xocd Posted August 22, 2021 Report Share Posted August 22, 2021 The saw in the picture is my version of Jack Metcalfe's frame saw as shown on his book on Chippendale marquetry. The saw consists of two rectangular frames made out of 3/4 baltic birch plywood (using pocket holes). Between the two frames there is a set of two bog-standard drawer slides that serve as linear bearings. One of the frames is stationary and is clamped to my workbench in my basement shop via a horizontal member that is screwed to the stationary frame. The other frame holds the blade and moves up and down. Pushing on a pedal (a short length of 2x4) brings the frame down. A lath of white oak acts as a spring to bring the frame back up. Right now I have a small piece of 1/4" plywood screwed to the horizontal member serving as the saw table. I should make a better version, but I am having too much fun playing with it as is. In this version, the throat of the frames is 26". I.e., the maximum size of the piece can be no more than 13". The frames can be made larger, of course. The blade holders are from an outfit in Barcelona that I bought a few years back when I was visiting. I think I could make equivalent holders with in my shop with some work. Tension is controlled by the big wing-nut on top of the upper holder. It is designed with marquetry in mind: i.e., to cut a few layers of thin veneers using a skinny blade. It might work for 1/4" bbp using a #3 blade, but I have not tried. Features: The blade moves strictly vertically. (For some definition of "strictly") One can use a lot or as little of the blade as one wants on each stroke One can control the speed and length of each stroke independently, which is great for tight turns Sawing goes goes surprisingly fast Quiet Vibration free Very light and easy to store as it doesn't have its own stand I feel much more in control using this saw than when using my Excalibur, even at its slowest speed. I haven't yet, but I think I could use this in my kitchen or dining room and not scare the horses. xocd TexasDIY, Scrappile, lawson56 and 5 others 6 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted August 22, 2021 Report Share Posted August 22, 2021 Does look fun.... Any way you could make a video of it in use?? OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xocd Posted August 22, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2021 5 hours ago, Scrappile said: Does look fun.... Any way you could make a video of it in use?? Let me first get a tripod mount for my phone. xocd Scrappile and OCtoolguy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted August 22, 2021 Report Share Posted August 22, 2021 1 minute ago, xocd said: Let me first get a tripod mount for my phone. xocd I always just lean mine against whatever happens to be at hand. lol. danny and WayneMahler 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lawson56 Posted August 22, 2021 Report Share Posted August 22, 2021 Looks pretty darn cool. I would love to see a video myself. OCtoolguy and danny 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xocd Posted August 22, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2021 This video shows Jack Metcalfe operating his frame scroll saw (the model for mine). It might be a bit sped-up: Scrappile and OCtoolguy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xocd Posted August 22, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2021 1 hour ago, octoolguy said: I always just lean mine against whatever happens to be at hand. lol. Yes, but I need both hand for moving the wood, and both feet: one to treadle and the other one on the floor so I don't fall off xocd Scrappile and OCtoolguy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xocd Posted August 22, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2021 A different frame saw: OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xocd Posted August 22, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 22, 2021 Last one, I promise: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted August 23, 2021 Report Share Posted August 23, 2021 3 hours ago, xocd said: Last one, I promise: I'd like to watch these on the big screen. Can you post a link to them? Scrappile 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xocd Posted August 23, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2021 9 hours ago, octoolguy said: I'd like to watch these on the big screen. Can you post a link to them? You should be able to get the link by right clicking on the video. xocd OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted August 23, 2021 Report Share Posted August 23, 2021 Thanks for the videos.... This looks much simpler to make and less complicated to use than a Chevalet, or do they each have different purposes? OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xocd Posted August 23, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2021 5 minutes ago, Scrappile said: Thanks for the videos.... This looks much simpler to make and less complicated to use than a Chevalet, or do they each have different purposes? Duels have been fought on this question. I have used a chevalet and I much prefer the horizontal frame saw. It is as accurate as I need, much simpler to make, and easier to use. But I am a tyro. There are important professionals, who have much more experience than I have, that swear by the chevalet: e.g., Patrick Edwards of the San Diego School of French Marquetry. It seems that they trace their lineage to the École Boulle in Paris. (Though Boulle himself did not use a chevalet, as the chevalet is a 19th century invention.) Jack Metcalfe, expert on Chippendale marquetry, swears by the horizontal frame saw. In the video below you can see Patrick Edwards gleefully using a frame saw, though he is a chevalet evangelizer: Scrappile 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted August 23, 2021 Report Share Posted August 23, 2021 2 hours ago, xocd said: You should be able to get the link by right clicking on the video. xocd How do you right click on a phone? Please! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xocd Posted August 23, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2021 2 hours ago, octoolguy said: How do you right click on a phone? Please! On an iPhone you press on the video and hold. It will offer you a menu on which you can pick "copy url". I do not know about Android, but imagine something similar. xocd OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrappile Posted August 23, 2021 Report Share Posted August 23, 2021 2 hours ago, octoolguy said: How do you right click on a phone? Please! I don't,,, I don't have one of those phones! OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OCtoolguy Posted August 23, 2021 Report Share Posted August 23, 2021 1 hour ago, xocd said: On an iPhone you press on the video and hold. It will offer you a menu on which you can pick "copy url". I do not know about Android, but imagine something similar. xocd Thanks. I did find most of them on youtube. Very interesting. Good thing I speak a bit of Spanish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roberta Moreton Posted August 24, 2021 Report Share Posted August 24, 2021 That is pretty cool! OCtoolguy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger G Posted January 19 Report Share Posted January 19 What is the measurement of the saw frame? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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