Adria Tools - Care and Use
Introduction
The Adria dovetail saw is a labor of love and
its manufacturer put a lot of care and attention into it. In our
opinion, this is the finest dovetail saw made anywhere.
This information describes proper use and care
for this saw, so it can serve you well and last for generations.
Maintenance
The blade on your saw has been protected with a
light coat of paste wax. You can remove this layer with alcohol
or paint thinner before using the saw.
Wipe the sawdust off the blade after use if you
don't intend to use the saw for a few days. Sawdust can attract
humidity and cause rusting on the blade. In addition, it is a
good idea to apply a light coat of paste wax to the blade if you
don't intend to use the saw for a longer time.
Holding the Saw
The saw handle is intended to be gripped with
three fingers: middle, ring and little finger. The index finger
rests on the handle along the brass back.
Sawing Instructions
Your saw has been precision sharpened and tested
by making straight cuts in hardwood.
It is important to understand how to properly
start the cut. The Adria dovetail saw comes very sharp and if
too much pressure is applied when starting the cut, the teeth
will dig into the wood and the saw will appear to "grab" the
wood and jump in the kerf.
The proper technique is to apply very little
downward pressure during the first few strokes, until the kerf
is established.
Put your index finger or the thumb of your other
hand next to the blade in order to stabilize it. Then start the
forward motion with the saw, which will lightly score the
surface of the wood.
Once these first few light strokes create the
kerf, more pressure can be applied and the saw will start
cutting with full speed.
It is completely unnecessary to start the kerf
with a backward motion of the saw.
When starting the cut, the blade can be under any angle relative
to the top of the stock. The standard way is to have the cutting
edge parallel to the surface of the wood. However, some people
find it easier to tilt the blade backwards and start the cut on
the edge closer to them. Then again, the maker of this saw tilts
the blade forwards and starts the cut on the edge away from him.
In other words, this is a completely personal preference.
Please keep in mind that once the cut is
started, it will not be possible to change its direction. This
is due to the smallest possible amount of set being applied to
the saw teeth, which results in thin kerf and fast cutting. With
little practice, you'll learn to aim the saw well and cut along
the intended line.
Sharpening
Your saw should require very infrequent
sharpening since the blade is made out of the best steel
available. If you're using this saw for hobby purposes, you may
need to sharpen it only once every few years.
The Adria dovetail saw is filed rip, which is a
very simple profile to sharpen. You can easily do it yourself
with a little practice.
Use 5" double extra slim taper file to file
teeth on the saw. Take two thin pieces of straight wood and
clamp them on both sides of the saw blade, so that the top of
the wood is slightly above the bottom of the gullet on the
teeth.
Take one light swipe with a file on each tooth.
All teeth can be filed from the same side. The file will leave a
small grove in the two pieces of wood if they have been
positioned properly. This small grove is a good indication of
the depth of filing. One light swipe per tooth is all that is
needed and if the swipes are consistent, you will never need to
joint your saw.
The teeth on the saw should be set so that the
total width of the kerf is 0.026" or 0.003" per side. If the set
becomes too small due to the use or filing, the teeth will need
to be set. To set the teeth, use the Somax saw-set available at
Lee Valley or an older saw-set like the Stanley 42X. In both
cases you will need to grind down the plunger on these saw-sets
because they are too wide for the small teeth on the Adria
dovetail saw.
Sharpening Services
If you're not interested in sharpening the saw
yourself, you can always send it to a qualified sharpening
service.
In United States, we recommend Cooke's
Sharpening & Grinding, Inc. Here is the contact information:
Cooke's Sharpening & Grinding, Inc.
3331 W. Market St.
York, PA 17404
Phone: (717) 793-9527
We are working on finding a good sharpening
service in Canada. For up-to date information, please visit our
web site at:
http://www.AdriaTools.com
Our Guarantee
There is no way you can possibly evaluate this
saw in the measly 30 days that some firms give you as a return
period. In fact, many firms won't allow you to return the
product at all unless it was defective. If you want to order
this saw, I insist that you do so entirely at MY RISK. That is
why it comes with a No Risk, No Hassle, 100% Unconditional One
Year MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE. What I mean is, I want you to order
without feeling you might "get taken". I am a well respected saw
maker with a reputation I plan on keeping. It's my name and my
reputation that is on the line. Therefore, I want you to order
this fantastic saw today...learn how to use it...put it into
practice and then decide if it was worth the small investment
into your woodworking skills. If for any reason you aren't
completely satisfied, simply return it in salable condition for
an immediate refund of your purchase price. You simply can't
lose!
