How To

How to Use a Jewelry Saw

Member
By geltdesigns
User-Submitted Article
(3 Ratings)
Saw a beautiful pin or pendant from sheet metal
Saw a beautiful pin or pendant from sheet metal

Sawing is a basic skill that is critical to jewelry making and fabrication. With a little practice, you will find sawing is surprisingly easy. Perfecting this important skill is essential to expanding your jewelry designs. This tutorial will explain how to use a jewelry saw to cut sheet metal made of sterling silver, brass, copper, steel or gold to fabricate wonderful art jewelry.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  1. Step 1
    Prepare.
     
    Prepare.

    Gather your tools and materials.

  2. Step 2
    Load the blade.
     
    Load the blade.

    Begin by loading the saw. There are three screws on the saw. One adjusts the height of the blade. The other two allow you to insert the blade and then draw it tight. Loosen the wing nuts parallel to the handle (as seen in the picture below) and insert the blade with the teeth facing away from the frame and down toward the handle. Tighten the screws.

  3. Step 3
    Test the blade.
     
    Test the blade.

    Test the blade to be sure it is securely in place. The blade should "twang" when it is properly tightened.

  4. Step 4
    Coat the blade.
     
    Coat the blade.

    Coat the saw blade with paraffin, beeswax or burr life to protect saw blades and reduce friction when sawing.

  5. Step 5
    Let the teeth do the work.
     
    Let the teeth do the work.

    Begin with a small cut on the edge of the sheet. Follow your pattern. When sawing, let the teeth of the saw do the work. Do not push the saw. Let the blade cut itself as you move the saw frame up and down slowly.

  6. Step 6
     

    As you progress when making your cut, it is important to move the metal to be cut when sawing and not the saw frame.

  7. Step 7

    To remove the blade, simply loosen the screws and pull the blade out gently or wiggle the saw blade back out (reversing direction).

  8. Step 8
    Use a bench pin when sawing.
     
    Use a bench pin when sawing.

    Most jewelers use a "bench pin" to support the work (here shown with an anvil) when sawing.

  9. Step 9

    To saw a corner, saw in place and then begin to turn the metal.

Tips & Warnings
  • When deciding which sized blade to use, the rule of thumb is that three teeth should touch the metal when sawing.
  • Note that sawing fast will increase the friction and cause the saw blade to heat up and break.
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