I store my hand saws by hanging them. (B/c this is the way my Dad did it and if I stored it in a drawer I would probably cut myself reaching for it.) This opens up the slim possibility that someone could brush agaisnt the teeth and cut themselves or more likely that the blade could get screwed up if something were to hit it or if it were to fall. Therefore I decided to make a guard to protect the blades.

Step 1: Tools & Materials Needed

You will need the following items and 15 minutes to complete this project:

Tools:
*Bench vise (or other way to secure work piece)
*Dremel or other cutting implement
*Drill and bit
*Straight edge
*Marking device

Materials
*Plastic pipe
*Wire, twine, fishing line or the like

Step 2: Mark the Pipe

Measure the length of the exposed blade. Secure the pipe in bench vise and cut to this length. Next use your straight edge to mark a straight line down the length of the pipe. Use your dremel w/ a cutting wheel (or whatever your cutting implement of choice is) to cut through the marking on the pipe. You want the cut to be just slightly wider than the blade you're trying to protect. This way the pipe will hold onto the sides of the blade, encasing the teeth.

Cut only the side you marked! Do not cut the pipe in half. Make your cut as straight as possible. The straighter your cut the easier the guard is to remove or attach.

Once you've cut the slot clean off any scrap plastic around the cut. I was fortunate in that I was able to pull the cuttings away w/ my fingers. Sturdier plastic may require filing or sanding.

Test fit the guard on the blade. It can be tricky. I usually work the guard over one end of the blade and then pivot it up to cover the rest of the blade. It may require some wiggling to get it on depending on how straight the slot is. (Boy that sounds dirty.) If it is too narrow try widening the slot.

Step 3: Storage

In order to keep track of the blade guard I added a loop of wire so I can hang it up on my saw storage loop (a.k.a. an old hand towel rack) when I'm using the saw.

To accomplish this put the pipe back in the vice with the slot facing down. Use a drill with a bit appropriate to the size of your wire to drill a hole in the pipe about a 1/2" from the end. Pass a wire through the hole and tie a couple of knots in it so that it forms a loop.

Your saw blade guard is now complete. Now put it on the blade or hang it up and use that saw!!!