Ebay Saws Are Still the Most Inexpensive Resource

I found these saws recently, via ebay of course. They generally sell between £6-12 but they can go for more too. The one at the forefront is a split nut S&J and that was a good saw for the price I paid and it is a lovely saw comparable to the very best I have I would say. I almost felt guilty at the price. A modern day equivalent maker would be selling around £100 for such a saw.

I don't know when I will restore my last saw. I see them and wonder how they will be after I'm done. Restoring most back saws takes me less than half an hour usually, no longer. People feel less about steel backs but the only difference really is that they are a little lighter than the brass cousins. As far as cut goes you just add a little extra hand weight to the strokes and you have good saw. Most older saw handles are coated with shellac. When they become grubby, a few strokes with 0000 steel wool removes both grime and a layer of shellac. Applying another coat or two of the same shellac restores the gentle lustre needed for good protection. Steel wool and furniture polish softens the feel but is more pleasant than essential. Removing rust and surface grime requires the same operation and I use old 250-grit sandpaper for this. I've grown a dislike for the brown packing tape everyone sticks to the steel of saws and planes. You know how the sticky brown part sticks to the tool and the clear comes away. Meths works well to remove the residue from the steel. A few rubs dissolves everything and a wipe with a meths-soaked pad gives you clear steel again. Coat the surfaces of steel with furniture polish or light machine oil and then just use the saw and keep it clean from here on.