Typographical Trimming Saw

This summertime, I obtained a typographical trimming saw (Sawliner Milwaukee Saw trimmer Corp.) at an auction at our old tool group meetup. I have not been able to find much details on the saw. It was utilized in publishing, I'm presuming, for making small cuts on books and paper. I would like to utilize it for cutting little parts out of wood as it has a good fence system for making cross cuts and making square pieces. Upon bringing it back to the store, I cleaned it up and I bought a brand-new blade for it. However, the blade that came did not cut very well and I was rather dissatisfied with it. I have actually returned to the blade that featured a saw which works better. I also purchased and put together a mobile base for the saw so I can move it around to various areas in the shop.

In the cabinet of the saw are a series of cubbies. I believed it would be great to make some to suit these areas. I made these out of pine wood I'm trying to use up. The drawer bottoms are from a scrap piece of 1/4 inch plywood and the manages are from a scrap piece of walnut wood.

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0:00 (introduction).
1:45 (brand-new blade).
2:43 (mobile base).
4:54 (blade guard).
6:47 (drawers).
12:38 (name plate).
15:06 (conclusion).

Typographical Trimming Saw

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47 Comments

  1. Given that the holes in the case seem to line up perfectly with the motor and pulley, I am thinking there may have been an optional accessory to run off the motor, and/or a provision to run the machine off of a line shaft.

    1. Or hook up a shop vac……. Probably not the original intention because there were no shop vacs back then. 😄

    2. It was probably for an accessory. I have a printer’s saw that has provisions for a blade sharpening accessory that attaches to the motor.

  2. That’s a really neat tool to have. Can you use that other hole in the side of the cabinet for dust collection?
    Bill

  3. Frank we have always been kindred spirits: you summed it up perfectly when you said you would spend your time making things more creative than the things you can buy

  4. At first I thought it would have looked good re-painted, but by the end of the video the patina is really part of what makes it special!

  5. 13:08
    I think thats for dusk collection.
    If your dustcollection is on the left or on the right side of your trimming saw.
    The cover is for the hole you dont need.

    1. I don’t think so.
      Because that hole is right next to the motor.
      A hole for dust collection would be by the blade (just where the dust bin is)

    2. Being a typesetter saw, it will have sawn lead slugs of inverse text. So, the “dust” would have fallen mostly straight down to the bin.

  6. Is it possible the name plate was lifted away from the side of the machine by spacers that allowed airflow? The screws seem long enough to allow room for that additional accessory. Combined with a vent on the opposite side, there would be some ventilation for the motor.

  7. Frank, if its feasible I’m sure we would all enjoy the video that is you rearranging and discussing the why of your shop!

  8. Beautiful work, Frank! 😃
    Really amazing looking little tool! I loved it!
    Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

  9. That type of saw was typically used for lead type for printing presses. It may have residual lead dust in the cabinet.

  10. 14:53 You need a rubber gasket around that power cord that will rub against the metal (saw that in a picture of a similar C&G Sawliner).

  11. Looks like a nice little saw to have in the shop Frank. As far as that blade guard repair, I would use some thin Aluminum and cut it to fit over the outside surface of that repaired seam. Then just epoxy it over the seam. You could even use a few small screws to hold it in place as well. Or if you had access to a welder, just weld the outside of the seam. 👍👍

  12. Hi Frank, I really appreciate you going through the effort in finding something with good content. Appreciate your efforts in filming.😊

  13. That’s a very interested saw, Frank. Thanks for sharing it and going into all the details too. I used to work in an architectural millwork shop that had loads of large saws, but also kept my Shopsmith near my bench and found that I used it for all my intricate work, just like I’m sure you’ll find this saw handy for. Very cool stuff. Scott

  14. Nice video. It’s a great find and beautiful cabinet. However, if the repair fails, the guard could fall on the blade. It looks like you could scab on a piece on top of the guard… even if it’s glued on, it’ll be an improvement over the butt joint. JB Weld is fine but I’d consider Black Max.

  15. It’s great to see that saw cleaned up and restored by you, Frank. It’s always good to see tools have a new lease on life.

  16. These saws were used by me to cut lead rules, lead spacers and trim half-tone photographic plates. Type was very rarely if ever cut on these. The only time I cut type on this was when I cut 2 Monotype S characters in half to insert a rule to make a dollar sign. It was extremely dangerous, I remember it well. The font didn’t come with one in England and luckily we only needed one to do the job.😁 the groove in the bed is where the clamp went to secure the stock in place. If you look up funditor saw you will see many examples.

  17. Hi Frank, I watched the whole series on building your shop. At the time, I thought it was massive. Each time you bring in a new piece of equipment, I realise that no matter how big you built it, there would always be more things to add than there would be room.

    1. @frank howarth Hi Frank, it has been nine years since you built your shop. I think it would be a great idea to do a new shop tour, specifically, I would love to hear what you feel you got right, what you wish you would have done differently, and where you see things changing in the future. You have what many of us think would be a dream shop, but watching the building-of videos, it is clear that things like the CNC machine were not on your radar when you built the shop. Dreams have a tendency to evolve over time, and things like the one foot wide electrical power strip help “future proof” the shop. Do you wish you had put more things like underground conduit for electrical in the center of the shop?

  18. Awesome work Frank! I really enjoyed this video, your take on things, and the way you go about a task is always inspirational! And is always outside the box, well done!! Until next time, take care.

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