I’ve been thinking about making a veneer saw – the type made like a frame saw but with two wooden stretchers on the sides and the blade in the middle. First, does anyone have experience using such a saw? How long should the blade be and what are sources of supply? Any plans available?
Thanks.
Replies
Newtrva,
I made one last year and have used it a couple of times. It's not easy to control...your hands and arms are about 12" to each side of your cut line..I'm used to having my hand and arm in line with my saw...so there is a learning curve.
It's a fun build and fairly easy. Woodcraft has the blades (about $6)and there are plans out on the web. There might be some pictures here in the gallery of frame saws..
Where on the web would these plans be located?
Newtrva,
Try this link....
http://www.hyperkitten.com/woodworking/frame_saw.php3
I'd suggest you buy your blade first to ensure the measurements all fit...
NEWTRVA,
A veneer saw, or a frame saw, is trivial to make. You can cobble one together in an afternoon out of scraps, with time and scraps left over. There's really nothing to them. A friend of mine actually bought some plans to make his frame saw. Within a few months he re-made every part on it to better suit himself. I learned. I've made a few bow saws and frame saws, but I've never bothered with plans.
The only thing that really matters is the length of the stretcher(s), and that is most easily determined by simply measuring directly from the blade and whatever blade-holding gadget you use. Even so, a frame saw is very forgiving with such things; nothing really needs to be exact.
As for the blade... With a veneer saw you'll obviously be making rip cuts across the width of a board. For that reason, get the longest blade you can. A too-short blade can mean you'll need to take tiny little strokes--which isn't exactly desireable. To help the saw track well, also try to get the widest blade you can find.
Alan
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