What is the difference between a coping saw and a fret saw?  I was browsing the Blue Spruce Toolworks site and came across their coping saw and fret saw page.  I couldn't see much difference, except for maybe a small size difference.  I was also looking at their bench chisels.  $994 for a set of chisels?  Granted, they are good tools, and it was an 11 piece set, but still.  $994?  Maybe I was blinded by the price, and that's why I couldn't see any difference in the saws.

From my understanding, it is the size and construction. Fret saws are also know as jewelers saws. The frame seems to be more substantial. I think they are smaller than Coping saws

 

I believe luthier's fret saws are a different animal altogether.

Edited February 11, 20224 yr by lew

OK, so for someone wanting to learn dovetailing, which saw should I get?  That is, if I ever get the Florip dovetail saw I won in the last fundraiser.  And thanks for the reply and info Lew.

24 minutes ago, PostalTom said:

OK, so for someone wanting to learn dovetailing, which saw should I get?  That is, if I ever get the Florip dovetail saw I won in the last fundraiser.  And thanks for the reply and info Lew.

Can’t speak to why you haven’t received the saw but most folks I know use the coping saw this n combination with a dovetail saw. Personally, I prefer the Japanese Dozuki for the main cuts. 

1 hour ago, PostalTom said:

OK, so for someone wanting to learn dovetailing, which saw should I get?  That is, if I ever get the Florip dovetail saw I won in the last fundraiser.  And thanks for the reply and info Lew.

Tom, If you haven't already, a good watch for coping saw techniques. He also has excellent videos about hand cutting dovetails.

EDIT add..also gives a good answer to your question coping vs fret. 

 

Edited February 11, 20224 yr by Grandpadave52

Thanks Dave.  I'll check it out.

5 hours ago, PostalTom said:

Granted, they are good tools, and it was an 11 piece set, but still.  $994? 

 

Buy 10 for $100.00 each and get one free.  What a deal.

From the Blue Spruce Toolworks website; a coping saw takes pin end blades and a fret saw takes plain end blades.

9 hours ago, Wichman3 said:

From the Blue Spruce Toolworks website; a coping saw takes pin end blades and a fret saw takes plain end blades.

 

Good call Wich.

 

 

 

 

Thanks Wichman, I missed that piece of information.  I'll focus on the "p"; p in coping, p in pin.  Good memory trick.  (Not to be confused with p in the morning.)

Tom, have you heard from Woodcraft at all?

The biggest difference is:

 

You can buy a Coping saw for 25¢ at a yard sale, but you have to pay real money for a Fret saw

5 hours ago, John Morris said:

Tom, have you heard from Woodcraft at all?

No I haven't John.  My only information is from their web site, and it says ESTIMATED SHIP DATE FEBRUARY 18, 2022.  I just hope I'm somewhere near the top of their list when they start shipping.

Got it, I fired off an email this morning as well, I'll let ya know if I hear anything back.

4 hours ago, frenchwwr said:

You can buy a Coping saw for 25¢ at a yard sale, but you have to pay real money for a Fret saw

Well, probably not enough real money to "fret" over.

3 hours ago, PostalTom said:

No I haven't John.  My only information is from their web site, and it says ESTIMATED SHIP DATE FEBRUARY 18, 2022.  I just hope I'm somewhere near the top of their list when they start shipping.

With the extended ESD wonder if it's Supply Chain holdup issues? Broken or missing link.