The Art of Saw-Filing

Excerpt from The Art of Saw-Filing: Scientifically Treated and Explained on Philosophical Principles; With Full and Explicit Directions for Putting in Order All Kinds of Saws, From a Jeweller's Saw to a Steam Saw-Mill; Illustrated by Forty-Four Engravings It may be in reference to this circumstance that St. Paul says of the early martyrs, They were sawn asunder. The ark, the temple Of Solomon, and the ruins Of buried cities lately exhumed, would seem to have been impossible without the use Of the saw, although we know how much may be accomplished with very rude tools when time and patience are not spared. We do not find the saw used by savage na tions, as, without the tools and skill to keep it in order, it soon becomes useless. The knife and the hatchet, more barbarous Weapons, can be sharpened on a smooth stone; but sharpening a saw is a very different affair. The first saw-mill, or saw driven by power, which we have any account Of, was erected in the Island Of Madeira in 1420 the next at Breslau, in Austria, in 1432. This was fol lowed by many others all Over Europe. The saw is now an indispensable instrument, and is in more general use by all classes Of mechanics than any other tool. It is difficult to imagine how we could dis pense with it for a single day - from the burglar who cuts Off the bars Of his cell with his watch 8pring saw, to the builders Of navies and cities, and the busy mills which quickly fashion the huge monarchs Of the forest into shapes for the dwellings and conveniences of mankind. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.