Shoutout to the old Silky saw I found in my dad's garage

I had to pick between buying a brand new Silky Zubat for $90 or using this beat up old Silky saw my dad left in his garage for years. The handle was all cracked and the blade looked rough but I figured why not try it first. I sharpened it up with a file and tested it on a big dead oak branch in my backyard. That thing cut through like butter even after sitting there for who knows how long. I ended up saving the money and using it for three jobs last month with no complaints. Has anyone else ever used an old tool that just refused to quit?

3 comments

3 Comments

phoenix_grant3415d ago

Not to be that guy, but @jenny_hall is actually right about the diamond file thing but I gotta disagree with the rest of you about whether it counts as sharpening. I've brought back a few old impulse hardened saws with a diamond file and they definitely cut better after, even if the file isn't getting the exact same edge as factory. It might not be "proper" sharpening but it makes a difference (kind of like how a quick touch-up on a knife after a hard day still helps). Plus those old Silky saws had thicker blades that hold up way better to that kind of abuse compared to the thinner, more delicate ones they make today.

the_faith15d ago

Oh man that's awesome but I gotta say you probably didn't really "sharpen" it right with just a regular file. Silky blades have those impulse hardened teeth, they're basically a special kind of edge that files can't really touch up properly. You might have just cleaned off some rust and it felt sharper cause of that. Still cool that it works though, those old school Silky saws were built different than the newer ones. I've got a 20 year old one my uncle gave me that still cuts like crazy even though the handle is held together with electrical tape.

jenny_hall15d ago

Have you tried using a diamond file on those impulse hardened teeth? I've had way better luck with that than a regular file, still not perfect but it actually takes some material off.