Almost every coping saw being sold today is set-up wrong. They are backwards. This is not a discussion of the push versus pull in terms of does it cut on the push stroke or the pull stroke. Most of them are set up to cut on the pull stroke, and I am fine with that. Where I think they make the mistake is that they position the blade in front of the centerline of the handle. This is the equivalent of rear wheel drive, it is less stable and makes the blade more likely to go off-course or bind. It also makes it harder to tell where you are headed, because the blade is leading the way and your hand is following along after it, like a backseat driver.
Cutting with the blade in front of the center-line of the handle makes the saw more likely to bind, and harder to steer, because you are chasing where the saw has been, rather than where you want it to go.
More than half of the coping saws available today use this arrangement of the blade being strung in front of the centerline of the handle. They may be perfectly good saws, but they could be better.
Most modern coping saws have adopted this design of attaching the blades to pins at right angles to the saw path.
The solution to fixing many coping saw complaints is simple, and absolutely free. Here are the steps to improved use of your coping saw:
- Loosen the blade (usually done by unscrewing the handle).
- Rotate the blade mounting hardware 180 degrees (on both the handle and the top of the saw).
- Take the blade out.
- Spin it 180 degrees and put it back in.
- Tighten up the handle.
Flip the pins around and rotate the blade to get this arrangement which is more stable and more steerable. You lead where you want it to go, instead of following where it has been.
By following these simple steps, your cutting blade now trails the center-line of your hand. You lead, the blade follows. As an added bonus, the steering pins actually point in the direction you are heading, instead of uselessly pointing to where you have been.
Notice how the red centerline of the saw indicates where the saw is heading. (If only I had a coping saw with a laser pointer showing the center-line like this)
I was thinking that there must be others before me who have discovered this trick. So I searched as best I could to find any other references for it, but I only found a single image on a post from Derek Cohen on “In the Woodshop” where he shows his Olson coping saw, and it is set-up the way I describe [link]. He makes no special mention of it.
Of course, not all saws need this adjustment, there are some, that can’t do it because the blade is already at the center-line of the saw.
Most antique coping saws and some modern versions have connections that allow the saw to ride at the center-line.
I have an old Disston coping saw that has the blade ride on the center-line (similar to those shown above). While this seems like it would be ideal, I actually find that these are a little bit harder control since you have no real indicator of where you are headed. The center-line only points to where you are, not where you want to be in the next few cycles of the saw blade.
What about Coping saw push or pull?
Ok I have seen a lot of questions on this. A decent saw with a rigid frame can handle setting up the teeth so they cut on either the push stroke or the pull stroke. The deciding factor for me is whether I want the splintered face on the side of the wood that is facing me, or away from me. If the”pretty side” is facing me while I cut, then I put the blade in to cut on the push stroke. This leaves the side that is away from me get all tattered. Other than that, I find I have a bit more control with it cutting on the pull stroke. In either case, I set it up so the blade is behind the center-line, rather than in front of it.
Which coping saw do I like best?
I have seen a lot of buzz about the Knew Concepts saws. They look amazing and get good reviews (they have the blade on the center-line) I just do not use coping saws often enough to justify the price. I do have both a Groz coping saw and an Olson coping saw. I prefer the Olson. It simply has a more solid feel to it.
Previously
- Latex Paint Tacky on Furniture: FIX IT
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- Alcohol Based Tea Stain
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- Slabbing Some Oak by Hand
In April of 2016, a neighbor around the block was cutting off parts of an Oak tree in his yard. I offered to help him. While I was helping him move some of it, the wood started speaking to me, and several large pieces ended up following me home. The log on the left saidi […]
- Easy Router Sled
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- Simple Tool Oiler
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- Clever Table Leaf Extension
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- Intriguing Mortise and Tenon Foxed Dovetail Joint
This joint from Loyd Arve Nornes is an interesting one that has been rattling around my brain since I saw these videos. It is a locking Mortise and Tenon Foxed Dovetail joint or some variation on those terms. The slots in the piece of wood that makes up the tenon seem to be ripe for a […]
- Adirondack Chairs – without metal
I decided it would be nice to make a pair of Adirondack chairs for my front porch. Most designs have a back that leans back pretty far and a pair of back legs that stick out pretty far too. I didn’t think I had that kind of space on my front porch, So I wanted […]
- Starter Woodworking Kit
My son and I were recently talking about what tools I would replace immediately if my shop got wiped out by hurricane or sink hole. I have a lot of old tools. Many of them are not essential, but I keep them because the have family history (my Dad’s, my Grandfather’s, my Great uncle’s). […]
- Bench Bull Meets Moxon Vise = Bulloxon
My son and I have a game we play in the car (when I am not driving) called “I Draw, You Draw.” I started it to get him to focus on details. On one half of the paper, I draw something that only has a few steps. (maybe a circle with a line) then I […]
- Carver’s Mallets – Father Son Project
At our previous house we had a huge mango tree in our back yard. It made the best mangoes each year, but also made a mess of the yard and attracted a few zillion fruit flies. About 6 years ago I cut off a larger branch and stored away two sections of it for a […]
- The Resting Heart – The hardest project I ever built.
When my first son, Sawyer, passed away during delivery and they later handed me his ashes, I knew I had to be the one to build his urn. Not because I could do it better. I just wanted his remains to be in something I created with my hands and my heart. That was in July […]
- DeWalt Pride back in America
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- Craftsman Miter Station Model 88136301
I was at a Habitat for Humanity ReStore a few weeks back with my son. In a pile of saws I saw a 24″ long backsaw peaking out with a $5.00 price tag on it. I looked it over. Not a Disston, Warranted Superior. I explained to my son that we had a longer better […]
- Workshop Memories
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- Handscrew Repair
My Father has recently decided he is too old to do workshop type work anymore. At 83 I’ll let him use that excuse. As a result of his decision he has started unloading some of his tools on me. Many have seen better days. Florida’s salt air is hard enough on tools, and much of […]
- Adjustable Stand-up Sit-down Desk
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- Brilliant Woodworking Animation – Chair makes itself
This video (really a still frame animation) of making a lawn chair is quite fantastic. I like the style of the chair, but the brilliant bit is the way the craftsman / videographer make it appear as if the wood and tools are making the chair themselves. Clever no matter how you look at it. […]