I've recently purchased a pair of Disston rip and crosscut saws from a reputable site, and I absolutely love them. My question is about the concept of 'jointing' saw teeth to maintain a uniform flat edge. While I don't necessarily need to joint my saws, I've noticed that the teeth on my crosscut saw don't line up perfectly flat; rather, they have a slight curve or 'belly' in the middle. This seems to create a continuous shape without any broken or uneven teeth, and although it's not an issue for performance, I'm curious if this is a common occurrence. In fact, I think this slight belly might even enhance the saw's cutting ability slightly in the middle during a stroke. I'd love to hear what others think about this. Unfortunately, I don't have a photo to share at the moment.
3 Answers
Definitely check the type of curve you have. If the belly looks convex when you hold the saw with the teeth facing down, you're good to go! But if it’s concave, it might be time for some maintenance. Regular sharpening should keep those teeth aligned well enough without needing heavy jointing.
It sounds like you're describing a convex belly, which is called breasting and can be a good feature. However, if the curve is concave—like a frown—you might want to consider jointing the saw. Historically, saw teeth weren’t jointed regularly, as proper sharpening would keep them nearly even. So, as long as the belly is convex, you should be fine! Just keep an eye on it.
What you're seeing is called 'breasting,' and it's actually preferable to a perfectly straight tooth line! While the difference might seem minimal, having a slight curve helps prevent too many teeth from biting into a workpiece all at once. This way, the initial engagement of the teeth creates a cleaner cut without the saw just dragging across a flat surface. It's especially beneficial for wider cuts where you'd want the teeth to engage variably throughout the stroke.