Chestnut Posted November 17, 2020 Report Share Posted November 17, 2020 I had a cheap hardware store coping saw and I enjoyed it. It recently broke so i bought a random cheap saw off of amazon and I hate the thing. I'm tempted to buy one of those Knew concept saws. Does any one have one of their saws and care to chime in with their opinion on it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkinneb Posted November 17, 2020 Report Share Posted November 17, 2020 2 hours ago, Chestnut said: I had a cheap hardware store coping saw and I enjoyed it. It recently broke so i bought a random cheap saw off of amazon and I hate the thing. I'm tempted to buy one of those Knew concept saws. Does any one have one of their saws and care to chime in with their opinion on it? Yes I have the fret saw and love it. I did change the handle to a bigger one for my hand but other than that it was great out of the box. FWIW I also have a Rob Cosman fret saw for sale $20 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davewyo Posted November 17, 2020 Report Share Posted November 17, 2020 Yeah, I like mine pretty well too. It's a luxury when you're living on a budget like mine, but it was a gift and I love it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted November 17, 2020 Report Share Posted November 17, 2020 I have one, but after decades of using regular Coping, and Jeweler's saws, I can't get really excited about it. I can't say that I do any better work with it, or that it makes it easier to do good work. If it could keep the blade that tight, without all the extra size of the frame, I'd like it a lot better. I ordered one off of Amazon, and it didn't have the rotating feature. I hadn't looked closely, but I don't think I've ever used one with the blade straight in line with the frame, so I sent that one back. One showed up on another woodworking forums Classified section, so I bought that one. I could have easily done without it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortan D Posted November 17, 2020 Report Share Posted November 17, 2020 I want that saw too. I use a jewelers saw but the blade doesn't swivel. Make sure you order the right saw, check this thread: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted November 17, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2020 I figured out the problem with the saw i got off of amazon. The frame really isn't stiff enough to tension the blade. When trying to make a cut the blade keep buckling and binding. I know it's not necessary but having the quick release feature is appealing. There have been a few times i've wanted to cut inside shapes out but found another way because it was too much of a pain to remove the blade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted November 17, 2020 Report Share Posted November 17, 2020 Never having handled the Knew Concepts saw, can someone please explain its advantage over a standard coping saw? I see the frame structure should be stiffer, but I've always used coping saws in a pull-cut setup, so it really shouldn't matter. Should it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robby W Posted November 17, 2020 Report Share Posted November 17, 2020 I have the coping saw. After years of not enough tension in the thin back saws, the KC saw.is a revelation. The back is a bit heavier and does take a bit of getting used to, but.much nicer. I am going to get the feet saw when I have the spare cash. You do need to check their website first to make sure you get the version you need. There is a mark III and a mark IV. Swiveling is one of the major differences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derekcohen Posted November 17, 2020 Report Share Posted November 17, 2020 1 hour ago, wtnhighlander said: Never having handled the Knew Concepts saw, can someone please explain its advantage over a standard coping saw? I see the frame structure should be stiffer, but I've always used coping saws in a pull-cut setup, so it really shouldn't matter. Should it? Here is a link to my original review, with history: http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ToolReviews/KnewConceptsFretsaw.html Briefly, I helped develop this fretsaw for woodworkers, and have experience with all the variations since day dot. Regards from Perth Derek 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortan D Posted November 18, 2020 Report Share Posted November 18, 2020 What size is recommended for dovetails? 3 or 5 inches? I'm asking about the fret saw with swivel blade clamps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derekcohen Posted November 18, 2020 Report Share Posted November 18, 2020 For dovetails, a fretsaw with a swivelling blade need only have a depth of 3". Rarely are dovetails deeper than 3/4". 3" saw ... 5" saw ... Photos sent by Lee Marshall (designer of the KC fretsaw). Regards from Perth Derek 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted November 18, 2020 Report Share Posted November 18, 2020 Has anyone tried the twisted-blade technique with a coping saw? I can't recall if it was Paul Sellers or Roy Underhill, but one of them has a video demonstrating this. The blade was 'kinked' to form a permanent twist in the middle, so the front half cut downward. At the corner, the stroke was forced through the kink to the rear half, which cut sideways, no rotation of the saw needed. I believe the saw was set to cut on the push stroke. I am not sure how durable the blade would be in this arrangement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted November 18, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2020 I'm not sure about that, but i was curious about the spiral blades that Lee Valley sells that will cut in any direction. I wasn't sure if those were something that worked well or not. I opted to just buy some regular blades. I did end up buying a knewconcepts saw. I figured out what was causing my unhappiness with the coping saw i bought. The blade in the picture below is offset from the center line of the handle ( i flipped it around so the blade is oriented properly) but the offset caused binding issues and i was never able to cut well with it. When i grabbed the frame and handle and hand my hand in line with the blade more the cuts went smoothly. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted November 18, 2020 Report Share Posted November 18, 2020 All the coping saws I have experienced use a notched attachment post for the blade, that is on-axis and always aligned with the handle. I can imagine that offset design would be very different to use. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted November 18, 2020 Report Share Posted November 18, 2020 I've never seen one like that either. Mine tighten the blade by turning the handle. I found some coping saw blades I liked decades ago, so stocked up then, and still have some. They came in a little paper envelope, but there is no name brand anywhere. I'll try to remember to take a picture tomorrow. I always cut on the push stroke, because it leaves the finished corner clean, and I have a better feel for saws that cut on the push stroke anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derekcohen Posted November 18, 2020 Report Share Posted November 18, 2020 6 hours ago, wtnhighlander said: Has anyone tried the twisted-blade technique with a coping saw? I can't recall if it was Paul Sellers or Roy Underhill, but one of them has a video demonstrating this. The blade was 'kinked' to form a permanent twist in the middle, so the front half cut downward. At the corner, the stroke was forced through the kink to the rear half, which cut sideways, no rotation of the saw needed. I believe the saw was set to cut on the push stroke. I am not sure how durable the blade would be in this arrangement. It was not PS or RU, but Frank Klausz, and not a coping saw but a bowsaw. Otherwise you got it right Regards from Perth Derek 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted November 19, 2020 Report Share Posted November 19, 2020 1 hour ago, derekcohen said: It was not PS or RU, but Frank Klausz, and not a coping saw but a bowsaw. Otherwise you got it right Regards from Perth Derek I recall seeing Klausz with the bowsaw (turning saw?), but for some reason the coping saw sticks in my mind. Anyway, anyone ever tried it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom King Posted November 19, 2020 Report Share Posted November 19, 2020 I tried bending a blade on a brake, but my brake wouldn't give a tight enough bend to make one that would make a good transition. I just tried it with a tree work bow saw blade, but never put any more effort into getting it done. I didn't have anything else I wanted to risk sacrificing for the trial. I was expecting the blade to break, but it didn't. I didn't really have much of a use for one-just wanted to try it. That was so long ago that I don't even remember when it was. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted November 19, 2020 Author Report Share Posted November 19, 2020 1 hour ago, wtnhighlander said: I recall seeing Klausz with the bowsaw (turning saw?), but for some reason the coping saw sticks in my mind. Anyway, anyone ever tried it? Like this? https://blog.lostartpress.com/2012/01/07/failed-experiments-in-dovetailing/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortan D Posted November 19, 2020 Report Share Posted November 19, 2020 19 hours ago, Chestnut said: I'm not sure about that, but i was curious about the spiral blades that Lee Valley sells that will cut in any direction. I wasn't sure if those were something that worked well or not. I opted to just buy some regular blades. I did end up buying a knewconcepts saw. I have those blades. They're intended for modelers and they work OK on balsa wood. I did cut some 3/4" dovetails with those but they have the tendency to wander a lot and they are slow (they will break easily). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Tom King Posted November 23, 2020 Popular Post Report Share Posted November 23, 2020 I dug around in my Cope toolbox today, and took some pictures. My favorite Coping saw is a Disston 10B that I bought new. I have no idea when they stopped selling them, but I expect I bought it in the early '70's. The handle is a perfect size, and shape, for both pulling, pushing, and fine control. The coping saw blades that I remembered being in a paper envelope are Nicolson brand. They're the best I've ever used, and I bought all the hardware store had in stock. I remember where I was working on my Greandfather's house in 1975. I broke my last blade, and went to a local hardware store (now out of business) to get some more. I bought one sleeve of them, and after using the first one, I stopped what I was doing, and went back to buy all of them. My favorite little Jewelers saw is a German made Ikohe. I can tighten the blade tighter than I can get with the Knew Concepts, as evidenced by the note I can pluck on the same no.5 blade in both of them. The blades are different, but came new out of the same slot in the case you see in the picture. The blades are also German, and I never looked for any better. I can mount the blade in one end, set the length adjuster, push the end of the bow against the edge of the bench, and tighten the other keeper. I use that Jewelers saw for coping muntins on handmade sash, the little cove on the bottom of crown molding, and base cap molding. The thumb screws are much easier to get tight than the sharp knurled knobs on the Knew Concepts, that are uncomfortable even on my working man tough fingers. I can pluck a note at least an Octave higher on the ikohe, than the Knew Concepts can while being set as tight as I can get it without the lever pulling the blade out. I know everyone seems really impressed with these fancy, new saws, but I'm not so much impressed. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Chestnut Posted November 24, 2020 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted November 24, 2020 I ended up going overboard. I bought the Knew Concepts Titanium saw because i thought it looked cool and why not? The saw will last me and many other people a lifetime. As an engineer i love the truss design on the back of the saw. I can't believe how incredibly light this thing is. Haven't gotten to use it yet though but i have quite a few dovetails in some up coming projects so it'll see good use soon enough. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pkinneb Posted November 24, 2020 Report Share Posted November 24, 2020 Nice!! Congrats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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