Coping Saw Blades

About Coping Saw Blades

Coping saw blades are specialist replacement blades designed for use with coping saws, the essential hand tools favoured by carpenters, joiners and woodworkers for making intricate curved cuts and detailed joinery work. These fine-toothed blades are typically between 150mm and 170mm in length, stretching between the pins of a coping saw frame to create tension that allows for precise, controlled cutting through wood, plastic and soft metals.

At TooledUp.com, our range of coping saw blades includes trusted brands such as Bahco, Stanley, Faithfull and Draper, each offering varying tooth counts and blade specifications to suit different materials and cutting requirements. Whether you're cutting dovetail joints, creating scroll work, or trimming architrave and skirting boards for a perfect fit, having sharp replacement blades to hand ensures your work remains accurate and your productivity stays high.

Available in packs of multiple blades, these affordable consumables are essential stock for any toolbox. The blades feature pin-end fittings that slot easily into standard coping saw frames, making replacement quick and straightforward when blades become dull or break during demanding site work or workshop projects.

Jargon Buster

• TPI (Teeth Per Inch): The number of teeth on the blade within a one-inch length. Higher TPI (14-20) produces finer, smoother cuts ideal for detailed work, whilst lower TPI (10-14) cuts faster through thicker materials but leaves a rougher finish.
• Pin-End Fitting: The small metal pins at each end of coping saw blades that slot into the holes on the coping saw frame, allowing for quick blade changes and secure tensioning.
• Blade Tension: The tightness of the blade within the frame, controlled by the handle mechanism. Proper tension prevents blade wandering and breakage, ensuring straight, accurate cuts.
• Set: The slight outward bend of alternating teeth on the blade, which creates a cut (kerf) wider than the blade thickness, preventing binding and allowing the blade to move freely through the workpiece.
• Kerf: The width of material removed by the saw blade as it cuts. Coping saw blades produce a narrow kerf, minimising waste and allowing for tight, intricate curves.
• Blade Orientation: Coping saw blades can be fitted with teeth facing towards or away from the handle, depending on whether you prefer to cut on the push or pull stroke.

Who Uses Coping Saw Blades?

• Carpenters and joiners for cutting intricate joints, scribing architrave and creating decorative woodwork
• Cabinet makers who require precise curved cuts for furniture construction and detailed joinery
• Luthiers and instrument makers working on guitars, violins and other wooden instruments
• Shop fitters needing to scribe and fit mouldings around irregular surfaces
• Model makers and hobbyists creating detailed wooden models and craft projects
• Restoration specialists repairing and replicating period joinery and architectural features
• DIY enthusiasts tackling home improvement projects involving skirting boards, dado rails and decorative trim
• Set designers and prop makers in theatre and film production requiring custom-cut wooden components

How to Choose the Right Coping Saw Blades

Material Compatibility: Select blades appropriate for your workpiece. Standard wood-cutting blades suit softwoods and hardwoods, whilst specialist blades are available for plastics and non-ferrous metals. Check the manufacturer's specifications to ensure compatibility with your project materials.

Teeth Per Inch (TPI): Match the TPI to your cutting requirements. For intricate scrollwork and fine joinery, choose blades with 15-20 TPI for smooth, precise cuts. For faster cutting through thicker stock, opt for 10-14 TPI blades, though these will leave a slightly rougher finish requiring more sanding.

Blade Quality and Brand: Invest in reputable brands like Bahco, Stanley, Faithfull and Draper for consistent quality and durability. Premium blades maintain their sharpness longer, produce cleaner cuts and are less prone to snapping under tension, ultimately proving more economical than budget alternatives.

Pack Quantity: Coping saw blades are consumables that dull with use and occasionally snap during demanding work. Purchase multi-blade packs to ensure you always have sharp replacements available, minimising downtime on site or in the workshop.

Frame Compatibility: Whilst most coping saw blades use standard pin-end fittings compatible with the majority of frames, always verify that replacement blades match your specific coping saw model to ensure proper tensioning and secure fitting.

Popular Accessories

• Coping Saws and Frames: The essential tool for holding and tensioning your blades, available from brands like Bahco, Stanley and Faithfull
• Junior Hacksaws: Complementary tools for cutting metal and plastic pipes where coping saws aren't suitable
• Files and Rasps: For refining and smoothing cuts after sawing, particularly useful for joinery work
• Bench Hooks and Vices: Secure workholding solutions that provide stability when making intricate cuts
• Marking and Measuring Tools: Pencils, marking knives and templates for accurate layout before cutting
• Sandpaper and Abrasives: For finishing cut edges to a professional standard

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I replace coping saw blades?

Replace blades when you notice increased resistance, rough cut quality, or wandering during cuts. Professionals working daily may change blades several times per week, whilst occasional DIY users might replace them every few projects. Always keep spares available, as blades can snap unexpectedly during demanding cuts.

Which way should the teeth face on a coping saw blade?

Most users fit blades with teeth pointing towards the handle, cutting on the pull stroke for greater control. However, some prefer teeth facing away to cut on the push stroke, particularly when working on a bench hook. Experiment to find which orientation suits your technique and provides the best visibility of your cut line.

Can coping saw blades cut metal as well as wood?

Standard coping saw blades are designed primarily for wood. Whilst they can cut soft plastics, cutting metal requires specialist blades with appropriate tooth configuration and hardness. For metal work, consider dedicated hacksaw blades or metal-cutting coping saw blades where available.

Why do my coping saw blades keep breaking?

Blade breakage typically results from excessive tension, forcing the cut rather than letting the blade do the work, twisting during curved cuts, or using dull blades that bind in the kerf. Ensure proper blade tension, maintain steady cutting pressure, and replace blades regularly to minimise breakage.

Are higher TPI blades always better?

Not necessarily. Higher TPI produces smoother cuts but removes material more slowly, which can be inefficient for rough cutting or thicker stock. Match the TPI to your specific task: use higher TPI (15-20) for fine joinery and detailed work, and lower TPI (10-14) for faster cutting where finish quality is less critical.