what is a coping saw

A coping saw is a type of bow saw used in woodworking or carpentry to cut intricate external shapes and interior cut-outs. It is commonly used to cut moldings to create coped joints rather than miter joints. The coping saw features a thin, hardened steel blade stretched between the ends of a square, C-shaped, springy-iron frame to which a handle is attached. The blade can be easily removed from the frame, allowing it to be passed through a drilled hole in the middle of a piece of wood. The frame is then re-attached to the blade, and the cut starts from the middle of the piece. Coping saws are also used to create curved shapes and to finish the bottom of dovetail joints. They are designed to cut thin wood and are highly maneuverable, able to cut tight turns in wood and other materials. The saws U-shaped frame has a swiveling spigot at each end to hold the ends of the blade, and a hardwood or plastic handle allows the user to turn the blade during the cut. Coping saws are also used to create fretwork, although they are not able to match a fretsaw in the intricacy of cut, particularly in thin materials. The number of teeth per square inch on the blade varies depending on the thickness or delicacy of the material being cut. Some frames are designed in a truss-like configuration, and fret saws are similar to coping saws but can cut even sharper curves.