Sally Saw (off topic)

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garry3

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Sep 11, 2012
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I figured some here would find this saw interesting. A portable power actuated rim-driven annular saw, from the 40's. The head swivels to fell or buck.

The Sally Saw: Manufactured by the Cummings Machine Works in Boston, Massachusetts, and introduced just after World War II, it was one of the first mass-produced "lightweight" power saws. Powered by a 1.5-horsepower Lauson RSC four-stroke engine, it reportedly sold for $233.50 (a fairly hefty price tag in those days). The 16-inch circular saw blade was available with different tooth configurations for different work requirements.

 
As an amateur saw filer, I can say that I’d much prefer a triangular or cant saw file to what he was using. My current favorite lately however, has been a 6” shallow half round double cut that I ground a small safe edge on each side. It’s an old Nicholson smooth, probably from the late 80s. I also have a 4” one I use for smaller teeth.

Cool machine.

Parker
 
Square_peg said:
I bet it's difficult to joint and sharpen that blade. The blade is dull. It's gumming its way through the wood.
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Ya, it was pretty bad even leaving scorched wood in the cut. I know that guy knows enough to give that blade a proper sharpening and set teeth, but maybe he was afraid to set the teeth on that old blade and I wouldn't really blame him. Pretty sure he did that saw for a museum that wanted to display it. I was surprised when the head came off and I seen the condition of the the motor, I don't think it had much use through the years, probably because of the blade. I guess that was made pre-two stroke?
 
I’m posting again to beg your forgiveness for falsifying a file description. The smooth Nicholson I mentioned is a single cut, my double cut is a Kearney & Foot. I also have a Heller double cut with some damage to the flat side.

Sad state of affairs when a fellow can’t keep track of his own files. I can only offer “old man brain slippage” as an excuse, but I’ll feel much better after getting this off my chest. My sincere apologies for any inconvenience it may have caused.

Parker
 
Square_peg said:
I bet it's difficult to joint and sharpen that blade.
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garry3 said:
I know that guy knows enough to give that blade a proper sharpening and set teeth, but maybe he was afraid to set the teeth on that old blade and I wouldn't really blame him.
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The sharpening and setting of teeth would be the easy part. It's the jointing that would be tricky. You'd have to fit a precise arbor to that saw blade. The arbor would have to have an exactly centered shaft. You'd likely need a machine shop to fabricate such a tool. Without jointing many of the teeth would be doing nothing even if properly sharpened and set.
 
Good point.

Couldn’t you bolt together an adjustable “spider” to fit inside the ring, statically or dynamically (at low rpm) spin balance it while sneaking up on concentric, and then lock the whole thing down before you run it past your fixed jointing abrasive?

Or fix it to a base, triangulate the center and make a trammel for the jointer?

Or index from the inside ring diameter with an adjustable jig?

Just throwing strands of spaghetti at the fridge door, hoping one will stick…

Lot of work for just one, lot more justifiable if you had 50 stacked up to do.

Parker
 
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