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RWW 130: Knew Concepts Fret Saw

10 comments
12 years ago
Hand Tools     Videos

My buddy Morton sent me this Knew Concepts Fret Saw to try out after he was finished reviewing it for Highland Woodworking. Unfortunately I liked it so much, I never sent it back to him and instead called Highland Woodworking and bought it outright. It is a major step forward in how a fret/coping saw should function from the adjustable angle to the quick release tensioning mechanism. In the last few weeks I have had it, it has never been far from my work. In fact it now has a dedicated place in the tool tray of my joinery bench.

Recently I pimped out the saw one step further and bought a handle from Elk Head Tools. I will install it in this video and let you know my thoughts. Enjoy the video!

**UPDATE**
I got an email from Lee Marshall (Knew Concepts Saw inventor) and Gary Benson (Elkhead Tools) letting me know that I was not adjusting the saw properly and could be putting too much tension into the frame, possibly bending it. It turns out you need very little adjustment of the knurled nut and it is best to leave that alone. Here is a process from Lee that when I followed it, yielded perfect blade tension without undue frame stress. Thanks Lee!

1.Unscrew the brass nut until the screw disappears into the hole about 1/8″.
2.Flip the lever forwards (the bump is now down).
3.Insert a new blade into the bottom clamp, making sure that it is fully against the bottom and re-clamp.
4. Insert the blade into the top clamp, once again making sure that the blade is all of the way in.
5. Pull the clamp down and you will see that the blade is now bowed slightly.
6. Release the clamp, letting the blade straighten out, and set the brass screw about 1/1/6″ above the lever (a starting position).
7. Flip the lever to tension and flick the blade for “ping”.

Takes more time to write it than it does to do it.

If the ping is a little low, release the lever and tighten the nut in 1/4 turn increments until you get the “ping” that you like. After that, do not change the nut, and instead use the lever to do all of the tensioning.

Knew Concepts Fret Saw
**the above is an affiliate link to Highland Woodworking, thanks for supporting the show by buying through this link**
Elk Head Tools Fret Saw Handle

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Julien Lecomte

Great review, Shannon. Thanks! And I could not agree more. I love my knew concept fret saw as well, although I stuck with the stock handle. And they’re made right next to me, in Santa Cruz, CA 🙂

Lynn Kerby

Wow, that handle is awesome and takes the saw to a whole new level. Any idea how much the new handle weighs? Probably doubled the weight of the saw. I just bought the saw and haven’t had a chance to use it yet, now I’m already thinking about upgrades!

    Shannon

    not sure how much is weighs but I think a doubling of the total weight is probably right. The saw was too light to start with I think and shifting the center back into your hand is a real game changer. I spent quite a bit of time sawing with it after installing the handle and I love it. So much control and comfort while using it.

Dane Christensen

Shannon,

Long time listener, first time caller… Nice review! I’ve been a saw-out-the-waste guy since I learned the method from Rob Cosman; it really does speed up the process. Interesting to see that you’re doing it now too. Rob doesn’t think highly of the Knew Concepts saw, but everyone else in our “Dovetail Degree” loved it… The only bad aspect of the saw is the handle, which is a piece of cheap whitewood or poplar. I doctored it up with some wraps of medical tape which made it easier (possible?) to hold onto, but it was still a frustration.

So when I ran into the Elkhead guys at a L-N tool event last summer and saw they had that handle, I also made the upgrade. (Heck, they were classmates in my dovetail class and liked the Knew Concepts saw so much they bought their own soon thereafter. So I like to think that I inspired that handle…)

I’m not affiliated with them except for being acquainted through various woodworking meet-ups, but their tools are really top-notch. I’ve seen the screwdrivers used in several of Marc’s videos too. Do you have any of those? They are premium and come with that type of price tag, so I wonder what you think. After using the fret saw handle for a while, I might have to get some of them.

Thanks for the great content!
Dane
@DTChristensen

    Shannon

    Dane,
    Interesting, did Rob say why he doesn’t like the saw? It seems difficult to find anything wrong with it. Although considering how many dovetails Rob has cut with his method, I imagine changing anything in his process would be weird for him. I have used dovetail saws that are obviously outstanding but ended up not liking them because I have gotten so used to my own.

    Gary and company at Elk Head are great and I was glad to see this handle offering. I do have 2 of their screwdrivers actually and did my own review of them. Click the link or just google Elk Head Tools and you’ll find it on page one.

      Dane Christensen

      Yes, Rob thought the Knew saw has too much side-to-side flex. While sawing out the waste, my classmates and I were swapping tools around so I got to try out several others’ fret saws (including the extendable spine saw you also have, which was Rob’s recommended tool for the job) – I didn’t see any difference in my outcomes nor feel a significant variation in side-to-side flex. Honestly, the Knew saw has so much less flex in-plane that I’d seriously have a problem going to a different tool after I’ve gotten used to it…

yaakov

Shannon,

Thanks for the review. I have been wanting a better coping saw. Mine sucks.
yaakov….

Marty Backe

Fantastic review. Now I just need to save up my rainy day fund pennies 😉

Steve H.

Hi Shannon-

I was waiting for you to get and review one of these. So the confluence was: customer paid for a job, your review, free shipping from LV and brown truck rolled up.

I was using one of the “old style” saws and breaking a blade after it loosened up about every 5 to 6 tail cuts (the long ones in the pin board). Just cut 3 good sized drawers (at least 20 dovetails) and didn’t even come close to loosening up. The way the blades attach and tension is super.

Being bean counter, I figure at about $.40 a blade the Knew saw will pay for itself in blades in about 15 years. … and it really looks neat even with the old handle.

— Steve.