Most of us probably first came across fretsawing in woodwork class at school. I fretsawed formers for my model aeroplanes as a little boy, with mixed results! Besides cutting thin wood, fretsawing is also used by jewellers, though with blades better suited to metal.
Marquetry – the marquetarian's craft
The more professional user may be a marquetarian, someone focused on marquetry and inlay work. In the 16th to 18th centuries these craftsmen could also be called "leaf carvers" or "flower cutters".
The craft is now rare, but a number of Swedish craftspeople have trained in it and make their living from it, for example Andreas Björklund (Björklunds Intarsia) and Lena Nordenståhl (Nordenståhls Finsnickeri). To see how marquetry was used in the past, read Charlotta Ekholm's thesis on Johannes Fundberg, a cabinetmaker from Dalsland.
Blade tension – the key to a good cut
Screw tensioning
The blade is tensioned very precisely with a knurled nut at the top of the frame. Knew Concepts' first and most affordable model.
Lever tension
For quick, repeated blade changes when piercing. The tension stays the same when you refit the blade.
Swivelling clamps
The clamps turn 45° left or right, so you can swing the frame out of the way and reach places that were impossible before.
Piercing – cutting out from the inside
To cut out a shape inside a piece, drill a small hole, release the blade at one end, thread it through the hole and tension it again. This is where lever tension saves time, since the tension does not change between cuts.
Knew Concepts frames are made of anodised aircraft-grade aluminium. The Mk.V blade clamps have inspection holes so you can see the back of the blade and check that it is really held, and the sawdust falls out through the hole so the clamps keep their grip.
Choosing a blade
The Skip blades from Pégas are universal blades for hard and medium-hard wood. They come in many sizes, handle both intricate patterns and rough cutting, and leave a smooth surface.
Blades marked R (reverse) have reversed teeth at the bottom that reduce tear-out on the underside of the workpiece. The MGT blades have redesigned teeth that run cooler, splinter less and give a noticeably smoother surface. Read more in Pégas Fret Saw Blades.
Which saw should I choose?
Getting started
3" throat, screw tension, 128.5 g.
Mk.V 3" screw
Piercing
3" throat, lever tension.
Mk.V 3" lever
Tricky places
Lever tension, swivelling clamps.
Mk.V 3" swivel
Larger work
8" throat, 23–27 kg blade tension.
Mk.IV 8"
What does throat depth mean?
Screw or lever tension?
What does R mean on a fret saw blade?
See the full range: Fret Saws and Fret Saw Blades
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