Side Float Woodworking Tool – Your Guide To Perfecting Saw Totes

ByJim Boslice Woodworking Tool

A side float woodworking tool is a specialized, file-like hand tool with sharp, angled teeth designed to shave and flatten the interior surfaces of narrow slots and mortises in wood.

Its primary purpose is to create perfectly flat, parallel cheeks inside a saw handle (tote) to ensure a precise, gap-free fit for the saw blade, enhancing the tool’s stability and performance.

Ever spent hours carefully shaping a beautiful hardwood saw handle, only to find the slot for the blade is rough, uneven, and results in a wobbly, unprofessional fit? It’s a common and frustrating moment that can undermine all your hard work.

That feeling of a project being almost perfect is something every woodworker knows. But what if there was a simple hand tool designed to solve this exact problem?

In this guide, I promise to introduce you to the secret weapon of saw makers and detail-oriented woodworkers. We’ll show you how the side float woodworking tool will transform your joinery, giving you those crisp, clean, and perfectly mated surfaces you’ve been striving for. You’ll learn what a side float is, why it’s different from a file, how to use one like a pro, and how to care for it so it lasts a lifetime.

What Exactly is a Side Float Woodworking Tool?

At first glance, a side float might look like a strange, oversized file. But look closer, and you’ll see it’s a much more refined and specialized instrument. It’s a long, thin bar of hardened steel with a series of sharp teeth cut across its face.

Unlike a file, which has teeth designed to abrade or scrape material away, a side float has teeth that are cut at an angle, like tiny plane blades. This allows them to shave or shear wood fibers rather than tear them. The result is a surprisingly smooth and flat surface, even when working against the grain.

Think of it as a precision hand plane for places a plane could never reach.

Side Float vs. File or Rasp: What’s the Difference?

It’s easy to lump these tools together, but their functions are worlds apart. Understanding the distinction is key to appreciating the float’s unique role.

  • Rasp: A rasp has aggressive, individually raised teeth that tear and remove wood very quickly. It’s a shaping tool for rough work, leaving a very coarse surface that needs significant refinement.
  • File: A file has thousands of tiny cutting edges that abrade wood more slowly. It’s better for shaping metal and can be used on wood, but it tends to clog quickly and can leave a fuzzy surface as it scrapes the fibers.
  • Side Float: A side float sits in a class of its own. Its shearing action is both efficient and clean. It removes material with control and leaves a surface that often needs little to no sanding. This is the core of our side float woodworking tool guide: understanding its unique cutting action.

The Key Benefits of a Side Float Woodworking Tool in Your Shop

Integrating a side float into your toolkit isn’t just about adding another gadget; it’s about unlocking a new level of precision. The benefits become obvious the first time you use one for its intended purpose.

Unmatched Precision in Tight Spaces

The primary benefit is its ability to create perfectly flat and parallel surfaces inside a confined space. When cutting the mortise for a saw handle, you need the inner cheeks to be flawless. A side float is the only hand tool that can reliably achieve this, ensuring the saw plate sits perfectly snug without any play.

Achieving a Glass-Smooth Surface

Because the teeth shear the wood fibers, the resulting surface is incredibly clean. You can take a slot riddled with saw marks or the unevenness from a drill press and, with a few careful strokes, make it look like it was cut with a precision machine. This clean surface provides a better glue bond and a more professional look.

Perfect, Gap-Free Joinery

This is the ultimate goal. A tight, perfectly mated joint between a saw blade and its handle (or a tenon and its mortise) is stronger and more durable. For a saw, it means the tool feels solid in your hand, transferring your energy directly to the cut without any wiggle or slop. These are the kinds of details that separate good woodworking from great woodworking.

How to Use a Side Float Woodworking Tool: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to put this tool to work? Following the right process is key to getting great results. Here’s a breakdown of how to side float woodworking tool operations for a typical saw handle project.

Step 1: Prepare Your Workpiece

Start by securely clamping your workpiece, like a saw tote, in a sturdy bench vise. You want it held firmly at a comfortable working height so it doesn’t move at all while you work.

Your initial slot should be cut slightly undersized. You can do this with a handsaw, a bandsaw, or by drilling out the waste and cleaning it up with a chisel. The float is a finishing tool, not a bulk removal tool, so get as close as you can to your final lines first.

Step 2: The Proper Grip and Stance

Grip the handle of the float firmly with your dominant hand. Use your other hand to support the tip of the tool. This two-handed grip gives you maximum control over the pressure and angle of the cut.

Stand comfortably with your body aligned with the direction of your strokes. Good posture prevents fatigue and helps you make more consistent movements.

Step 3: The Floating Technique

This is where the magic happens. Here are some essential side float woodworking tool tips for the perfect technique:

  1. Let the Tool Work: Place the float against one inner cheek of the slot. Apply gentle, consistent forward pressure. You don’t need to press down hard; the sharp teeth will do the cutting.
  2. Use Long, Smooth Strokes: Use the full length of the tool in a single, continuous stroke. This helps create a flat, even surface and avoids creating dips or bumps.
  3. Lift on the Return: Like with a hand plane, a float only cuts on the push stroke. Lift the tool slightly off the surface on the return stroke to protect the sharp teeth.
  4. Work Methodically: Take a few strokes on one side of the slot, then a few on the other. This helps keep the walls parallel.

Step 4: Check Your Progress Frequently

The biggest mistake is removing too much material. Stop every few strokes and check your work. Use a small steel rule or a straightedge to check for flatness. Test fit the saw blade often. You are aiming for a snug fit that you can push into place with firm hand pressure—no hammers allowed!

Common Problems with a Side Float Woodworking Tool (And How to Avoid Them)

Even with a simple tool, a few things can go wrong. Here are some common problems with a side float woodworking tool and how to fix them.

Problem: The Tool Chatters or Bounces

If the float is skipping or vibrating as you push it, you’re likely applying too much downward pressure. Lighten your touch and focus on a smooth forward motion. Chatter can also be a sign of a dull tool that needs sharpening.

Problem: The Slot Becomes Tapered or Out of Square

This happens from inconsistent pressure or tilting the tool during the stroke. Focus on keeping the float perfectly flat against the surface you’re working. Some woodworkers even create a simple wooden guide block that clamps to the workpiece to help keep the float at a perfect 90-degree angle.

Problem: You Removed Too Much Material

Unfortunately, you can’t put wood back on. The only cure is prevention. Work slowly, check your fit constantly, and aim to “sneak up” on your layout lines. Remember the carpenter’s motto: measure twice, cut once. In this case, it’s float a little, check a lot.

Choosing and Caring for Your Tool: A Side Float Woodworking Tool Care Guide

A quality float is an investment that will last a lifetime with proper care. This focus on longevity is what makes it a truly sustainable side float woodworking tool.

What to Look for in a Quality Float

When buying a side float, look for one made from high-carbon tool steel. The teeth should be clean, sharp, and evenly cut. Reputable toolmakers who specialize in hand tools for saw making are your best bet. While they may cost more upfront, their performance and longevity are well worth it.

Best Practices for Cleaning and Storage

After each use, clean the wood dust from the teeth with a file card or a stiff brass brush. This prevents resin buildup and keeps the teeth cutting efficiently.

To prevent rust, store your float in a dry place. A light wipe with camellia oil or a paste wax can provide a protective barrier. Avoid just tossing it in a drawer with other metal tools, as clanging against them can chip or dull the delicate teeth. A dedicated slot in a tool cabinet or a simple tool roll is an excellent, eco-friendly side float woodworking tool storage solution.

Sharpening Your Float

Yes, floats can be sharpened! This is what makes them such a sustainable tool. You can carefully run a small, fine triangular file (like a saw file) down each individual gullet between the teeth to restore the cutting edge. It’s a patient process, but it brings the tool back to life, avoiding the waste of replacement.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Side Float Woodworking Tool

Can I just use a regular file instead of a side float?

You can, but the results won’t be nearly as good. A file will scrape and tear the wood fibers, leaving a fuzzy, less precise surface. It also clogs very quickly with wood dust. A float is specifically designed to shear wood for a clean, flat finish.

How do I know when my side float is dull?

A dull float will require more downward pressure to cut, may start to “skate” over the surface instead of biting in, and will produce dust instead of fine shavings. If you experience chattering, that’s another good sign it’s time for a touch-up with a file.

What is the difference between a side float and an edge float?

They are very similar tools, but a side float has teeth cut across its wide face, designed for flattening the cheeks of a slot. An edge float has teeth cut along its narrow edge, making it useful for fine-tuning the width of grooves or cleaning up the bottom of dadoes.

Final Thoughts: Elevate Your Craft with Precision

The side float woodworking tool may seem like a niche item, but for anyone serious about hand-tool woodworking, saw making, or achieving perfect joinery, it’s an invaluable asset. It embodies the spirit of the craft: using the right tool for the job to achieve a result that is both beautiful and functional.

It’s a tool that rewards patience and careful work with flawless results. The next time you’re building a saw or need to perfect a mortise, give a side float a try. That perfect, gap-free fit is one of the most satisfying feelings in woodworking.

Now get out to the workshop and make something great. Stay safe and enjoy the process!

Jim Boslice
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