A coping saw, as shown in the photo above, is a small handheld saw that's used to cut materials like wood and plastic. Some people assume there's little-to-no risk of injury when using a coping saw, simply because it doesn't use any type of electrical power mechanism. While it's true that coping saws are completely manual, they can still cause serious injuries in the form of lacerations or even finger amputations. So before using one, check out the following safety tips to reduce the risk of injury.
Protective Eyewear
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), roughly 2,000 workers sustain an eye injury that merits professional medical attention every day in the United States. Using a coping saw without protective eyewear only increases the risk of such injury. This is why it's best to err on the side of caution by wearing impact-resistant eyewear. It's a small price to pay for protecting your eyes from serious injury.
Inspect for Damage
It's also a good idea to get into the habit of inspecting your coping saw for damage before each use. Take a few minutes to look at the screws and fittings, checking to make sure it's not loose or otherwise damaged. A single loose screw, for instance, may cause the blade to slip out of place, which can subsequently cause injury by slicing into your hand. If your coping saw is damaged, refrain from using it until it has been fixed.
Materials Being Cut
Coping saws aren't designed to cut through all materials. Rather, they are intended for use on light, thin materials of 1 inch thickness or less. Attempting to cut through materials thicken than 1 inch increases the risk of injury, as the blade may slip.
Wear Gloves
You can further reduce your risk of injury when using a coping saw by wearing gloves. A pair of heavy-duty gloves will reduce the risk of splinters and lacerations.
Replace the Blade
While you can't necessarily sharpen a coping saw's blade, you can still replace it -- and you should replace it when it becomes dull. Over time, the blade will lose its sharpness, forcing you to push with greater force to cut into materials. Contrary to popular belief, cutting with a dull blade actually increases the risk of injury. So, if your coping saw has a dull blade, replace it ASAP to avoid injury.
Photo credit: Dale Simonson
Sep 12th 2016
FAQs
For safety, keep appendages, hands and other objects away from the sharp teeth. Never apply more force onto the saw than you could using your bare hands. As with any other bladed tools, the user should wear long sleeves, padded work gloves and safety glasses to prevent bodily contact with the blade or cutting debris.
What safety rules is to follow when using saws? ›
What should you do before start cutting with a circular saw?
- Wear safety glasses or goggles, or a face shield (with safety glasses or goggles).
- Wear an approved respirator or dust mask when exposed to harmful or nuisance dusts.
- Use appropriate hearing protection equipment in noisy areas.
Some people assume there's little-to-no risk of injury when using a coping saw, simply because it doesn't use any type of electrical power mechanism. While it's true that coping saws are completely manual, they can still cause serious injuries in the form of lacerations or even finger amputations.
What are 2 uses of a coping saw? ›
A coping saw was mainly invented to “cope” or “saw” the crossings between two surfaces to allow them to fit together seamlessly. With a coping saw, you can cut out any intricate shape in wooden materials or make curved trims for your roof eaves.
When should you use a coping tool? ›
This may seem controversial, and many people, woodworkers, defend the position that coping saws are best used on the pull stroke, but the main reason is that coping cuts are usually through thicker sections of wood such as skirting boards and not the thin stock used say in fretsaw work.
What safety precautions should you take when using a handsaw? ›
Hand-Saw Precautions
Wear eye protection when using a hand saw. Do not test saw teeth on hands or fingers to determine whether a hand saw is sharp. Carry a hand saw by its handle with the saw end pointed down. Use the proper type of hand saw for the material to be cut or type of cut to be made.
How to be safe with a saw? ›
Never feed the saw into the work piece at a rate faster than it can accept. Keep your fingers and hands at least four inches from a rotating saw blade. Check stock for nails, screws, knots or imperfections in the wood. Do not attempt to cut pieces of stock that are too small to easily hold with your hands.
What is the disadvantage of a coping saw? ›
The major downside to the coping saw is that you have to remove the waste in two passes instead of one. Because the coping saw's blade is thick, it sometimes won't drop down into the bottom of the kerf left by your dovetail saw.
What is the preventive maintenance of a coping saw? ›
How do you maintain and care for a coping saw to ensure its longevity? Proper maintenance of a coping saw includes: Regularly clean the blade and frame to remove any sawdust or resin build-up. Lubricating the moving parts, such as the tensioning mechanism, to keep them functioning smoothly.
Is a coping saw a hack saw? ›
Coping saws must have an extremely narrow blade so that they can make very sharp turn to cut intricate designs and shapes. A hacksaw is designed to cut steel, or pipes that require a straight line. You may slant the cut line with a hack saw, but you would be unable to make a “U” turn cut like you can with a coping saw!
Additional Safety Measures
- Maintain sharp blades.
- Position the piece to be cut before starting the saw.
- Stand at the side of the machine and use the hand nearest the handle to operate the saw. This keeps the operator's body out of the line of the saw.
- Always wear eye and face protection.
Never feed the saw into the work piece at a rate faster than it can accept. Keep your fingers and hands at least four inches from a rotating saw blade. Check stock for nails, screws, knots or imperfections in the wood. Do not attempt to cut pieces of stock that are too small to easily hold with your hands.
