I picked up this saw for $3.00 at an estate sale a few weeks ago and I've been anxious to give it a little love. The plate was dead straight as found, so I was hopeful that it would make a good user saw. When I got it, I could just barely make out anything on the etch. The medallion just said "Warranted Superior", nothing about Disston.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrE0g86-4ebyGfeY_VihjRPw3PWUAhNdAUWWNTSZGU0LJzXf17eR6PB7VoT20Vk99zSjDa8rILTBaujFszcFz0DR2C80ihXYSutJXsbMuhtXMEdiwzqDMHjqAmPrDKN33VHadmLgWMejNL/s320/DSC01158.JPG) |
Disston Keystone K1 12" backsaw |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhslymbPIAuc_KLhDmHaN20zttoaV8XM6OWqlpz1UlmfCTNAjQ-WWujdO1Uhlzs5aoj0-6fg_fCASTNxcWp_2LfovCWHfm7cLITcUGVJCA75hb6WUQaIvz_BJV4ArDk8uHtoUAc7dhZ9shp/s320/DSC01156.JPG) |
Can't make out much of the etch |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1tOEQgs9cths6uBAwsbdYOJ4wbLdi4g-msPnKErNegaSWH8ew38RDfzhuiGxXCa0IBLs2_4lT-6tsOiFi-cu668Dycjhwbhd55qXYoaOMC-WKOlfmobdB0LOZhsV2dzc4xOVW0y8giuqz/s320/DSC01157.JPG) |
Medallion |
After turning it in the light and using lighted magnifying goggles, I could read Keystone K1, made by Disston U.S.A. I googled that to get a better idea of the etch.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhNlwCoYy8vKEb8VB48wadYmJMa4r9Wqsk6RFyonXfzsmDOXwuN2ltBFGzXsNMO-mZaienmgv_Bj6V36Nu9F7FNCN1UB8g9SXzQVD5v0p3btDJoubwou1t_EpYQFNF35ntYAWNKi3uRj5/s320/From+Jim+Bode+Site.jpg) |
Photo from Jim Bode Tools (jimbodetools.com)
A similar saw in 14" length, with good etch |
From Erik von Sneidern's "
Disstonian Institute" website, I read that the Keystone line of saws was aimed at "lower end" buyers - homeowners and hobbyists. But the quality was reasonably good so as not to sully the Disston name.
The first thing I did was disassemble the saw and clean up the handle.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFeOeLvD-WFS2Sr555RIBZizPObApCKW1m8r9UFWn5ZK2g1y-bTg0SgAz7RoWd9kbbUVQuiD-Q7s7tbR3ioKctt0etj9BvOLZbY4RHsugVlZ8thIOnKgLN0_RJ42Jq2-bLrm_uv7MV731/s320/DSC01159.JPG) |
Did not take the back off the saw plate |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQSQQGagyWZjwiN2N8s1zuaUSCofVumJ2tbl0InDag9xtrV1N2BkU8dFtS0bO1JoW4XfUJo0B_lPaeIpXC_s3nbiuWiHT1fijSygcnAqzHgF0T2Snr6oqPaf53c6yHcdhjZ5xxWThQQft/s320/DSC01161.JPG) |
Scraping to remove old finish |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBS7C55_O9Xx3cTYIdh_zKPIDB1Uv5B1pigpYMB5r-9en5h_Hchq2pYyNKblJ6pqoB8z7jY9niBB9llYwp2epCFiSP9u2P51kThMWaAvnGQVhmt9vPbqpscQaa5PBo8tgRNcjWFFNkjLYx/s320/DSC01163.JPG) |
Quartersawn beech handle |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWLFhz7Fqdqz2MQDXDy7Kdn_sytYik37sl_do8g3sNRK4ikkZOrSnjr-dm3glaL4MXXoClbOJVGjak9Qk7-HfGLZy4S4ozV7tXdu-S4iUrOgwNSR1rs8TlvTut65EB5fkcd1SMGtxaNKLk/s320/DSC01164.JPG) |
Scraped, filed and sanded |
Over three days, I gave the handle three coats of BLO. I just love the feel that it gives.
The saw plate wasn't in bad shape - no major rust or pitting anywhere - just years of crud and I worked on that with sandpaper, mostly 220 and 320 grits.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh66IswtmG0rn4TS10kf0EadTYU0Jud-AaYDeddGTLVzCgskQU-xdDrhsALS54Z2A-Eta1CLqU37YSgsbT9wFEVV39dAA-weR0cnALekkxiXMKIO_voYf7XQ-XzJAsehmiermua7T6fdaij/s320/DSC01165.JPG) |
Right side of the plate shows how dirty it was in comparison to the part embedded in the handle |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgx-L5bYIhRyglkTe20kyVlmvhcsamc2i-t1W1TMO0nyBWvExWfidp8-zbh0BPCi5Ds_02K75kg-6S25y0r_8mdkhiJcGJCP8qfR4iZ6GUTjRdEl0Cff0Hl8QYhhyphenhyphenawrXpOtFTbZ2n-8_5/s320/DSC01166.JPG) |
Outlined the etch so that I wouldn't destroy it by sanding.
I destroyed an etch via sanding once before and was extremely disappointed - never again! |
I did go lightly over the etch area with sandpaper wrapped around a flat piece of wood and that helped. It's not perfect, but I'm happy how it turned out. I can read the etch easily.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpo7pXIXxf-fx3f7oMKCuChifjIsF1ZZu28BewtUT00o5PbhKqVT-4r2wh_PF_1S0RDaV95jt-pguBb8gZUcinTrC2lbQ8L-kwbEr9GzAx6VcIP3XniD59HxXpIrgc8wvf9ccQWQkFUw0X/s320/DSC01170.JPG) |
Plate finished |
I used a wire wheel in the drill to work on the saw bolts and medallion. Two of the three screws needed a little filing at the rim of the driver slot.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSL6PB6oYbsmrNr1_29NRJxAiQ6ohFZfmylRtSJsaVnfMIF4cbbybMqvQ3LIKlipsbRfL90nbpFouMe33xMRGqp-vEaelWJmjsQKHmnJTMMpY0H1cwlm-5wvnwYdwjqm5Nx4wIcT_0QzT/s320/DSC01172.JPG) |
Medallion cleaned up a little, others as found |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHP1Y8LUaMvHFpq20Y3IbRvh9x0HxyV0b8GwOwW0iFcjBkDdIyFwE7JwpXH3od-VS4V2oYHmtveQ-F8woxGcHCzOc0mQkwevjL8wqdOmtiezZ-cTInwgzFcCLL91CIlkzFdtRXrA_lUJI1/s320/DSC01190.JPG) |
After clean-up |
Now it was decision time. As found, the saw had 12 tpi and it was tough to tell, but it was filed cross-cut. I already have a 12 tpi x-c saw, so I thought about filing off the teeth and changing the saw's configuration. The saw plate is 0.030-0.031" thick, whereas my other x-c saw is 0.026" thick. I like the thinner plate, but I like the handle on this new saw much better. I decided to keep the 12 tpi x-c config. I'll show the two saws together later.
The funny thing about the teeth was that they weren't exactly 12 tpi - there was some drift over the length of the toothline.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrSFIF79eN2dVwvB88Wg-EVIt2Oo5hAuQyj-7mc3FY8pF3P4eqk2u-96MdqX1l5gdh-FknjftlZ-y1fcVyDEU3WnfUnBgAYe6B3y4zUJy97ux_2LXOMOIWUBtoOigM_bT8OGtQre62Iwnw/s320/DSC01173.JPG) |
Tooth peaks line up with a 12 tpi template at left, drifting away from the lines at right |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCpaTy1yyPn2NtXBoNqTGb7NLqJXSwqRRtS99Bnm1bPBG4mX8iB0-AfaJyj5QjQI-mOta-MMOjlCRt5AXTxFjvDN1mjjpPKrhGhB9QPuadB7POfyE-0hpGMBLe1B3IC-wF3v6aADoteFD/s320/DSC01175.JPG) |
The teeth were not too badly shaped, but definitely not all even |
I've only sharpened my cross-cut saws about a half dozen times and have a fair amount of room for improvement. So I took this slowly.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvvEaiv4G2J6OchKne1NMMzcJ6sqvEvQkBLmKq6QxlDA3g7BcTVRKyhWfYSN4AR-1X470u1wJmRzFmkPqks0y2b_b948r3CLQiTugZ1OYcfrTj2-woYBy5PbTByQCz3OMbqH4uQ4HanKK3/s320/DSC01176.JPG) |
Jointing the teeth - had to file a lot as some teeth were quite a bit lower than others |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4MyK_82ic03h8UWL7G2OfqA5UcDWRZRcYcAr-CmN6AZ90wJ_yZzwekD4mAzPqaY6iTGo4WIAR1nvGorFCE2qLfnzE5ovNYkObViZv7KZQBsjxkTFOECE9Qgy_2Jqeux4tQYAYlpBnSsvH/s320/DSC01178.JPG) |
Tops jointed - note how some teeth were barely touched |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFnjnArhz4H2yd1Iw6hNdW4Bi_GXXl55bXQ17RLon5Zpp_w92x3Z2sm6NdMfS4ZOEDlzW2RiBuqLMbBowujz6Ad0efVN2nY7DvTIVOQSJr0UCPUdk_YfHtpMUqbrm-AYX4y0GIaLMFVpTa/s320/DSC01181.JPG) |
Started the sharpening by filing straight across to make the teeth uniform.
Left half of teeth in this photo are done - aiming to make the gullets line up with the template marks |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0od76hVDuaaX1oCVYXs9vT8Ri1Lg1AkuaKz4tvqdirhGjRCCtc3SbzMDgZSiCVM12x5vXCti2tkwaSlad44X46O7AphGxB9C_yAhAZPrQXrFFQvbOM-VL1ALscEbcIZ4yxqnUV6XOVZd9/s320/DSC01184.JPG) |
Used a brand new Bahco file that lost its teeth on one corner very quickly (see upper edge),
but that could have been due to my technique - or not! The same file got me through the sharpening. |
Because the teeth had "moved" from their original 12 tpi position and were not exactly lined up with the template marks, I filed aggressively to move some teeth to where they should be.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTmnu9C_KZAKUpF9rW8T97gcnFfRZa-Y97Ej1yQFz8E4bXsUvSbbtVYHXLwclUOlaD_yLvpOwxDzT9pkxbjgWR1N-tV6Su-IAPLrwg2EvacofXyLqdZdjNnP5inNWzkoihnrV10qHYObP/s320/DSC01185.JPG) |
After filing straight across, I jointed again and found where to file further.
It took three jointings and filings to get to where I was happy with the location and shape of the teeth. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF64kwWrjnxXCCsR8zUWG9B28DsvTQkuolRFQAwQ2hLjX7zDJuu9dr-zG4GLCtCvCdv8TaDg4ptU1FKF8nsB9W7zJXlGJWlXX-uIHLKlJBDyZX-W7znhdtcJVszWpe4Qt4rWEyIg9Oyp19/s320/DSC01187.JPG) |
The teeth were fairly even, though not yet filed for cross-cut |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEUOex6iFwd-OCymosYjaaROKirtGrSvFoS7yH_HqGjKvyQ3BCA6cQ3b5kKo-_ueoaoROr0ZTGR1D2S7YvX4nrwvXbOL41f2n_TJ8Z8mWka0VPjxPY4NqBv3d8Jn_mGIh_NC9sihw_ols/s320/DSC01189.JPG) |
Next added a little set to the teeth |
After applying some set, I filed cross-cut with 14° rake and 20° fleam (my standard). I filed carefully, so as not to remove the entire flat spots on the tops of the teeths after filing from both sides. I rejointed a couple times, trying not to end up with "cows and calves" - small and large teeth.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaebvJNecJtMyf_3PkIqoVgwzokYwGR4uwd4YH6El2mZoMJKfpcUcIHgEwJoDKTuEENO01isx9sCX5vK9kPwqoUsRknRIKN1EkxH89cZ8wuVGkfoMI8Ii5ZTsVuP5H-yHgvDqkeUfR6Yt/s320/DSC01191.JPG) |
Not too shabby, but still far from perfect |
For the set, I was aiming for about 0.037" total set, but as always I got more set than I wanted - and it wasn't consistent either. I first lightly hammered back the set, using a larger hammer in the vise as an anvil. Then I "stoned" the teeth on both sides with a diamond plate to get the set more even along the whole saw.
OK, just for picture comparison, here is the pre-rehab picture:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghSzcsZ8eAZR08auBs-3r7GsRhP3jeCUx3CdcHjAegazYBPzOj98OLQImxVVa_XYqJ8FYXSJgi1ViVZ8yBkeeCz_92ERYPaj5GGU9Xk2uuHOhRKYiPzsP0DjSLjujJA7z_pOAPHIiX0y8F/s320/DSC01158.JPG) |
As found |
And here she is, all gussied up. The plate looks pretty good. And a couple of test cuts convinced me that I did OK on the sharpening.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipESzsDsdnoq5gmidnF8i1Hj1rF_ORAlla6TiY1WOc6wfGUbpcEugi1X_dIhupWxNB1RlYujeD08_wyH2mhiwpMR28GiOMZcqsJSBJjFloOzQ_US4ZwdxTeGT33Fznt9siw0Wr8G8tMp6a/s320/DSC01192.JPG) |
Glamour shot |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ldE_2Zi86CKwZVNqR0eY0hYXoJsJLQerKo2RfELE-n3fmEfnh-a-gpt0GOGlCxDlZainDiifa6Zot1_43At0DtImokbENK91uuCh5FLM-qrJ9K7Az0tYKoV9fyEBauHv2q42vlY80twk/s320/DSC01196.JPG) |
Starboard side |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgik0KqBquM94YeIu6136AlTkXbDQMwGc0Bl5Uo51ya85hY3F-rhVJ4mSUtLS1cGo8ZTKQXC5QXSWW5S3j99gf8hrr5yjRfX0X_1cQ8T-zEbXbMcoTUYrxG0s8SaiPZyyNonSrq3BaphAmZ/s320/DSC01194.JPG) |
Handle closeup |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcphgNsa4RoIpHJ2D11b4m3tWxgiJ3jmAAHCgpG3T0jN-Hu-rXAh4B9bgLdfRM1hufV82Iwg3y1gWKUodLFJRIOO5Zy8YnJoaUGCnCy5Z1vIpTenMul_4uUaNaO2HpAABJFphbe_h1njgC/s320/DSC01195.JPG) |
Ditto |
And for comparison, here it is with my Spear and Jackson 12" cross-cut backsaw (with a butt-ugly handle).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXrqKMckUKHt1w3nnMYidrESWZkeiMdy9zsjvt8O22NF5ZpbpA0ReM-CFHL0wAznq85fsILS8_LQvGQ7Ts4X-8Ujn2kQVk4bmCvWJcmKNMOXYFHJOSLBLffl4a8Oq5eB5i972RkX7j1Nyx/s320/DSC01198.JPG) |
I like the Keystone's handle much better.
Both perform about the same. |
Now I just need to find a spot for it - might need to move a few things around on the rolling cabinet that I use as a saw till.
UPDATE: I've now used the saw a number of times and find that it doesn't seem to cut as easily as the S&J. I'm guessing that's because it cuts a slightly wider kerf. Perhaps I'll use the S&J for joinery work and the Keystone for rougher work.