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What Is A Coping Saw? What Is A Coping Saw Used For?

what is a coping saw
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A coping saw is a versatile saw with a thin C-shaped or D-shaped frame and a thin blade designed for cutting fine, intricate, curvey cuts and outlines.

The replaceable blade is clipped taut to either end of the frame to give the blade strength.

Some 'Coping Saws' allow the blade angle to be adjusted making the saw even more versatile at cutting curves. The 'Japanese Free-Way Coping Saw' with its special blade allows the saw to cut in all directions without moving the frame.

The design of the 'Coping Saw' has a special feature of allowing the saw to make internal cuts to a workpiece by drilling a hole in the workpiece and then threading the blade through the hole as the starting point of the internal cut. The internal cuts are limited by the size of the frame.




What Are Coping Saws Used For?

'Coping Saws' were designed primarily for assisting in coping joints however 'Coping Saws' are a useful tool for a great many jobs including:

  • Fitting Skirting Boards
  • Creating Both Internal and External Curved Shapes
  • Initial Shaping of some Wood Carving Workpieces
  • Trimming Dovetails
  • Cutting Mouldings
  • Cutting Cornices
  • Cutting Picture Rails
  • and generally Cutting most Small Curved Cutting Jobs

The small size / design of the saw with its thin blade gives a limitation on how thick the workpiece can be for it to make an effective cut. It is not intended to cut big, thick workpieces or any heavy duty rough work which would likely result in the blade snapping.

Usually a 'Coping Saw' is capable of cutting good wood of up to 2"-3" thickness however check with 'Coping Saw' packaging / manufacturer for details about each individual 'Coping Saw'.

Coping Saws have been around for a long time and are still a common-place tool today.

A very common maker of the Coping Saw for many years is Eclipse. Eclipse Coping Saws and Coping Saw blades are still a popular make today.




What Is The Difference Between A 'Coping Saw' And A 'Fret Saw'?

The 'Coping Saw' has a family member called the 'Fret Saw' which is a very similar saw in appearance and function. The main difference between the 'Coping Saw' and the 'Fret Saw' is the 'Fret Saw' has a more elongated frame and is capable of even more intricate cuts than the 'Coping Saw'.




What Is The Advantage Of A 'Coping Saw' Over A 'Fret Saw'?

A 'Coping Saw' typically has a thicker, more robust blade compared to the thinner 'Fret Saw' blade as a result the 'Coping Saw' typically can cut thicker workpieces than a 'Fret Saw'.

The frame of the 'Coping Saw' is also a little less cumbersome.




coping saw blades

How Many Teeth Per Inch (TPI) Does A Coping Saw Blade Have?

There are various toothed replacement blades available for 'Coping Saw' which typically range from 12 TPI - 24 TPI.

The Eclipse Coping Saw is usually sold with a 14 TPI blade as standard.

Eclipse offer 24 TPI Coping Saw blades for high precision work which are very similar to 'Fret Saw' blades.




coping saw blades

Which Way Should The Teeth Face On A Coping Saw?

The teeth should face backwards towards the handle to allow the 'Coping Saw' to cut on the pull stroke.











Disclaimer

(i) This review/article may give warning(s) / advisory notes / cautions / guidelines given in good faith, any such information should not be solely relied upon and seen as the exhaustive list of warnings / advisory notes / cautions / guidelines. Refer to good safety practices for the safety of you and others. Refer to good practices for the good health of your tool and property.
(ii) The details here are given in good faith, the details are constantly growing and evolving, there is scope for error and shouldn't be fully relied upon, please confirm any details for yourself by performing additional research from reliable sources.




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