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Swans & bones
a bow coping saw

Story:

Here is a link for the blog: http://lumberjocks.com/mafe/blog/32147

Do I need another coping saw? No I don't! Then why? I wanted to and I had to!



Yes the tool maker strikes again (I know I have a serious problem).

I was always fascinated by frame saws (bow saw in US), when I was a boy and visited my friends uncles cabinet making shop and they were hanging there on the wall I loved the look of them, they were like practical sculptures.
And for about a year I had the dream to make a frame saw, but I kept finding other projects that came first, and felt my skills needed to grow before doing this.

But a few days ago I fell over a picture of a frame saw with swans heads, and I had no choice left, I needed to make a frame saw, and I needed to try if I was able to make a swan carving.
(I send a warm thank you to the inspirator who ironically calls himself 'the toolman').


(Only tried to carve a little balsa duck and bird with a Stanley knife years ago, otherwise I'm a novice to carving).

So a piece of teak was what I had stiff enough, and this became the basic material.

Post pictures:
1. The saw. It is wonderful light.
2. One of the swans.
3. Detail of the winding toggle (this version works half rounds).
4. Before and after raw linseed oil and antique wax, I wanted a used 'raw' look.
5. The swans are coming to life, not as hard as I expected, but I had to use a tool that still needs a lot of adjustment 'the patience tool'.
6. Some teak, a threaded brass rod and a blade, that is almost all you need.



Ohhh yes and a drawing for work inspiration, as usual no measure so plenty of room for fantasy (updated).

For me this was a dream come true, a step on my wood travel, and I'm quite happy for the result, when I get time and energy I will work more on the bones by the blade, these I want to look more like real bones.

Links:
Wiki bowsaw: press here
The swans nest by Hans Christian Andersen: press here
Song by Swan lee: press here
Us parts: press here

Hope it can be to some inspiration, who knows even some frame saws.

Best thoughts,

MaFe

Gallery

Comments

· Premium Member
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20,131 Posts
A tool with style Mads, but could we expect less?? I think not!!
 

· Registered
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9,309 Posts
i made one crude years ago
when i found out i could drill an old band saw blade
just put nails in the holes on the side of the frame
and tightened it up
worked like a champ

not as nice as yours however

but i'm not a pro tool maker
 

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2,016 Posts
Well done,display that with pride !
 

· Registered
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239 Posts
It's wonderful. Another excellent shop made tool from the great Dane. i LOVE the carves swans. Beautiful work my friend.
Cheers,
 

· Registered
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1,501 Posts
We would expect nothing less from you. There are plenty of home made frame saws out there, but you taken it up a notch and made one that is truly "yours". This is an inspiration for anyone wanting to make their own tools. Make them unique. Thanks for the post.
 

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1,434 Posts
Wow, very elegant saw. Good stuff ;)
 

· In Loving Memory
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2,704 Posts
Mads, that is a beautiful coping saw. Good job my friend.
 

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2,806 Posts
How's the swan sawng (forgive me I have a pun addiction)
 

· Registered
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169 Posts
Mads,

You are just full of surprise. Very NICE !!!
 

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1,398 Posts
Very nice Mafe.

Is the neck (swans) strong enough for the tension?
 

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521 Posts
Super cool!

Yes, custom tools like this, really add a lot to a shop, plus they work good and are much more fun to work with.

Great design….................
 

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418 Posts
Definietly one of a kind. It pays to go the next step and extra time. Well done.
 

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88 Posts
Yep, no ugly ducklings in that shop !! Great stuff Mads.
 

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78 Posts
This is fantastic Mads…..now I SEE why you just HAD to make one for yourself!
Love those cute little minature bird and duck carvings you did years back as well….you make me smile as always :)
 

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21 Posts
Wow Mafe; Great looking tool. Isn't it very satisfying to be able to use the tools you've built with your own hands?
 

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332 Posts
You know Mafe, the $2 job from the hardware just aint the same :))))
your knowledge of how to make a simple tool to remain simple (in a classic way) is amasing my friend.
 

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86 Posts
Wow, Mads… that is a real sweet little saw! I DO DEFINITELY WANT one of those!

I agree with Pete … my $2 (or rather 75 SEK -Swedish kronor) saw just aint the same, as well!

Love the swan heads/necks… it adds so much to the beauty and value of this little jewel.

Thanks for sharing this.
 

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295 Posts
What a great saw, maybe next time you can make a really strong saw with elepfants instead of swans :D

Well done Mads
 

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wow..those swans are great on the saw..what a wonderful project. You may have to change your name to TOOL ARTIST
 

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Hi guys and dolls (rememberd that play all of a sudden…),
michelletwo, I have a big smile on my face, thank you.
Napoleon, it might be fun for a hack saw - don't get me started.
Rick, you can carve, so that should be a sweet deal.
Pete, my knolage is not as big as it might look, but my will and creativity is not too small. lol.
Tim, yes this pleasure has really got to me, for a long time I thought the pleasure was to buy me some good tools, now I have learned that the pleasure to transform a piece of wood into my own tool is so much larger. And the miracle is that I enjoy after both to look at it, and use it soo much more.
Heidi, I love to make you smile, so that was just another good reason. Cutting dovetails with swans, that is kind of wonderful. (I have not forgotten the pictures), and what a fine picture you have now.
Rob, yes I could not stop eighter to think H.C.Andersen.
Ron, yes the time is well worth it, just imagine the hours of joy I will have when using it.
mtnwild, from you this is a hughe compliment, thank you.
Ian, I have been trying to tighten it quite heavy, and it seems to be fine, but time will show, I agree they are really on the minimum, but the teak seems to have wonderful strong fibers. I wanted it as thin and elegant as pissible, so yes I test some limits here. If it should brake one day, I will have a excuse to make a new… lol.
MShort, I love to be full of surprices, so that is wonderful.
RGtools, I had to look up the words, but then I laughed thank you.
jockmike2, your words warm my heart.
Swirt, and so fun to make. ;-)
Tim, I will admit I was a little proud, my daughter laughed at me, when I said to her 'Mathilde I feel acually proud of something I did'. I had no idea my hands could do this, so I was kind of surprised.
So yes it really is possible, every one who wants to make on, just do it, you can!
Glen, thank you, I seem to have many names here, 'the grate Dane' is new. I read of a man called the great dane in US, he made some kind of simple mortise tennon jig in the old days. So perhaps I can take over the name one day… Smile.
Brandon, yes I think also it deserves a sweet spot in the work shop, not a bad idea.
Patron, why I'm not surprised. I was thinking of this, using bandsaw blades, they come more cheap. But is the steel not dam hard to drill in? BTW. I have a bandsaw blade all new, that broke in the joint, how do I put this together again? Can I?
Topa, no way! I do not do things half - lol. You do look cool on thet new photo.
Thank you to all of you for those wonderful words, I sit here at my daughters dance school waiting, waiting with a giant smile on my lips, and this came from you.
Best thoughts,
Mads
 
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