Person working on the maintenance of a circular saw.

Circular Saw Filing Program

This program is designed to equip students with comprehensive skills and knowledge for the maintenance and repair of circular saws. This program includes four progressive courses, each building on the competencies needed to master the trade. Learners will have hands on practice and demonstrate these different skills in the NTC Saw Filing Lab. This program is designed for Current Saw Filers, Saw Filer Trainees and Sawmill Managers. 

Classes:

Circle Saw Filing Level 1: Introduction to the Trade 

Circle Saw Filing Level 2: Benching Circular Saws 

Circle Saw Filing Level 3: Fitting Circular Saws

Circle Saw Filing Level 4: Maintenance and Repair of Saw Guides

Focus Areas Include: 

  • Apply trade-based formulas and terms
  • Calculate saw design including variables like feed rate and chip bite  
  • Bench saws to identify and repair deformations
  • Use stretch rolls and hammers to achieve proper flatness and tension 
  • Identify and measure the 7 angles of sharpness 
  • Set up grinders to sharpen saws and achieve proper tooth geometry
  • Apply different tipping materials to saw teeth
  • Grind and repair saw gullets, cut seats and shanks for different saw teeth
  • Proper safety and technique to pour hot babbitt into guide molds
  • Set up guide dresser and machine saw guides 
  • Inspect and measure guides for acceptable thickness

Meet the Instructor: Scott Emmert - President SawPro, Inc.

Scott posing next to a tree outdoors

Scott Emmert is a native of Western Montana, USA.  He has spent 48 years in the sawfiling trade.  He was a pioneer in the development of Vari-pitch bandsaw technology in the early nineteen nineties.  Scott spent 22 years learning the sawfiling trade and working for local sawmills both big and small. 

In 1996, he started SawPro Inc. establishing the company as a world leader in sawfiling training and troubleshooting.  Services included new sawmill startups specializing in precision alignments and saw design services that dramatically improved sawing accuracy while increasing production.

SawPro is a global company.  Scott has been involved with projects covering four continents that include the USA, Canada, Brazil, Uruguay, South Africa, Germany, France, Australia, and Russia with over 200 clientele worldwide.  His experience spans both the softwood and hardwood markets, which included some very exotic species. 

However, Scott believes the greatest blessing of his career has been the opportunity to meet and train the most amazing men and women that represent the next generation of sawfiling professionals.

Class Details

When: May 5th - May 16th, 2025

Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 

Location: NTC Wood Technology Center of Excellence | 312 Forrest Avenue Antigo, WI 54409

Cost: $2,000

Grant funding available! 

With support from the US Forest Service, Northcentral Technical College has been provided grant dollars to help offset training costs to qualified applicants. Employers within 33 states and the District of Columbia (highlighted in blue) can apply for a stipend reimbursement of costs associated with training. Stipend payments will be provided after successful completion of the four-week Band Saw Filer Certificate. The USDA Forest Service is an equal opportunity provider.