Did you ever install any molding? Every carpenter professional knows that the most tedious task to mold something is to accurately cope with the joints. It needs years of experience and the utmost attention to achieve a much higher level of accuracy.
Yes, many people use fret saw machines. However, when it comes to making accurate, precise cuts all within a budget and user-friendly condition, the coping saw rules the world. This article will discuss what a coping saw is used for and how to use a coping saw safely. Yes, I get it; you probably know almost everything about it. However, there are some extra things I need you to look at, which might have been ignored.
What is a Coping Saw?
A coping saw is designed for tuning cuts wherever it is applied for cuts, wood, plastics, and so on. It has a thin blade with a metal frame cutting through the metals with ease. The smooth cylinder-shaped handle allows users to have turning cuts.
It is used to cope with the joints of wooden or plastic materials and achieve a certain level of accuracy.
It has a U-shaped frame with two swiveling clips to hold the blade at both ends. It has 10-15 teeth per inch to cut through the wooden, plastic, or metal structures during carpeting.
What is a Coping Saw Used for?
Well, defining the use of a coping saw in words is a more challenging task than performing it live. Nonetheless, we take the burden to describe some of the most common uses of a coping saw. It will help you to learn some easy coping saw projects and how to complete them.
1. Creating Coped Intersections
As the name goes, a coping saw was primarily invented to cope with or saw the intersections between two twisted or convoluted intersections. It is almost next to impossible for other saws like bow saws or crosscut saws. In such cases, a coping saw shows its brilliant cutting performance.
2. Forming Different Shapes
People widely use coping saws to form different shapes of their wooden structures. Its tiny and small structure makes it easier to move through the woods with more accuracy to create different shapes such as oval, rectangular, circular, and so on.
3. Achieving Accuracy
While carpenters cut two molds and join them at a 45-degree angle, one piece of the mold is often abruptly cut. Thus, people use a coping saw to cut the patterns in detail perfection so that both pieces join together accurately.
4. Cutting Holes
Despite most people being unaware of such innovative use of a coping saw, it helps you cut holes in the middle of the wooden frame with precision. To do so, first, sketch an oval shape in the wood and then use the coping saw to make the hole. Although you can use a hole making saw kit but it has a specific shape that may not meet your requirements.
5. Thin Wood Cutting
Now that is something we call trickery. While most people find it tough to cut through the delicate woods with regular seesaws, a coping saw does the job relatively ease. Its low tension negates any chances of the wood breaking down into parts.
6. Hard-to-Reach Areas
Sometimes, it so happens that we need to cut the woods where regular hand saws with their standard size find it difficult to reach those places. In such cases, the coping saw proves handy. It is easy to detach the ends, so it reaches even the corners to cut down or make turning cuts effectively.
7. In Place of Expensive Saws
To be frank, there are many saws available in the market that do the job of intricate cutting much better and faster. However, they all come at a higher price tag. On the contrary, a coping saw is surprisingly cheap, being available only for a few backs. So, if you want to have a saw for standard wood-cutting works at your home, the coping saw undoubtedly is your best option.
If you are confused that which saw is the best for you, the coping saw or fret saw, just check this comparison out: What is the Difference Between Fret Saw VS Coping Saw
Coping Saw Using Without Accident
First thing comes; first, the best coping saw is one of the easiest-to-use saws invented in the history of the carpenter profession. It doesn’t apply that you might use it straightforwardly without knowing the proper steps about its application.
Be Attentive While Installing the Blade
Installing the coping saw blade with perfection might not be a herculean task. Nonetheless, it would help if you were careful. While installing the blade in the metal frame, place it firmly on a robust surface so that the blade and structure don’t spring away.
At first, attach the blade tightly with the far end spigot of the frame. Then bend the near-end spigot until it reaches the edge. Once the faucet comes close to the blade, slowly attach it to the spigot. Then, adjust the blade and frame as you release the tension.
Be Aware of the Slipping of the Cutting Material
Most people don’t put much emphasis on taking precautionary steps before cutting their desired materials, mostly wood. Then, it so happens that the piece of timber slips away and causes unwanted accidents, sometimes fatal injuries.
However, these accidents are easy to avoid. It would be best if you placed the piece of wood on a vice or stuck it with the clamps to get a secure cutting of the piece of wood or other material. It will prevent the wood from slipping away as you cut through it.
Don’t Let Your Fingers Come on the Way
While you cut through from one end to another of the wood, be careful to keep your hands and, most importantly, your fingers away from the blade. Remember that the blade teeth are incredibly sharp and so, they might cut your fingers or skin promptly. Therefore, be attentive while you cut with the coping saw.
Maintenance is the Key
Don’t let yourself be fooled that a coping saw doesn’t require maintenance due to its low price. From time to time, check the sharpness of the blade. If the blade loses its sharpness, you will find it difficult to cut at ease.
Fortunately, you can avail yourself of a new blade in all the hardware stores. While you buy the blade, check whether the number of teeth per inch is appropriate for your specific cutting work.
I wrote another piece in detail about how to use a coping saw. I hope you will get more beneficial tips there- How to Use a Coping Saw: Not Only for Baseboard or Crown Molding.
Final Words
A coping saw is rather the least used saw despite its easy availability and user-friendliness. Nevertheless, it is useful to give your cutting work accuracy and make the tuning cut flexible. Also, despite the easiness of handling it, you should never be callous while using the coping saw. We wish that you would be using this beneficial saw for your desired cutting alternatives with the utmost care.