ToolBox Blog

Tool: Marples Woodworker’s Bow Saw

A tool inherited from a friend and mentor, my Marples Bow Saw hangs proudly in a prominent spot on my wall of tools but sees very little use throughout the years. Also known as a Frame Saw the traditional Bow Saw is a rip saw used for resawing. Fitted with a narrow blade a Frame Saw is very similar to the smaller Coping Saw used for cutting curves. A Frame Saw with a narrow blade used for curved cutting might be called a Turning Saw.

Experience:

I have a few tools that mean more to me than their function. This Marples Woodworking tool is one example of a tool that I value but rarely use. My Marples Bow Saw is comprised of Beechwood cheeks, stretcher and toggle with a chord tensioner.

I have used this saw for a set of curved cabinet feet and a few dovetail cutouts but I prefer my Jap saws for almost all my straight hand sawing. Saying that brings to mind a feature of the Frame/Turning Saw which is a tensioned blade. With constant tension on a thin blade a push cut delivers the effectiveness of my Jap-style pull saws.

On the jobsite I regularly used a cheap coping saw on crown and fancy base moldings and in my shop I have a Band Saw. My affinity for shop work will no doubt put this old device to work again one day but for now it hangs on the wall in wait. It hangs displayed in memory, in reminder and as inspiration.

A saw with many names – Which is it – a Bow Saw, Frame Saw, Fret Saw, Coping Saw, Rip Saw or Turning saw? Hahah… It’s a Frame Saw referred to as a Bow Saw which can be used as a Turning Saw. Traditionally the design was used as a resawing Rip Saw. Modern woodworking has abandoned the design but this saw can perform a multitude of hand-sawing functions.

Links:

Check out the Gramercy Bow Saw for interesting information on the Bow Saw.