How To Use A Jewellers Piercing Saw. Jewelry saw blade chart
How To Use A Jewellers Piercing Saw
Sawing metal sheet is a technique you will do at the very start of your jewellery making journey and with practice and patience, it will be a skill you will master.
We’re sharing with you top tips on using the saw when making jewellery, how to attach saw blades and provide all the supplies you need to get started.
Another alternative to cutting metal sheet is using metal cutters/shears, however with a piercing saw you are able to create many intricate shapes, cut holes and shapes within the metal. This gives you endless possibilities and the chance for you to get really creative at the bench!
Why Use A Jewellers Saw?
The possibilities are endless when it comes to using a jewellers piercing saw and we often turn to the saw for most of our cutting needs.
The jewellers saw is a must-have in the workshop, allowing you to easily cut metal wire and sheet, such as cutting D-shaped wire for making a ring Band/bangle or cutting intricate shapes out of metal sheet.
Using a saw instead of metal cutters has it’s advantages, as a saw enables you to cut without curling or distorting the metal which is what you would experience using metal cutters. Using a saw for cutting out shapes will minimise the need for filing and flattening your work.
Allows Precision Needed For Soldering
A saw will also allow you to cut a nice flat edge which is essential for a solder joint. If you were making a ring Band for example, when bending the wire together to form a Band ready to solder. you can overlap the wire and use your saw to cut through them to create a neat, flat edge for your solder joint.
Cut Out Intricate Shapes Internal Shapes In Metal
If you would like to cut our a detailed shape in metal sheet, the saw is your go-to tool!
Shop Jewellers Swiss Piercing Saw Frame
We offer a high-quality jewellers Swiss piercing saw frame for cutting metal sheet, metal tubing and metal wire. This classic design has a comfortable wooden handle, with easy tension adjustment to prevent blades from breaking. It also has an adjustable length which allows you to use different length saw blades to suit your needs.
Choosing blades for the jewellers saw
Saw blades are available in a range of sizes for different gauges of metal, the most appropriate grade will depend on the thickness of the metal. A finer blade should be used for thin metal, cutting curves or delicate work. If you’re a beginner, we would recommend starting with medium or coarse blades until you feel confident in your sawing technique.
The general rule of thumb for choosing the correct coarseness of a saw blade is that there are at least 3 saw teeth in contact with the metal when sawing i.e 3 teeth per thickness of the metal sheet.
Shop Swiss Piercing Saw Blades With Kernowcraft
These high-quality AF Gold Shark branded blades are to be used alongside our Swiss piercing frame. These blades are made of hardened tempered steel, with sharp uniformly honed teeth for accurate and Rapid cutting. The blades are designed to aid detailed cutwork as the back non-cutting edge is rounded to assist in cutting right curves.
How to attach saw blades to a saw frame
Hold the saw frame so the frame faces away from you.
Loosen the top thumb screw and insert the end of the blade.
Make sure the teeth on the blade face outwards and teeth downwards.
Loosen the bottom thumb screw and place the bottom end of the blade between the plates.
Push the frame up against a table as you tighten up the screw. this will ensure a tight fit.
Pluck the blade and if you hear a high pitched ‘ping’ you’re good to go!
How to use a jewellers saw for cutting metal
When you first start using the jewellers saw, it’s important to keep the frame vertical while sawing, to keep in control of what you’re cutting.
When you first pierce the metal you want to start at a slight angle and saw downwards to allow the blade to ‘bite’ the metal, then continue to saw vertically.
Wear safety goggles
Safety is important when it comes to sawing metal. Wearing safety goggles will ensure no particles get in your eyes.
Lubricate your saw blades with beeswax
Lubricating your saw blades before and while using the saw will help the blades glide gently and smoothly through the metal, preventing it from breaking. Simply swipe the blade through the wax once, you can also use it on the back of the blade to keep the wax from clogging the teeth.
Support the metal with your hand
When sawing you will need to use an anvil and bench pin. Rest your metal on the bench pin and use your hand to hold the metal while sawing.
It can be easy to put a lot of pressure on the saw when you’re a beginner. Relax! Have a loose grip and let your elbow do the work.
Turn the metal when creating corners
When it’s time to create a curve in the metal, you don’t want to move the saw but instead, you can use your hand to move the metal.
How to Use Jewelry Making Saw/Unboxing Scroll Saw Blade Spiral Tooth
Be patient. you will break your saw blades!
Everyone will experience broken and snapped blades, don’t be alarmed if this happens as it doesn’t mean you are doing anything wrong. You can prevent this from happening by lubricating your blades with beeswax, not putting pressure on the saw while sawing and continuing to check that your blade is taught.
HOW TO USE a JEWELRY SAW
This is how to use a jewelry saw. Off course you can just go ahead and use it randomly, but with just these few tips, everything will be way easier.
Step 2: CHOOSE THE BLADE
There is many chart online for how to choose your blade depending on what you are cutting. But in general as hard as your material is, as thiner the teeth of the blade should be. For metal at list two to three teeth for as thick the sheet you need to cut is. Thiner blades can be more precise, but they also break way more easily.
Step 3: BLADE DIRECTION
With your finger feel the blade direction. You have to place it in your saw, so that it will cut by pulling, not pushing.
Step 4: PLACE THE BLADE
Place one end of the blade in the part more near the handle. Screw it tight.
Step 5: THE OTHER EDGE OF THE BLADE
The other edge of the blade should not quite arrive to the other side of the saw. It should miss few millimeters.
Step 6: PUSH AND PLACE BLADE
Push the saw against something, holding it from the handle, so that the blade will reach the other edge.
Step 7: FEEL THE BLADE
The blade now should be really tight, and make a nice sharp sound.
Step 8: WAX THE BLADE
Wax the behind side of the blade (not the front part with the teeth).
If you never did it before, you should give it a try: it really make a difference when cutting metal.
It make the blade get less stocked, and make it move easier and smoother.
Step 9: CLAMP THE WOOD
Clamp the wood very firmly on a table. I did my piece with a scrap piece of wood and a jig saw.
Step 10: CUT
Place yourself in front of the piece to cut. Don’t push too much the saw, or the blade will easily break.
Keep the saw in the middle of the wood hole, moving the piece you have to cut with your other hand.
WEAR GLOVES ON THE HAND THAT HOLD THE PIECE TO CUT, THE BLADES ARE REALLY SHARP, AND EASILY CUT TROUGH YOUR FINGERS.
Step 11: IF YOU NEED TO CUT AN INSIDE PART
If you need to cut something in the inside part of a piece of metal, just punch a little hole where you need to cut, insert the blade in the hole, and do the previous step of how to place the blade and cut.
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Комментарии и мнения владельцев
Good post.Hopefully you have all read a great article in popular mechanics(very old) by Mr. W.E. Burton on juse of ewlery saw!
Great, thank you! It would be perfect with one of the charts you mentioned included- one-stop shopping and all.
Great instruction! Can you explain how to use a tracing paper while sawing? I’m reading a book where the author is teaching how to saw through tracing paper but I can’t get it how she made the paper not to move back and forth while sawing. Should it be secured with something?
With any kind of paper or card, you can use spray adhesive: It’s easier to remove the paper than rubber cement, and won’t get brittle and fall off if you have to put the project aside for a day or two. I discovered this while using a scroll saw, and found the adhesive’s residue is much easier to remove.
I don’t know about cutting tracing paper…sorry I can’t help. Anyways, just about curiosity, what is the purpose?
You can draw your design on the tracing paper (or any paper, really) and then attach it to the metal with rubber cement or a glue stick to keep it in place while you saw through both it and the metal at the same time. That way, you don’t have to draw on the metal.- which sometimes, can be problematic.
glue the full piece of paper onto the metal. I have not tried rubber cement. We used a glue stick in the class I took, but I like the rubber cement idea.
attach the paper [not necessarily tracing paper] to the metal sheet with rubber cement; you can then cut out your design without the paper moving.
Muy buena explicación no sabia poner bien la cera,gracias!
never forget to let the blade do the work, in high school jewelry class, i saw a girl cut through half of her finger because the blade wasn’t tight enough, and i saw a boy pierce the blade straight through his finger, for the same reason. don’t push it, guide it.
I agree with the saw safety, I was using a hand wood saw and got a nasty cut from the blade because it slipped out of the workpiece.
Awesome, thanks for the detailed instructions. I will refer to when I use my saw again as I use it infrequently!
hi this a good basic introduction. Two things: it’s jewellery and the blade selection it is normal to have fine teeth for thin metal I was always taught that there should be at least two teeth for the thickness.
Yes, I have to correct that, I meant material, not metal. I also cut bones and really hard wood, so that was just a really general tips. I’ll add your too.
The Best Jeweler Saw Blade (2022 Guide)
Choosing the best jeweler saw blade is vital in creating a smooth finish on your jewelry creations. The jeweler saw users’ best tip in picking a saw blade is to buy the best quality blades.
Always remember that it is the blades that do the cutting. You will waste time, energy, and money on cheap and low-quality saw blades.
Pike Jeweler Saw Blades are quality jeweler blades made in Switzerland. The Pike brand is one of the most popular and finest jewelers saw blades available.
Pike jeweler saw blades are made with special alloy steel using a unique tempering process which gives them a particular golden straw color, long blade life, and constant flexibility. These accurately-sized saw blades are manufactured with a specific angle, size, and cut of each tooth.
The Pike jeweler saw blade is known for straight, uniformed sharp teeth that promote straight cutting lines. It is also made with a rounded back that helps make cutting curves easier.
Nano Advanced Jeweler Saw blades are called such because all the advanced qualities of a jeweler saw blade are combined to make them. This cutting-edge jeweler saw blade manufactured in Germany by Pepe Tools is made from hardened steel, a straighter and stronger saw blade.The Nano blade is an excellent choice to make challenging projects easier and faster. It also allows you more time to create with less time changing blades. It is best to cut into any material cleaner, faster, and longer paired with the Haymaker saw.
The SE 144-Piece Jeweler Piercing Saw Blade comes in a set of 144 pieces for any project that may come to mind. The package includes a variety of blade sizes that can make the cuts that you need with care and precision.
The blade set can come with a professional quality saw frame. The saw frame is adjustable to allow different blade lengths to secure into it firmly.
The Olson Saw JW47600 Jeweler Metal Piercing Blades are the finest quality blades made from hardened and tempered steel. They are excellent blades for sewing steel and many other hardened materials.
The jeweler saw blades are used with handheld frames only. All of the blades are 5 inches long and have regular teeth.
The fine jeweler saw blades made in Germany have round backs that make it easy to turn corners and follow curves. They are perfect for cutting hard materials like bone, pearls, and metals. The Herkules White Label Saw Blades are perfect for ring sizing and jewelry repair.
The Hawk Jeweler Saw Blades has an assortment of 144 blades ranging from 1 to 6 large-size blades and 1/0, 2/0, 3/0, 4/0, 5/0, and 6/0 fine blades. The jeweler saw blade users can attest that the Hawk brand has stronger saw blades and breaks less than the blades that come with a jeweler saw.
How do I choose a jeweler saw blade?
The right jeweler saw blade must be based on the size and shape of the material you need to cut. The best tip in choosing the blade thickness is to pick a saw blade with three teeth for the thickness of the material you need to saw.
What size saw blades do jewelers usually use?
The size of saw blades jewelers use depends on the material that needs cutting. The typical blade size used for silver metal is 2/0, while gold and platinum usually need a size 3/0.
Jeweler sew blades are typically sold in bundles with various blade sizes that may come in handy when working on various materials.
The blade size 3/0 is one of the most common sizes used by jewelers as a piercing blade. When making very fine jewelry or cutting a fragile metal or any thin material used for jewelry-making, you need to use a finer blade. For general purpose cutting, you may use a coarser and heavier blade.
A 2/0 saw blade is the best option for all-around use for a starter in jewelry making; then, you can move on to a 4/0 blade size once you have mastered the 2/0. When creating more advanced and intricate jewelry, a 6/0 saw blade size is the best to use.
Saw blade sizes range from finest to coarsest: 8/0, 7/0, 6/0, 5/0, 4/0, 3/0, 2/0, 1/0, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. The availability of the different blade sizes depends on the manufacturers of these jeweler saw blades.
How to Fit a Saw Blade in Jewellers Piercing Saw
The rule of thumb for jewelers is to pick the blade size best suits the thickness of the material being sawn. Keep in mind that the ideal ratio is three teeth on the materials at any time.
What kind of saw do jewelers use?
The jeweler saw, also called a piercing saw, is one of the essential tools in a jeweler’s bench. You can use it for practical uses such as cutting raw materials, but you can also use it for cutting and piercing very fine and delicate designs.
The most common type of jeweler saw is the German pattern saw frame, although you can still find many other variants of this design in the market. This saw frame design has been tried, tested, and proven to work, and no amount of reinvention is needed.
The main parts of a jeweler saw frame are as follows:
Handle
The handle is where you hold the jeweler saw to cut or pierce with it.
Upper and Lower Clamps
The upper and lower clamps hold the saw blade in place.
Spring Arm
The spring arm is the part of the jeweler saw that experiences compression.
Throat Depth
The throat depth determines the width of metal sheets you can cut with your saw. It usually ranges from one inch to eight inches.
If your saw has a bigger throat, then you can cut wider metal sheets with it, but at the cost of stability. Sawing with a shorter throat is more stable and precise, but the size you can cut is minimal.
An average throat depth to get the most advantage is three inches.
Height Adjustment Knob
You can use non-standard-sized saw blades by adjusting the height adjustment knob. You can also correct the tension on your blade with this knob.
