shop. Sometimes I think it's a shame, but somehow I think it adds to the history…
Woodwrecker, that's a beautiful compliment thank you. I love to use my hands, I actually look at them once in a while and are amazed, that something that odd looking can be so versatile and in direct contact with my head. Amazing. <3>s a wonderful pipe, handmade here in Denmark. Wishing you a wonderful 2019.
Best thoughts to you all,
Mads
 
#24 ·
Hi,
Thank you all for the comments.

Joe Lyddon, big smile, yes what could be better… Champagne, old hand planes, a vintage Japanese saw… Naaaa no reason to compare. Life is sweet!

Mads

- mafe
Yes, that does sound good! LOL
 
#27 ·
Nice!
I have the modern variant of the same blade but with a metal bow instead. Or actually three of them. But that one demands a lot of space when traveling. I will copy your design and build myself a rammesav or spännsåg which is the Swedish name of the same saw.
Good to see you back in business again.
 
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