Making Frame Saws

Sorry everyone, I realised that there was a little confusion by my creating two videos that 'aired' at the same time, one via YouTube and the other via our woodworkingmasterclasses. Both blasted off with the lowest inertia ever and I was taken a little by surprise. These are low-cost highly effective saws that are different to one another and can do the same or different work accord to blade type, whether you use bandsaw blades or bought frame saw blades. They crossover and do one another's work readily. I keep them around the shop for different aspects of my work including metal cutting, dovetail and all other joinery. To view the frame saw on masterclasses you will need to subscribe but subscription is free as making tools, techniques and so on are always free to subscribers. The two saw types are quite different. The one on masterclasses is a three-part series you can watch so it is a lot more in-depth than the YouTube video.

The real point in having them is that they give you a low cost joinery saw for a few scraps and a blade. I bought the frame saw blades from Dieter Schmidt at Fine tools in Germany who shops world wide but for EU people their shipping is good. The same blade types are available from Highland Woodworking. These blades do not cut metal. If you want a metal cutting blade which is the one I cut these dovetails with then install a metal cutting bandsaw blade into the same saw. I make my own blades by snapping the blades to length by bending the bandsaw blade back and forth to snap it. then I drill holes for the screw holders.

The frame saw on masterclasses has a hand guard because of its size and proximity to the hand should a blade buckle or break. Highly unlikely but I wanted a safer saw. For metal cutting this saw is a must and works wonderfully. In the bandsaw range I picked a Milwaukee bandsaw blade the kind you hold in two hands for crosscutting metal and logs. I bought mine at the Home Depot but I am sure you can get them online. These are US only and not Europe or UK. In the UK you can buy a blade from Axminster called Axcaliber. Just pick any length you want and snap to size. I use two sizes of bandsaw blade. Both are 1/2" (12mm) but for woodworking I use 14 TPI and for metal I use 18 TPI. Both will cut any material though, just that for metal the 18 TPI works better. The also cut hard plastics, laminates and so on too. You can see the results of the bandsaw blade on dovetails here.