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Post by Pat on Mar 3, 2013 14:56:15 GMT -5
What is it and what is it for? Why did I buy it? Curious and maybe I could find a use for it other than as a paperweight.  Information I've gleaned from it and the web: Size is about 6" high by 6" wide. When the handle is squeezed, the small top part touches the bigger disk on the left. The small knob on the left turns, but actually only moves the disk about 2mm then returns to position even though I keep on turning the knob the same way. The knob on the bottom part turns and advances the the screw to the left so it can touch the disk. interesting. Google Images doesn't recognize it. Wikipedia says there was an E.C. Stearns & Company with other of the same information as is on the label. They dealt in hardware and bicycles in the 1800s. There is residue, but I don't know what it is. Got it today at an estate sale for $3.00. Curious. What's it really worth? Thanks, Pat |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2013 15:33:14 GMT -5
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Charles
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2012
Posts: 161 
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Post by Charles on Mar 3, 2013 15:55:45 GMT -5
I agree with azrockgeek. Looks like a leather punch. The only other thing I could think of would be an old rivet gun.
Charles
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itsandbits
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2012
Posts: 825
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Post by itsandbits on Mar 3, 2013 16:01:34 GMT -5
if you'll notice it has a beveled edge that transitions all the way around to a different angle that the punch pushes against when you squeeze it. this is to set saw teeth in your hand saw and in spite of being an old tool, is still in use today.
The nickel plated knob is for adjusting the bevel into the right position for the varied TPI sets of different blades. The one that you describe is for the different thicknesses of blade so they are held fairly securely but loosely but the teeth can be moved along
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Post by jakesrocks on Mar 3, 2013 16:07:05 GMT -5
Yup, for setting saw teeth. I see them at farm sales around here from time to time.
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Post by Pat on Mar 3, 2013 16:11:50 GMT -5
Yes, it does look like Vintage E C Stearns & Co Hand Saw Set Blade Kerf Setter Clamp (ebay), but what has that got to do with leather?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2013 16:30:13 GMT -5
I don't quite follow how it sets the saw tooth. Does it put the slight angle on the tooth of a saw blade?
Thanks,
Tim
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Post by Pat on Mar 3, 2013 16:33:23 GMT -5
 Wow! You guys are wonderful! I'm going to have to test it out and see how it works. I know what a saw blade and kerf are, but don't see what this does other than hang onto/ clamp something on its very edge. Thanks!
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Post by Peruano on Mar 3, 2013 17:54:08 GMT -5
A saw only works if it has the ability to create a wider groove than the blade itself. Ditto your rock saw. Thus in metal blades, one way of sharpening them was to splay (bend) the teeth to one side or the other (every other tooth I guess) to make it cut a wider groove. Diamond lapidary blades do the same thing because the diamond edge is always wider than the core disk that constitutes the bulk of the blade. Indeed some advice can be found here that suggests how to renew your diamond blade by dinging the blade (near but not on the diamonds) with a ball peen hammer to create more width in the periphery. Interesting tool, I knew they existed but had never seen one. Tom
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Post by mohs on Mar 3, 2013 19:07:04 GMT -5
welll that mystery was solved quite sharply! i made a living using that tool and many other grinding & filing type equiptment I liked to brag that you could slide a needle down the V of a handsaw sharpenE  |
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itsandbits
freely admits to licking rocks
Member since March 2012
Posts: 825
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Post by itsandbits on Mar 3, 2013 19:31:08 GMT -5
I still like to use hand tools when I can; not too much work like ripping or building a house.
The teeth are set to each side to create a kerf as mentioned and the finer the teeth the narrower the kerf; hence the varying angle on the peice you turn; the anvil if you like. The saw is put in the saw vice; I still have one of those too, and this tool is lowered down on the teeth and every second one is set and the blade turned and the others set to the other side. The teeth are then cut at an angle with a file back and forth too so they rip through the wood cleanly and the saw doesn't bind.
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Post by mohs on Mar 3, 2013 20:53:56 GMT -5
This an automatic filer for handsaws it really is a marvelous machine  and of course they do make an automated hand saw setter |
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Post by mohs on Mar 3, 2013 20:56:11 GMT -5
I used to be able to sharpen 4 to 5 handsaws in an hour
at about 5 bucks a piece it was O/K money
mohs
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jamesp
Cave Dweller 
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,611
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Post by jamesp on Mar 3, 2013 21:40:45 GMT -5
That machine is real nice Ed.A saw was used for so much in the day.I built a cabin in Florida mostly with a hand saw and could wear out some lumber with a sharp one.My wife's family had carpenters 3 generations back and her daddy always talked about how many uses they had and the many tricks you can do w/one.
Those guys sharpened there saws by hand and also bragged about sliding a needle between the teeth.The hand saw was a large part of our heritage.
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Post by jakesrocks on Mar 3, 2013 21:51:33 GMT -5
If you knew how to play one, they made interesting music too.
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,611
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Post by jamesp on Mar 3, 2013 22:25:57 GMT -5
I think older houses were built with much more variety of angles and material sizes since a hand saw needed no adjustments and was light weight.Inviting the carpenter to change things up.
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Post by mohs on Mar 3, 2013 23:25:45 GMT -5
I'm sure some of lots you guys
remember the Foley-Belsaw ads
in Popular Mechanic ?
A company out of Kansas that made saw grinding machinery
and sold exclusively to the private individual
who wanted to start their own shop.
I did lots of business with them
Lots of that machinery is in storage yards
or old garages just collecting dust
A person at the Yard
--who buys out machine shops in Phoenix--
had the Foley handsaw re-toother,
setter, and automatic filer in stock
He had no idea what the machinery really was Ha Ha
I gave him the low down
He offered it to me for a walk away price
but honestly he'd have to pay me to take it
It still sit in the Yard
unwanted and unknown
mohstly
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,611
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Post by jamesp on Mar 4, 2013 6:18:59 GMT -5
Hand saws are throw aways these days.Once they are dull,they are trash..The old hardware store had a contact who sharpened saws.I am sure he used that equipment Ed.Even the store is gone now.
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Post by mohs on Mar 4, 2013 12:14:59 GMT -5
you are right James old sharpening shops are gone giving way to disposable blades  long live the miter |
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jamesp
Cave Dweller
Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,611
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Post by jamesp on Mar 4, 2013 12:46:11 GMT -5
Remember how pretty the saw was made.And a carpenter was alwys with an eye on his saw.You must be trustworthy Ed for those guys to let you work on there saw!The inlaws passed the miter to me.It is very sexy.
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Wow! You guys are wonderful! 
