Cutting pearl

**bluegrassplayer** · Sep-07-2006, 2:48pm

I saw tennbidder's thread and it reminded me.

What is the proper blade direction for the coping saw? The blade on it when I got it, the teeth were pointed up. I was thinking on normal coping saws the teeth were supposed to be pointing down.

Sorry for the stupid question,
Micah

**sunburst** · Sep-07-2006, 2:50pm

You're right. The saw should cut on the pull stroke.

**tennbidder** · Sep-07-2006, 3:13pm

The teeth should be pointing to the OUTSIDE !

**bluegrassplayer** · Sep-07-2006, 3:26pm

**Chris Baird** · Sep-07-2006, 3:43pm

Actually the teeth are best if they are pointing inside the saw and down.

**Paul Hostetter** · Sep-07-2006, 4:52pm

Micah: it's not a stupid question!

There's a distinction between a coping saw and a jeweler's saw. In any event, you use a benchpin, as shown, and be very careful to have the blade moving up and down at precisely 90 degrees to the work. You won't lose blades this way.