On Friday, we raised a celebratory toast to Matt Cianci (theSawWright.com) after sending to press “Set & File: A Practical Guide to Saw Sharpening.” (Chris had a Sierra Nevada pale ale; I had an Aperol spritz.) And though it was nine years in the making, we think it is worth the wait.
In an economy of words and many color photos (the book is 88 pages of straightforward instruction), Matt shows you the basics of saw maintenance and restoration for Western-style saws, from the necessary tools to how decide on the type of work needed, then how to properly sharpen crosscut and rip, with no mystery or hard-to-make jigs or unicorn oil. It’s much easier that you might think. Oh – and the book is funny, which was to me a delightful surprise. (Saw sharpening doesn’t seem like ripe ground for humor, but Matt is a funny guy!)
The hardcover book (and a pdf thereof ) will be available in about six weeks from us, and we hope shortly thereafter through our retailers (likely by summer for overseas retailers). It features a gray cloth cover over 98 pt. boards, #70-pound matte coated paper, and a sewn binding. Like a good saw “Set & File” is made to last. And like all Lost Art Press books, it is produced and printed entirely in the United States.
Below are a few screenshots of some of my favorite pages:
– Fitz
Seems to be interesting enough, while we wait for Andrew Lunns saw book.
I’m really looking forward to using this book.
I have a pile of old saws and a saw vise waiting in the wings. You don’t mention a price, but is there a price estimate yet?
It will be $29.
I’ve dabbled with saw sharpening but never really nailed it. This might make it possible. It seems a useful and old world skill. Without it, the disposable Japanese saw blades seem better but this may bring the old Disstons back into contention for me. Looking forward to it.
Any thoughts around offering the PDF early or pre-orders? Looking forward to the release.
I have been waiting for this and look forward to gaining some saw sharpening wisdom.
Looking forward to learning a ton from this book. Thanks for all the work put into it, Megan, Chris, and Matt!
I enjoyed the preview; the light, conversational voice was welcome, and I look forward to more. Though I gotta say, if I ever get to where retoothing a blade seems like a good option, it’s probably because the world has entirely gone to crap and I’m living in a cave, fighting off rambling gangs of thieves and worse when I’m not making do with very limited resources. Maintenance for a well-made, well-loved, and well-used saw? Sure, I can see that. But not mere resurrection, rather reincarnation of a saw abused beyond redemption? Not so much. Even in the Easter season.
I retoothed a rip saw that was big cows and small calves. It was the best thing I could have done for my skills. And it just wasn’t that difficult. The hardest part was simply getting started. Once I started, steps just fell into place.
Since then, i filed every saw I had… salvage saws from years… over 20, and a few redo saws. I’m very comfortable now with every type, but I plan to buy this book… there is much to learn!
Excellent news, excited to purchase a copy when available. I had Matt sharpen some vintage saws for me when he first started his business. Great work. This book will improve my saw sharpening most assuredly.
The Aperol spritz is an underappreciated drink, at least in the US. A perfect celebration drink, what with the bright color, effervescence and that cool, easy drinking sweet and a touch of bitter taste.
We it be available at Matt’s class in May?
Hi David…we are hoping it’s in by then
I will of course be ordering this. Excuse my faulty memory, but now that fulfillment is in-house, are you once again doing pre-orders?
I look forward to seeing Matt again, as now I can get him to autograph mine. And kudos to whoever got the photos ready for publication. I think even Matt would admit there had to have been many with a . . . glare problem.
I’m really excited for this one. I know saw sharpening isn’t rocket surgery, but there’s still an aura of mystique that surrounds it.
Yep, it’s the brain science that does that thing.
Very excited for this, I have dull saws and files ready to go and this will give me a reason to actually make a saw vise.
Will it be back by April 29th?
I’ll be in Covington that day and can save myself shipping.
Hopefully will get to meet Chris & Megan while I’m there 🙂
Unlikely. Press times are at six weeks right now.
Like @SteveT, I have a huge pile of old saws waiting for this book to break my procrastination. I can’t wait.
BTW, I also have a small stack of old Stanley levels. Does anyone know where I can find replacement spirit bulbs? Otherwise, I plan on cannibalizing some of them and using the old rosewood to make new tools.
Looks good! I need to find a saw set in Europe, Dieter Schmidt doesn’t carry them any more…
I need to sharpen my dovetail saw (I guess it doesn’t need setting. OK, I hope it doesn’t need setting).
I need this book. I’ve got several saws of my father’s old saws, his tooth set pliers (or whatever they’re called) and a need for the saws. I probably have the files too. I wish i still had my father’s book about using the steel square, as I recall there wasn’t much you couldn’t get set up or designed without it. That would be a wonderful thing to have LAP reprint.
Very excited about this! I’ve done a fair amount of research on the topic and have been collecting the tools as well as a bunch of old saws to practice on! Thanks, now I know what I’ll be doing in May!
Really looking forward to this one! I’d pre-order if that becomes available.
Looks like a great book and worthy addition to the library. These books will be treasures, especially when the world turns (fully) to shit and the internet goes down and we’ll no longer have YouTube to show us how to do things.
Congrats! This and Fitz’ DTC books are the two I’ve been anticipating for 2024. I have built a full library of the Anarchist series for the family cabin in the Smokies (in addition to my own dogeared margin written spine broken set here at home) so the rest of my family and generations ahead have some good reading. I was just there this week; returning home this afternoon; and sandwiched the full set of first edition Foxfire that my great uncle placed there 40+ years ago in which I poured through as a kid and even all ‘grow up’ when we’re there between LAP’s Best and on the other side is the second set of Mortise & Tenon magazines that I have shipped to the cabin PO Box as well. Will add “Stick Chair” and “Sharpen This” when I return this summer and will have to surely add “Set & File” as well.
I all that to say this: Hey, I can’t afford nor am I inclined to build a full sister set of all my books at the family cabin. But there are books like ATC, AWB, ADB, SC, Matt Bickford Mouldings in Practice, Galbert’s Chairmaker’s Notebook, and the full Mortise and Tenon Mag catalog that I pray come along side the Foxfire books to entertain, inspire, end maybe light a spark in a grandson, great grandson, or great nephew many years from now; just as I was. Laid out on the floor in front of the fireplace being told over and over to go to bed; that the books would still be there in the morning.
I guess I’m writing this long comment as another thank you for what all I get and give from the work that LAP has done. My son in law has also received ‘Anarchist Set’ with obligatory “Chairmaker’s Notebook”from me this year and I intend to give him Vol 1 thru V of Hayward’s for Christmas this year; Lost Art Press serves not just an important role in the craft, but you directly inspire my family and my relationships with them. Thank you Christopher and Megan, I’m grateful to you and the team!
Very lloking forward to adding this one to the shelf. Will also replace my pilfered copy of the red cover The Stick Chair. WAs most put out when that was taken.