Perhaps drill out the bolt holes first then use them to bolt the curved object to a flat board whilst you work it.

I am just about to start making a handle for the same saw I just received a few weeks ago. Interested in seeing your experience

I enjoy making hand canes, and have made a couple with handles traced and adapted from an 1880-ish open-handled back saw. In short, I basically am doing everything that you're doing here. I use a variation of this technique (kzread.info/dash/bejne/pnmdqdWPetSvm7Q.htmlsi=bU0NsRRBD_BwvQuN&t=252) to hold my handles for filing and shaping. I'll often clamp my workpiece in a handscrew which is then held in a larger handscrew that is clamped in my vise just like James does in this example. As an added bonus, that frees up both hands to hold the files and rasps, offering far superior tool control.

As soon as you saw the tote out hang the back and plate. Don't spend any time shaping. Because things can go south hanging. You're better off when it's all square hanging anyways. Make sure you get that back and plate aligned. Then if the hanging goes well shape. If not you have some firewood. My favorite tool for shaping is a rotary rasp. But hang as your earliest opportunity. Otherwise you risk throwing a lot of work away. Get that hanging behind you.

@NotanExpert-Woodworking

3 ай бұрын

On the 2nd try I did it your way. Better. Video soon. Thanks.

@1pcfred

3 ай бұрын

@@NotanExpert-Woodworking it looked to me like you had it until you had that blow out. I've never seen that one saw technique. If I remember it I'll try that myself. It looked like you got a straight hang to me. But yeah until you have that plate and spine in the tote there's no point in spending any time shaping. Drill, rough, hang. I use a rotary rasp to rough the shape. By hand that's a lot of rasping. A rotary rasp bit in a pneumatic die grinder works like magic. The conical bit is the one to use. It does it all.

@NotanExpert-Woodworking

3 ай бұрын

@@1pcfred I found that technique here thousandoakstoolworks.com/custom-saws-and-kits/. Pretty clever.

@1pcfred

3 ай бұрын

@@NotanExpert-Woodworking it is. I just lay out a line and cut on it. But any technique that improves accuracy is a win.

It's too bad the wood split on you, it was looking quite nice.

@1pcfred

3 ай бұрын

That's the inherent challenge of wood. Being a natural material it's variable. Which is both good and bad. I was seeing some nice grain pattern in the piece. It'd have been a looker.

How do you open the spine to get the saw plate seated?

@NotanExpert-Woodworking

3 ай бұрын

The spine has a slot cut in it. It's not very tight. The maker suggests squeezing it or using epoxy.