Object number
53/179
Description
Saw wrest used by carpenters to set teeth of saws by bending them so that they lean out alternatively to the left and right. From Monmouthshire.
Saw wrests are used by carpenters to set the teeth of saws by bending them so that they lean out alternatively to the left and right of the blade. In this way the friction is reduced in sawing by producing a kerf or cut wider than the saw blade. This saw wrest has a beechwood handle, smoothed by a lathe, and the wrest itself is made of steel. It belonged to the donor's brother, who was a carpenter in Monmouthshire until his retirement in 1948. This was one of the tools he used when he began his apprenticeship in the 1890s. The handle is stamped with his name, 'John Thomas'.
Physical description
1 saw wrest: wood (beechwood); metal (steel); brass
Archival history
MERL miscellaneous note - 'The bottom of the handle is ringed with brass and projecting from it is the steel wrest itself. This consists of a flat, chisel like piece of metal, with notched rims. It has a total of fourteen slots, seven on each side of the wrest. The notches vary in size from the small for fine toothed saws at the front, to the larger and thicker at the back. This tool belonged to the donor's brother who was a carpenter and building contractor in Monmouthshire intil his retirement in 1948. This was one of the tools that he used when he began his apprenticeship in 1890's. The handle is stamped with his name ' John Thomas'.'
Production date
1875-01-01 - 1899-12-31
Production period
Late-nineteenth century
Object name
Material
Associated subject
