WoodNet Forums: Millers Falls Acme mitre box and saw ... with thanks.

For a good many years I have happily used a Stanley #346 mitre box and Disston saw. It does a good job ... so why did I want a Miilers Falls Acme? Why indeed. I suppose I was curious if all the hype was real or not.

There are few enough Stanleys in Australia. I have never seen a Millers Falls of any type. So I turned to the team on WoodNet to help out since I did not wish to risk an eBay disappointment.

Pat Zabrocki came through with a MF Acme 74A mitre box. Since I had two mitre saws at home, I did not need another, just the mitre box. However, when I later tried to fit one of them, I discovered that the 74A required a saw with a depth of 4 1/2" - 5", and the ones I had for the #346 were just 4". So I began a search for another saw.

By chance, Matt Cianci had just opened his internet doors for service. I contacted Matt, and he came up with the perfect saw - not just one that was the desired 28" long and 5" deep, but one that was from a Millers Falls Acme 74A. It has the etch and all. Plus Matt sharpened it for me!

I spent a few hours cleaning up the mitre box today. This is not a restoration, just a clean up. Perhaps one day I will remove the paint and redo that area. The box, while complete and in good condition, was grungy ... as one might expect for something that is about 80 years old and last used ...?

Here is where we started ..

Just remember, if you are going to pull something apart, get one of these magnetic trays ...

Using degreaser, steel wool, and a fine deburring wheel on the drill press, I cleaned up the steel work. Which piece do you prefer ..?

One reason for all this was aesthetic, but at the same time I want the metal to slide easily, and it needs to be polished to do so. The underside was degreased and re-oiled. All now slides or adjusts smoothly.

Here is the result ..

The saw from Matt is in excellent condition. Really excellent. All I did was remove the grunge from the wood with a little degreaser. This is not the history I seek to keep!

A little Howards wax restores the glow to the patina ..

I said it is nice, did I not ..

And the performance? I can really recommend Matt for sharpening saws ..

The mitre box is wonderfully accurate.

And so was it worthwhile? Is the Acme better than the Stanley? Absolutely yes! The Acme holds the saw more firmly, yet the saw rides more smoothly, and there is less danger of damaging teeth accidentally. What do you think?

Thanks again Pat and Matt.

Regards from Perth

Derek

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