Thread: Hand held fret saw

Kerry, there are a few threads dealing with waste removal on through dovetails, there was a discussion here not too long ago, in which the merits of various saws were discussed.

I don't like fret saws for this job much, the tall frames make them awkward to use, and the fine tooth patterns are better suited to thin stock, & i's hard to cut straight lines with very narrow blades. A coping saw frame is easier to manipulate, and adequate for the depths one usually cuts dovetails to, & the blade is a bit easier to control. However, some find the thicker coping saw blades hard to turn, and hence the choice of fretsaws. A jewellers' saw can accept the unpinned fretsaw blades and has a more manageable frame, and the decent ones are quite solid, so that's another one to consider - there are quite a few available on the web (fretsaws seem to be few & far between!).

Myself, I use a small bowsaw with a narrow (~4mm) blade. It won't turn as sharply as a fretsaw, but it's easier to cut straight with a wider blade, so swings & roundabouts & all that....

Cheers,