Comments on: Tweaking an Over-set Coping Saw

By: hobomonk

hobomonk — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:41:06 +0000

My grandfather used a similar technique to flatten the set on fine toothed saws, like coping saw blades. He would stone the blades. No, not with an heirloom Arkansas whetstone, but with a stone from the Licking River. Under magnification, a stoned, or draw filed, saw blade’s teeth kind of look like a Japanese-style saw’s teeth.
Just sayin…

By: tbier

tbier — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 04:10:37 +0000

Yes, smashing the teeth in a metalworking vise does take out most of the set.

By: zephyrblevins

zephyrblevins — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 03:47:28 +0000

I’m a total novice, so please forgive me a potentially stupid question about marking out dovetails. Has anyone ever tried this – let’s say you cut tails first. Make the vertical cuts for the tails, but before sawing or chopping out the waste, use the cut lines to guide your marking gauge to mark out the pins on the pin board. The marking gauge would have to be thin enough to fit in the kerf (maybe an XActo knife) and also tall enough (longer than the width of the tail board), but is there any reason this is a bad approach?

By: John Cashman

John Cashman — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:03:28 +0000

So, why are you back using the Olson coping saw? I thought you were wild about the vintage Millers Falls, or the Stanley?

By: JWatriss

JWatriss — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:43:21 +0000

Interesting… does it turn as easily as it did with the over-set teeth?

By: TomS4449

TomS4449 — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:43:08 +0000

I just switched to using a fret saw myself. In part due to financial obligations. A new Titanium Knew Concepts fret saw with an Elkhead Tools cocobolo handle. It works swimmingly and I look good doing it !!!
TomS

By: woodrouterman

woodrouterman — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 02:15:56 +0000

I agree, the coping saws are hard to deal with considering the large teeth. I’ll take your advice and post back the results to let anyone interested know.

By: mlingenfelter

mlingenfelter — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:31:06 +0000

That’s one of my biggest gripes with Coping Saws! I’ve been trying to move from a Fret Saw to a Coping Saw, but those wide teeth have been a pain. I’ll give this a try and maybe I can make the move now.

Mike