I use a $20 Olson coping saw that I bought on Amazon with good results. I’ve toyed with the idea of buying a fancy Knew Concepts fret saw but I just can’t justify the need when my cheapo does just fine.
I use a $20 Olson coping saw that I bought on Amazon with good results. I’ve toyed with the idea of buying a fancy Knew Concepts fret saw but I just can’t justify the need when my cheapo does just fine.
---Trudging the Road of Happy Destiny---
Hi Tony, there are a couple of tips I can pass on which might change your experience.
The first one is that if you are breaking fretsaw blades, then you are (pulling them ... I assume) too hard. Loosen up and pull g-e-n-t-l-y. Watch the blade, and do not let it deflect much.
When you do this, you gain a great deal of control over the cut. This means you can saw within a mm or two of the baseline, which leaves very little waste to remove ...
The second tip is a key to maintaining a straight baseline, and it also makes it easier to chop out the remaining waste.
Before fretsawing the waste, deepen and then undercut the line at the baseline to create a chisel wall ...
Only fretsaw after this is done. You will wind up with this ...
Chopping 1mm slices to the midpoint is how you finish off ...
Easy peasy
Regards from Perth
Derek
One reason to read dovetail threads forever is there might be an explanation of something seen before but explained or documented slightly different. BANG, something all of a sudden clicks.
By spending a few seconds more making a knife wall, many more can be saved on the next step.
Also the technique of watching the fret saw blade for flex.
Thanks Derek,
jtk
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
- Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
Bonus question
As far as the sides of the Dutch tool chest, the inside faces would be the reference faces, yes?