If you have a saw that's gone dull — or that's been sitting in a basement, garage, or estate-sale haul for years — I can sharpen it and bring it back to working condition.
What's included
When you send me a saw, here's what I do depending on the state of the saw and what work you would like done to it:
- Disassemble the saw and inspect all the parts.
- Clean the saw nuts and handle, but leave as much patina and character as possible.
- Restore the wood with Kramer's Antique Improver
- Clean the plate without damaging the original etch.
- Joint the toothline so all the teeth contact the wood
- Shape the teeth so they are ready for sharpening
- Sharpen the teeth with proper rake, fleam, and set
- Polish and wax the plate to protect it going forward
- Reassemble the saw and check that the blade the straight and there no movement between the handle and blade. For backsaws, I will ensure the blade is properly seated in the back, with proper depth of cut at the heal and toe, and the back is straight (antique saw backs are often slightly bent).
- Test cut to ensure it cuts smooth and straight.
When it comes back to you, it'll cut the way it was meant to when it was new.
Advanced restoration work
I can do more advance restoration work, but my focus is on making a saw functional, not bringing it back factory original condition. Here are some of the repairs I can do:
- Handle (tote) repair
- Re-toothing or re-shaping the toothline
- Plate replacement for a back saw.
What I don't do
I keep my service focused on what I can do well. I don't currently offer:
- Restore a saw to like new condition
- Restore rare saws
- Restoring etches
- Fabricating new hardware
If your saw needs any of that, I'll be honest with you up front — and if it's beyond what I can do, I'm happy to point you toward someone who can.
How it works
- Contact me through the form below. Tell me about the saw and what you'd like done.
- I'll respond within 24 hours with my address and any questions about your saw. If photos would be helpful for me to assess what's needed, I'll ask for them in my reply.
- Ship the saw to me. I'll send packing tips along with my address if you'd like them.
- I'll do the work and test cut. Current turnaround is around a week from when the saw arrives.
- I'll send you a checkout link through benchandchisel.com when the work is done. You can pay with any of the standard payment options on the site.
- Your saw comes back to you, sharp and ready for work.
Pricing
- Sharpening - $80 per saw
- Rethoothing (including sharpening) - $95 per saw
- Saw blade replacement (back saws only; includes sharpening) - $125
- Saw blade straightening - $45 (Sometimes this works completely, sometimes a kink is permanent — I'll tell you honestly what I was able to do.)
- Handle repair
- Horn repair - $50
- Crack and chip repair - $20
The cost of return shipping and Tax (if you live in NY) will be added.
This covers everything in the "What's Included" listed above, regardless of saw type or tooth count.
Guarantee
All my work is guaranteed. If you're not happy with the result, I'll pay return shipping, fix it, and send it back at no additional cost — or I'll refund the work entirely. Whichever you prefer.
A note from my bench
A vintage saw is often a tool with a story — handed down, found in a barn, picked up at a flea market and carried home with a vague sense that it might still have something to offer. My goal is to give it back to you in a state where it can keep doing the work it was made for.
If there's a story behind your saw, send it along. It's part of what makes this work feel like more than a transaction.
— Aaron