Union Hill Antique Tools - Barnes Combination Saw

The Barnes combination saw combined the operation of a circular saw with that of the scroll saw, although the scroll saw attachment was an option and this saw is most often found today with this attachment missing. There was no self feed mechanism (a pressure bar - see the #4 saw description) on these machines. 3 types of combination machines have been observed.

Type 1, in 1876, had a light cast iron frame and a spring stick mechanism to return the treadle to the starting position. A small treadle was attached to a shaft, in turn connected via the famous Barnes ratchet mechanism to the spring stick and round drive belt. This type had the same leg casting as the #1 lathe, obviously an attempt to reduce the total number of castings necessary for their machine set. It was advertised as a light-cutting saw, virtually an amateur type. This type didn't have provisions for the dado head options of the later types.
Type 2, made starting in 1886, began using the flat perforated drive belt, changed to a much larger and heavier casting for the frame, and added a more substantial treadle drive. It had a 1-1/4 inch thick top, with a removable piece front to back you could slide off to allow for the dado head, if used.
Type 3, made from 1892 to 1926, changed the frame style to an even heavier casting than the Type 2 and added a side-operated hand crank. This type also began to change the dado insert design, although some Type 3's are known to have the Type 2 dado insert in the tabletop. The new dado insert design called for a board (one quarter of an inch thick) inlet into the right side of the top, which could be slid in and out to adjust the dado slots. It is impossible to tell when these dado changes occurred from catalog information alone, because catalog pictures of all three types of dado head slots appear in the same catalog.

Features of the combined saw include a 6 inch diameter saw blade and a 28 by 30 inch table. This saw offered the most options of any Barnes tool, some of which include 6 inch emery buffing wheels (for use in place of the circular saw blade), the heavy-duty mortising/boring attachment, a scroll saw attachment similar in capacity to the #7 scroll saw, a countershaft for lineshaft drive, both rip and crosscut circular saw blades of 6 inch to 8 inch diameter, dado heads, and a series of shaper and groover heads for use in place of the circular saw blade. Barnes offered these cutting heads individually as well as in 3 sets, the sets ranging in price from $5.00 to $8.00. The dado heads came in fixed sizes, unlike the stacked or wobble designs common today

The saw sold without scroll or boring attachments for $35.00, with scroll saw attachment for $40.00, and with both attachments, 2 circular saw blades, and 12 assorted scroll saw blades for $50.00. The scroll saw attachment alone went for $5.00, the boring attachment $10.00, and the countershaft drive system for $10.00. The machine with both attachments weighed approximately 275 pounds (350 pounds boxed).

Combination Saw


Home What's New Web Site Creation Want Ads Articles Search This Site Send Feedback Antique Tools Planes Rules Levels Miscellaneous Tools Books FINETOOLS List PNTC Tool Appraisals Other Sites About This Site	Barnes Combination Saw The Barnes combination saw combined the operation of a circular saw with that of the scroll saw, although the scroll saw attachment was an option and this saw is most often found today with this attachment missing. There was no self feed mechanism (a pressure bar - see the #4 saw description) on these machines. 3 types of combination machines have been observed. Type 1, in 1876, had a light cast iron frame and a spring stick mechanism to return the treadle to the starting position. A small treadle was attached to a shaft, in turn connected via the famous Barnes ratchet mechanism to the spring stick and round drive belt. This type had the same leg casting as the #1 lathe, obviously an attempt to reduce the total number of castings necessary for their machine set. It was advertised as a light-cutting saw, virtually an amateur type. This type didn't have provisions for the dado head options of the later types. Type 2, made starting in 1886, began using the flat perforated drive belt, changed to a much larger and heavier casting for the frame, and added a more substantial treadle drive. It had a 1-1/4 inch thick top, with a removable piece front to back you could slide off to allow for the dado head, if used. Type 3, made from 1892 to 1926, changed the frame style to an even heavier casting than the Type 2 and added a side-operated hand crank. This type also began to change the dado insert design, although some Type 3's are known to have the Type 2 dado insert in the tabletop. The new dado insert design called for a board (one quarter of an inch thick) inlet into the right side of the top, which could be slid in and out to adjust the dado slots. It is impossible to tell when these dado changes occurred from catalog information alone, because catalog pictures of all three types of dado head slots appear in the same catalog. Features of the combined saw include a 6 inch diameter saw blade and a 28 by 30 inch table. This saw offered the most options of any Barnes tool, some of which include 6 inch emery buffing wheels (for use in place of the circular saw blade), the heavy-duty mortising/boring attachment, a scroll saw attachment similar in capacity to the #7 scroll saw, a countershaft for lineshaft drive, both rip and crosscut circular saw blades of 6 inch to 8 inch diameter, dado heads, and a series of shaper and groover heads for use in place of the circular saw blade. Barnes offered these cutting heads individually as well as in 3 sets, the sets ranging in price from $5.00 to $8.00. The dado heads came in fixed sizes, unlike the stacked or wobble designs common today The saw sold without scroll or boring attachments for $35.00, with scroll saw attachment for $40.00, and with both attachments, 2 circular saw blades, and 12 assorted scroll saw blades for $50.00. The scroll saw attachment alone went for $5.00, the boring attachment $10.00, and the countershaft drive system for $10.00. The machine with both attachments weighed approximately 275 pounds (350 pounds boxed). Combination Saw
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