Tool Talk

Woodworking Forum => Woodworking Forum => Topic started by: HeelSpur on April 27, 2013, 12:58:51 PM

Title: Disston Saw
Post by: HeelSpur on April 27, 2013, 12:58:51 PM
What era would a disston saw with a metal body be from? and the grip is wood.
Looks like some kind of pot metal.
Title: Re: Disston Saw
Post by: bonneyman on April 27, 2013, 03:23:34 PM
I have this one that is supposed to be a key hole saw. I use it for a restricted area hacksaw. Somebody posted another one with some info - he said mine was like 1890's?
Title: Re: Disston Saw
Post by: tucker on April 27, 2013, 04:00:20 PM
i got one of these dated 1877.
Title: Re: Disston Saw
Post by: HeelSpur on April 27, 2013, 04:06:39 PM
Heres a pic of it.

(http://imageshack.us/a/img716/500/001wdg.jpg)
(http://imageshack.us/a/img834/8133/002fzv.jpg)
Title: Re: Disston Saw
Post by: scottg on April 27, 2013, 05:16:19 PM
Oh wow cool! Disston's answer to the Millers Falls "Buck Rogers" line!
 Futuristic ooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!
 
 Leftover aluminum from WW11, for casting.
  Cast Al was so hot in the 50's.
     yours Scott
     
Title: Re: Disston Saw
Post by: bonneyman on April 27, 2013, 05:47:25 PM
That saw is so cool!
Title: Re: Disston Saw
Post by: HeelSpur on April 27, 2013, 06:03:20 PM
It was in the store where the guy paints his tools, saw it hanging on the wall behind a bunch of junk.
Never saw one like it before so I snagged it for $4.
I'm just glad he didn't paint it.
Title: Re: Disston Saw
Post by: Branson on April 27, 2013, 09:23:06 PM
I have this one that is supposed to be a key hole saw. I use it for a restricted area hacksaw. Somebody posted another one with some info - he said mine was like 1890's?

Yours is a "pad saw."   The patent date, I believe, is for the cast iron handle (Aug 1877).  If you check the internet, you will get confused since these are mistakenly lumped together with keyhole saws and jab saws and drywall saws.   

The photo is of an original style pad saw, with its wooden handle and two screws that hold the blade in place.   What really  distinguishes a pad saw from a keyhole saw is 1) replaceable blades that also allow for different tooth patterns, and 2) the blade can be retracted almost fully into the handle.  My rosewood handled pad saw dates from the first quarter of the 1800s.  It has an oval shape and ferrule where the screws that hold the blade are located.  Later this was simplified to  use a round ferrule.

Can it do keyholes?  Certainly, and well.  But the interchangeability of blades and the ability to adjust the length of the exposed blades make this a very different tool.   The teeth of the blade can also be protected from damage or bending in a tool box when the blade is drawn back into the handle.

The metal handles I have seen don't allow the blade to pass entirely through the saw.
Title: Re: Disston Saw
Post by: bonneyman on April 28, 2013, 09:57:27 AM
I have this one that is supposed to be a key hole saw. I use it for a restricted area hacksaw. Somebody posted another one with some info - he said mine was like 1890's?

Yours is a "pad saw."   The patent date, I believe, is for the cast iron handle (Aug 1877).  If you check the internet, you will get confused since these are mistakenly lumped together with keyhole saws and jab saws and drywall saws.   

The photo is of an original style pad saw, with its wooden handle and two screws that hold the blade in place.   What really  distinguishes a pad saw from a keyhole saw is 1) replaceable blades that also allow for different tooth patterns, and 2) the blade can be retracted almost fully into the handle.  My rosewood handled pad saw dates from the first quarter of the 1800s.  It has an oval shape and ferrule where the screws that hold the blade are located.  Later this was simplified to  use a round ferrule.

Can it do keyholes?  Certainly, and well.  But the interchangeability of blades and the ability to adjust the length of the exposed blades make this a very different tool.   The teeth of the blade can also be protected from damage or bending in a tool box when the blade is drawn back into the handle.

The metal handles I have seen don't allow the blade to pass entirely through the saw.

Thanks for that info!
Title: Re: Disston Saw
Post by: dowdstools on April 28, 2013, 11:48:06 AM
The Disston saw you posted is a D-100 from the 1960s. Not a very long-lived model, and not very comfortable to use (I've tried one). A neat looking saw, nonetheless.

Lynn
Title: Re: Disston Saw
Post by: rusty on April 28, 2013, 01:27:31 PM

Streamlined, so it flys through the air faster, with cooling ridges at the top, balanced like a cement mixer...

What were they thinking??? LOL

But, yeah, the streamline era produced some really unique looking objects :)
Title: Re: Disston Saw
Post by: HeelSpur on April 28, 2013, 04:38:18 PM
Finally found this site with the info., thanks y'all.

http://www.disstonianinstitute.com/
Title: Re: Disston Saw
Post by: Nolatoolguy on April 28, 2013, 07:12:44 PM
That al and wood handle is ausome, haven't saw one like it before.
Title: Re: Disston Saw
Post by: Branson on April 29, 2013, 08:04:54 AM
That al and wood handle is ausome, haven't saw one like it before.

They weren't made for very long -- just from 1961 to 1966.  I never saw one either.
Title: Re: Disston Saw
Post by: HeelSpur on May 05, 2013, 07:30:18 AM
Here's a #16 but don't see it at the Disston site above (or I over-looked).

(http://imageshack.us/a/img13/9341/001lfb.jpg)
Title: Re: Disston Saw
Post by: scottg on May 05, 2013, 04:41:01 PM
Eric doesn't put bread saws or butcher saws on the Disstonian site that I know of.
Maybe he will one day.

  Yours is a butcher's saw. About med weight/quality from what I can see. Disston made these in many configurations and sizes. At a guess I suspect yours is pretty late. 1940-50's maybe.
    yours Scott
   
Title: Re: Disston Saw
Post by: mikeswrenches on May 05, 2013, 06:23:40 PM
I'm pretty sure your No. 16 is a butcher's saw, also known as a meat saw.

Mike