Replies

1. 
   Ross_Welsh | Aug 20, 2001 04:03am | #1

   *
   Billy:

   I'm not sure if this is what you are looking for but the Garrett Wade catalog shows a European fret/coping saw that sounds like what you are describing.

1. 
   Bucksnort_Billy | Aug 20, 2001 11:37pm | #2

   *Hey Ross, Thanks for the reply. I think Garrett Wade used to carry the Eclipse. It's frame is a heavy, round steel rod. The saw in the new catalog has a pretty substantial looking cast aluminum frame, I haven't used it, so I'm not quite sure about or it's 25 buck price tag. The Eclipse is only 15 beans. That 'luminum thing might be my only choice, though. It has to be better than the flimsy things I've been using forever.Still tryin' to cope, BB

1. 
   vanderpooch_ | Aug 22, 2001 04:53am | #3

   *hey b.b.i have the cast aluminum saw that garrett wade sells. it is an excellent saw, and very rigid, but the blade clamps are a little fussy. that being said i've only had to change the blade twice in the last year. i'll keep my eyes peeled for the eclipse, as i am shopping constsntly right now, trying to equip my school's woodworking shop. -kit

1. 
   Bucksnort_Billy | Aug 22, 2001 02:11pm | #4

   *Hey Vanderpooch, That's a good recommendation. Have you got the 4 1/2" or 10" model? And, do let me know if you find a purveyor for Eclipse...BB

1. 
   jim_"crazy_legs"_blodg | Aug 22, 2001 05:38pm | #5

   *You guys cope with the teeth cutting on the upstroke, or down stroke?

2. 
   Bucksnort_Billy | Aug 22, 2001 09:07pm | #6

   *Hey Jim, I'm a puller, seems to make the blades last longer...

3. 
   vanderpooch_ | Aug 23, 2001 01:35am | #7

   *b.b.i have the smaller model, and i haven't really seen the need for the bigger one. i definitely prefer to cut on the pull, i break fewer blades and seem to have an easier time keeping to a line. fwiw, -kit

4. 
   vanderpooch_ | Aug 23, 2001 02:00am | #8

   *http://www.wittmann-tools.com/Neill-Tools/page/Handsaegen/Has_SwFrBlds.htmis this the one?

5. 
   Bucksnort_Billy | Aug 23, 2001 02:38am | #9

   *Not yet. But I do appreciate you stayin' on the trail. Coping/fret, although I do like that junior hacksaw. You got bloodhound in the family?

6. 
   Charles_C. | Aug 23, 2001 03:40am | #10

   *Try rlarson.com and go to their internet store and look at that one. Its not an eclipse but I looked at one at a tool show a while back and was thinking about getting one myself. Funny how its so hard to find a good coping saw. Everybody I know is always complaining about them or bending them all out of shape to try and get the blade tighter.

7. 
   Thomas_Moen | Aug 23, 2001 07:18am | #11

   *I prefer the sidestroke myself...

8. 
   Bucksnort_Billy | Aug 23, 2001 03:13pm | #12

   *Thanks Charles. I'm not giving up on the search for an Eclipse, but I did order two of those saws from Larson. They do look sturdy, and for 5 bucks!

9. 
   jim_"crazy_legs"_blodg | Aug 23, 2001 04:24pm | #13

   *Do you have any trouble with tearout on the face of the cope? I've always pushed, but based on past discussions, I think I might be in the minority.

10. 
    Bucksnort_Billy | Aug 23, 2001 04:42pm | #14

    *Yeah Jim, sometimes on soft stuff, but it's usually not bad. If I'm doing bright finished or pre-finished stuff, once in a while I will go to pushin', but like I said, I'm hell on blades that way...

11. 
    vanderpooch_ | Aug 23, 2001 11:54pm | #15

    *all right dammit, highland hardware, page ten of print catalog, or if this link works. knew i'd seen that bugger somewherehttp://www.highland-hardware.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online-store/scstore/p-051901.html?L+scstore+wyvr1767ffe45de4+998622607kit

12. 
    Bucksnort_Billy | Aug 24, 2001 12:06am | #16

    *Oh yeah, you sniffed it out, man. I just ordered two of them, we'll have races, do the pushme pullyou with the blades, we'll be ready for anything. Who sez we can't cope?Thanks, BB

13. 
    Dale_Wermenchuk | Aug 28, 2001 04:43am | #17

    *Maybe I'm weird but I don't use a coping saw. a small table saw (10"blade) and a dremel tool for the cut to the line. I've had great results

14. 
    Bucksnort_Billy | Aug 29, 2001 01:11am | #18

    *Hi Dale, welcome aboard the the board. Let me be the first to tell you, you are weird. Do you use this method to cope a 16' piece of shoe? Dude, I'm always open for new methods, please don't take this as a flame (well, at least until I know you better), but do you do this for a living, and for crown as well? And...what kind of dremel bit are you using. I can see some merit in your method... BBI am not tryin' to run you off man, I'm just the curious George type...

15. 
    Gabe_Keway | Aug 29, 2001 04:14am | #19

    *Do you guys ever just use a jigsaw?A dremel tool is wierd...sounds time consuming.In FHB's tricks of the trade book there's an article on a "coping table" for use with a jigsaw.just thought i'd throw that in.gabe

16. 
    jim_"crazy_legs"_blodg | Aug 29, 2001 04:15am | #20

    *For cryin' out loud, 'snort, cut the newbies a little slack, will ya? Jeez, like raw meat in front of a pirahnna (is that spelled right?)...er, the Pyrinies...um...pyramids...pyromaniacs...insomniacs...oh crap.

17. 
    Dale_Wermenchuk | Aug 29, 2001 04:30am | #21

    *Bucksnort Billy, I tried to use a coping saw and got fed up with it so I cut my miter highlighted the line raised the blade on the table saw all the way and run it up just shy of the line pull out the dremel with the spiral cutting bit and work it to the line I have never had to do production work. I did (A) room once nice detailed crown. I am just getting started in my own business without alot of experience but a lot of knowledge,skill and love for the profession. Try it just once for giggles and let me know.

18. 
    Bucksnort_Billy | Aug 29, 2001 11:45pm | #22

    *Hey Gabe, I use a jigsaw for coping all the time, for any stuff bigger than 3" it is the way to go. Shoe and little crown can get pretty bunged up with a jig saw, the Eclipse holds the blade so stiffly, it makes those jobs much easier, and better looking too.Dale, I have been accused of being thicker than most, but I don't get the table saw part of the equation. Howcome you don't use the miter box for that cut? For big crown, I usually have to pull out the grinder, so I am gonna check out the dremel...

19. 
    Dale_Wermenchuk | Aug 30, 2001 12:19am | #23

    *Bucksnort Billy- OK Here is how I do it- Start at the miter saw and get your scribe line and highlight it. Lay the work piece down on the table saw with the blade all the way up (10" blade). nibble away everything up to the scribe as close as you can get it. Its a little scarry with all that much blade exposed so be careful. With blade all the way up it gives me just the right amount of back cut. Grab the dremel and spiral bit it looks to be about 1/8" in diameter. And then I carv away to the line to finish. I was taught to use the coping saw and then use a sharp utility knife to pare away to the line and never learned to have that much control. This way I never loose sight of my scribe line ie. the tool never blocks sight of the line. Get it. I hope. Thats the best way I can explain it. Its like anything the more you do it the faster you get.

20. 
    Bucksnort_Billy | Aug 30, 2001 12:38am | #24

    *Ok Dale, I think I get, and that's stopped me plenty of times before, but why don't you just stand the piece upright in the miter box (after you've cut the miter) and do the same wacking you do on the table saw?

21. 
    Dale_Wermenchuk | Aug 30, 2001 01:37am | #25

    *Bucksnort Billy- Stand it up in the miter box? I'd have a hard time explaining that one to the Doctor who would reattach all four fingers and an even harder time explaining it to the wife.

22. 
    Bucksnort_Billy | Aug 30, 2001 01:55am | #26

    *Dale, You feed the piece lenghtwise into the table saw, izzat it? I may try the dremel, but not that. Why not cope 'n dremel?

23. 
    Dale_Wermenchuk | Aug 31, 2001 03:41am | #27

    *Bucksnort Billy- Yah that’s what I meant sorry for the confusion. I don't always express my self clearly enough. Maybe I'll get one of those blades you guys are talkin about and see if I can improve my skill. But I'm tellin you the fit I was able to achieve was awesome.

24. 
    Bucksnort_Billy | Sep 01, 2001 01:32am | #28

    *Hey Dale, If the fit was awesome, I'm thinking about trying it. So, why do you jack the blade all the way up? I'm seein', if it was real low, it would be hoggin' out more...

25. 
    Bucksnort_Billy | Sep 01, 2001 01:43am | #29

    *Usin' Joe's spel checur, hunnh? Hey, I was jus gonna lure him in, some sheetrocker buddies were actually gonna eat him...dang, now I'm gonna have to give them my youngest...

26. 
    Dale_Wermenchuk | Sep 01, 2001 04:35am | #30

    *Bucksnort Billy- I put the blade all the way up as not to remove too much from the back side. Plus it puts a better down cut on the piece.Side Bar - What's with the "how do you like me now?" Are you a country music fan?

27. 
    jim_"crazy_legs"_blodg | Sep 01, 2001 07:04am | #31

    *Well, how about one of those portable bandsaws? That might be real nice for power coping, huh? I bet they're only 100 bucks or something, and you could pack it around from room to room pretty easilly. Chomp it close and rasp/file/utility knife the rest? That might be worth looking into.

28. 
    Bucksnort_Billy | Sep 01, 2001 10:11pm | #32

    *Hey Dale, I can't make up my mind who I want to be, but it sure ain't no country music fan. At least not what it is today, gimme Hank Williams Sr, Patsy Cline, Bob Wills, Ferlin Husky... you can keep the new age spoiled whiners, well, unless their trim carpenters...

29. 
    Bucksnort_Billy | Sep 01, 2001 10:15pm | #33

    *Oh thanks Jim, that's what I need, one more tool to stuff in my truck! Just had a new clutch put in last week, 2 1/2 years old, my mechanic's giving you a kickback, huh...

30. 
    jim_"crazy_legs"_blodg | Sep 02, 2001 04:16am | #34

    *Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings...

31. 
    Dale_Wermenchuk | Sep 02, 2001 09:28pm | #35

    *Boy! do you guys know how to date yourselves. Jim, I like the fact I'm starting to bend you into my thinking, But if you were to use the band saw you wouldn't get that nice back cut. Side Bar#2 Jim are you the one and the same as the man In the FHB mag.?

32. 
    jim_"crazy_legs"_blodg | Sep 03, 2001 12:23am | #36

    *No. I'm a lot better looking than that goofball.

33. 
    Dale_Wermenchuk | Sep 03, 2001 03:12am | #37

    *Jim - Yah I thought so! That guy is kinda a dorky lookin. ;-O

34. 
    Bucksnort_Billy | Sep 07, 2001 01:40am | #38

    *Just got the saws from Robert Larson, very stiff, very nice. Set up from the factory to cut on the pull. 2 saws, 2 six-packs of blades, $18.74...let y'all know when the Eclipses get here..

35. 
    jim_"crazy_legs"_blodg | Sep 07, 2001 09:50pm | #39

    *Yeah, I've noticed they always put those blades in backwards. How's the handle on that thing, 'snort? That's what I don't like about most coping saws, the handle is way too small. Of course, I guess I could make another one, but I'm too busy complainin', huh?

36. 
    Bucksnort_Billy | Sep 07, 2001 11:13pm | #40

    *Actually Jim, the handle is a little weird: roundedly rectangular?!?! It seems big enough, but I'll let you know after a house full of crown and shoe. This was made in Germany, so you just know it was put together as much to the right as possible...can't get my picture posting devices to do their jobs, lousy helpers...hey, wrap a bunch of bike handlebar tape around yours?...

37. 
    Peter_Gaughenbaugh | Oct 30, 2001 07:37am | #41

    *I like the Craftsman coping saw with the funny lookin' ends. stamped "Made in Germay". I guess all the good sh*t comes from over there.~Pete

2. 
   Bucksnort_Billy | Oct 30, 2001 07:37am | #42

   *
   Just had a chance to use one, what a rigid little sucker! Can't find one anywhere, can someone out there help me with a link?

   Thanks, BB