Metal cutting coping saw blades

[45-110]

Can someone recommend a source and brand for blades that will fit a coping saw frame. I want to be able to cut 1/8" steel and cut out triggers. Tired of drilling a bunch of holes to rough out curves. Is there a bi-metal blade choice?
thanks
kw

[ericxvi]

I use a jewelers saw with no. 6 blades from
Track of the Wolf.
Eric

[45-110]

I have used jewelers saws and blades for years, but now need something that cuts a little more aggressive in heavier steel and is not so fragile. I did find Olson 32 teeth coping saw blades that say they are for steel, so I will order some and see what they do.

[P.W.Berkuta]

Let us know how they work out

[Craig Wilcox]

For many years I've use Rio Grande Lazer blades, #3 for steel up to 3/16", #5 for steel up to 3/8".  Besides gun stuff, I cut all the steel parts for a few home-built airplanes.  Just keep the blade vertical, use a vee-block as a cutting aid, couple small clamps to hold the work down.

[45-110]

Thanks Craig
That is the info I was looking for.
kw

[Bob Gerard]

For the Rio Grande Lazer blades, do you need a jewelers saw? Any recommendations?
Thanks!

[sbowman]

yes you need a jewelers saw frame for jewelers saw blades.  Here's a size chart, notice the teeth per inch and recommended metal thickness

Blade
Size    Blade
Thickness    Blade
Depth    Teeth
per Inch    Recommended
for B&S Gauge    Drill Size
for Piercing
8/0    .0063"    .0126"    89.0    up to 26    80
7/0    .0067"    .0130"    84.0    24 - 26    80
6/0    .0070"    .0140"    76.0    24    79
5/0    .0080"    .0157"    71.0    22 - 24    78
4/0    .0086"    .0175"    66.0    22    77
3/0    .0095"    .0190"    61.0    22    76
2/0    .0103"    .0204"    56.0    20 - 22    75
1/0    .0110"    .0220"    53.5    18 - 22    73
1    .0120"    .0240"    51.0    18 - 20    71
2    .0134"    .0276"    43.0    16 - 18    70
3    .0140"    .0290"    40.5    16 - 18    68
4    .0150"    .0307"    38.0    16 - 18    67
5    .0158"    .0331"    35.5    16    65
6    .0173"    .0370"    33.0    14    58
7    .0189"    .0400"    30.5    12    57
8    .0197"    .0440"    28.0    12    55


Steve

[TDM]

yes you need a jewelers saw frame for jewelers saw blades.  Here's a size chart, notice the teeth per inch and recommended metal thickness

Blade
Size    Blade
Thickness    Blade
Depth    Teeth
per Inch    Recommended
for B&S Gauge    Drill Size
for Piercing
8/0    .0063"    .0126"    89.0    up to 26    80
7/0    .0067"    .0130"    84.0    24 - 26    80
6/0    .0070"    .0140"    76.0    24    79
5/0    .0080"    .0157"    71.0    22 - 24    78
4/0    .0086"    .0175"    66.0    22    77
3/0    .0095"    .0190"    61.0    22    76
2/0    .0103"    .0204"    56.0    20 - 22    75
1/0    .0110"    .0220"    53.5    18 - 22    73
1    .0120"    .0240"    51.0    18 - 20    71
2    .0134"    .0276"    43.0    16 - 18    70
3    .0140"    .0290"    40.5    16 - 18    68
4    .0150"    .0307"    38.0    16 - 18    67
5    .0158"    .0331"    35.5    16    65
6    .0173"    .0370"    33.0    14    58
7    .0189"    .0400"    30.5    12    57
8    .0197"    .0440"    28.0    12    55


Steve

That's a good chart, thanks for posting.

[45-110]

My original post query got hi jacked into a discussion of jewelry saw blades. My new Olson metal cutting coping saw blades arrived. They seem to work ok within some radius limitations. A better saw frame would improve the experience.
kw

[P.W.Berkuta]

My original post query got hi jacked into a discussion of jewelry saw blades. My new Olson metal cutting coping saw blades arrived. They seem to work ok within some radius limitations. A better saw frame would improve the experience.
kw

I went to the Olson web site and did some reading of their coping saw blades and here is what they say about their metal saw blades - "For precise sawing of wood, plastic, copper and other soft metals".  They say nothing about sawing steel. Let us know how they work out for you.

[ScottH]

I was looking for something like that for my coping saw frame. But then realized that I would not be able to get the end of the blade into the small drilled hole in the barrel underlug, to slot it for pins, on the Kibler SMR I have been working on. So I bought a jewelers saw and blades.
I hope the coping saw blades work out well for you!

[Bob Roller]

What kind of triggers are made from 1/8" steel"? My minimum was 3/16 and 1/4 inch mostly 1018 cod finished.
Bob Roller

[45-110]

Well I have already used them on mild and annealed spring tool steel. They are not the end all-cure all for all things. But they work and it fills the niche between the hack saw and jewelers saw choice. Some cutting oil helped too.
kw

[kutter]

Would the tungsten carbide 'rod saw' blade(s) work for that?

I have used them to cut ceramic tile and thick glass w/o any problems. They should cut through mild steel w/o any issue I would think.
Being a simple round shape you can saw with them in any direction by just applying pressure in that direction.
They just string up on a standard hacksaw frame same as a solid flat blade does.

I wouldn't use them on any soft materials like brass , copper or wood as it likely will load up the TC grit teeth and take away the cutting action.

Cutting out parts in flat stock can be time consuming. I never liked the swiss cheese method of drilled holes either.
I sometimes drill a hole here and there at opportune radius points and slab away the metal outside the part outline with straight cuts w/a hacksaw.
Then it's to the files (and the belt grinder where possible) to cut the excess away.
Other times when the metal is thicker, I just take time and walk an end mill around the outline slowly by hand cranking. Gets you pretty close that way and then the final shaping w/files.