Replies

1. 
   philip | Jul 24, 2009 11:46am | #1

   Bob,
   That is interesting: somebody bearing old planes such as a 10.1/2 with adjustable mouth dropped in the other day with a Stanley one about the same size as this- I can bring pictures tomorrow if interested and check if yours has the same features as "mine"- which also has some fiddly bits the function of which I am not clear on.He wanted it "fixed".....
   Can one hang up the saw on the up rights on this one? (To position the work piece).

   Philip Marcou
1. 
   roc | Jul 24, 2009 11:54am | #3

   Hi Philip,Looks like I am following you around in Knots. About two minutes behind by the time signature. The neighbor's barking dog woke me up so I am having a looking in . I'll go back to sleep here in a minute. Knock on wood.cheers,rocGive me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )

2. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Jul 24, 2009 01:40pm | #4

   philip,

   Can one hang up the saw on the up rights on this one? (To position the work piece).

   Not to steal your words but, that is interesting.  My old brain seems to recall just such a mechanism, but I don't know if it's from an old Langdon.  If I remember correctly there was a way to hold the blade up whilst positioning the workpiece however, releasing it was another matter.  The blade dropped on the workpiece with a thud, not in any way gracefully to be sure.

   But then agin, this could have been loose nut behind the wheel (me) complete lack of instructions as to how to operate the dang thang.  :-(

   Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

1. 
   philip | Jul 24, 2009 01:51pm | #5

   Well I will confirm which model it is tomorrow. Each upright has a spring so the saw cannot just prang into the workpiece if one is clumsy.A nice tool by anyone's standards. Maybe the guy doesn't want it, or wants to swap for A PLANE- in his dreams? Who knows.Philip Marcou

1. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Jul 24, 2009 02:21pm | #6

   philip,

   Yes of course, guess I need more time with it.

   On another note, would you have any thoughts on sharpening the saw, restoration/maintenance?

   Poking around eBay I found that 11 ppi is normal for the point count.  Also found one with a brass medalion, Disston.

   Regards,

   Bob @ Kidderville Acres

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

   Edited 7/24/2009 7:22 am ET by KiddervilleAcres

1. 
   zolton | Jul 24, 2009 04:20pm | #7

   Bob,

    I had a saw once that was similar to the one you showed in the photos. I carried it around on carpentry jobsites (before the advent of motorized chopsaws). We used it quite a bit for trimming windows and doors and the like. I guess I must have sold it somewhere along the way as I don't own it anymore.

   At any rate, for holding the saw suspended over the workpiece, mine had little toggles at the top of the round posts that held the saw's back spline. You could raise the saw to the top of the posts and the spring-loaded toggles would snap themselves onto the sawback. Then you could swivel the miter mechanism to get the angle you wanted. When it was in position you'd just have to touch the toggles in order to get them to let go of the saw.

   I seem to recall maybe holding the saw by the back spline in my left hand as my right unsnapped the toggles. That allowed me to let the saw down gently onto the work.

   In the right hands - and with a good sharpening job - these saws are capable of doing very good work. An older carpenter I worked with for several years said he preferred it to the motorized saws because it was quiet and didn't throw a bunch of dust in the air. The only drawbacks, he said, were that they worked slower, and compared to a motorized saw you couldn't shave just a hair off the end of a board. True that...

   Zolton If you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon

3. 
   derekcohen | Jul 24, 2009 07:07pm | #8

   ... dropped in the other day with a Stanley one about the same size as this.... also has some fiddly bits the function of which I am not clear on.... Can one hang up the saw on the up rights on this one? (To position the work piece).

   Hi Philip

   I suspect that you have a Stanley - not a MF Langdon - in your possession.

   Here is my Stanley #246 with Disston saw. It get frequent use.

   View Image

   Regards from Perth

   Derek

   Edited 7/24/2009 12:09 pm ET by derekcohen

1. 
   zolton | Jul 24, 2009 07:55pm | #9

   Derek,

    That saw looks identical to the one I used to own and use on carpentry jobs. You adjust the angle of the saw by pinching together the mechanism at the bottom in the front of the unit?

   Zolton If you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon

1. 
   derekcohen | Jul 24, 2009 08:13pm | #10

   Hi Zolton

   Yep. The angle lock is just as you describe.

   I use this saw in conjuction with a shooting board for accurate mitres.

   There is a bigger brother, the #358.

   Stan Faullin has PDFs on his web site of the respective manuals: http://www.tooltrip.com/tooltrip9/index.htm

   Regards from Perth

   Derek

1. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Jul 24, 2009 11:54pm | #11

   Derek,

   I encountered many bad links for the Millers Falls tools on the ToolTrip page.  I'm searching for a manual for the Langdon.  Don't have much to go on so any help would be appreciated.

   Thanks,Bob @ Kidderville Acres

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

2. 
   Tony Z | Jul 25, 2009 02:43pm | #12

   Bob,

   What does the printing say on the fence of the miter box?  I "accumulate" miter boxes but have not seen one quite like that.  As far as the saw goes, at least in rural PA, miter saws are pretty common with fairly low value.

   You may find the miter box to have some decent value, but not much for the saw, unless the saw was part of the miter box "package" and makes the tool "complete".  Remember decent value for miter boxes is not the same as value, for example, for planes!

   T.Z.

2. 
   philip | Jul 26, 2009 01:24am | #13

   Derek,
   I meant which model Stanley. The one I have is also a #246 with Diston saw.The models range from #240 to #460 with five sizes in between.The shortest saw being 20 inches , the longest being 30 inches. Prices per catalogue- $22.30 to $32.75 in 19voetsecki.
   Nice tools but why were folk using these sophisticated aids instead of sheer skill and good luck? (;)();)Philip Marcou

1. 
   Ron01960 | Jul 26, 2009 06:35am | #14

   Bob,
   Boston Craigs list had listings over the last 6-8 months. There have been several Stanley and several MF miter boxes with saws. the highest price was $50 the others were 25-30 and 40.
   They were rarely used, and they looked that way.
   A good tune up and clean up and your good to go.I hope this helps you in your assessment.Ron in Peabody

1. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Jul 26, 2009 01:55pm | #15

   Hi Ron,

   Yesterday we did some cleaning and lubricating of the saw fixture and it did improve the working(s) of the box.  It is now apparent that the sawblade itself is in need of a good sharpening.

   The more I use this I find that I may just scrap/re-deploy the electric one in its favor.  Hey, if nothing more it will solve a big headache for me - dust collection for the electric one aannnnnndddddd it's a lot quieter too.

   Regards,  Bob @ Kidderville Acres

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

2. 
   roc | Jul 24, 2009 11:48am | #2

   Noooyyyyce ! Ooohhh Veaarryyy Noooyyyyce !

   ( My attempt at a Cockney accent. I don't know why. )

   roc

   Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )