Quick Summary: When searching for a coping saw, there are some important considerations to factor in: safety, versatility, durability, weight, price, and more. With these considerations in mind, we chose the Robert Larson Coping Saw as the best coping saw. The Robert Larson Saw comes from a reputable company, is very sturdy, and is a great price.
Whether you are a professional needing a coping saw for work, a DIYer who wants to cut materials for your home more efficiently, or a hobbyist wanting to use or increase your skills, you probably need a coping saw.
Coping saws come in a variety of sizes, depths, and made from different materials. Some are better at some projects than others, such as fine cutting.
The one you choose will ultimately depend on what you use it for. They also come with a variety of handles. Regardless of your purpose, there is a coping saw out there that is perfect for you.
We know that looking for the perfect coping saw can be time consuming and frustrating. There are some many options available across many different price points, it is hard to know which one to choose.
We have put together this guide to assist you while making your coping saw selection and found the eight best coping saw types across various categories and listed them here for you.
Quick Navigation
- Comparisons of 10 Best Coping Saws
- Reviews of Top 10 Coping Saws
- How to Choose the Best Coping Saw
- Coping saw vs Fret Saw
- Final Verdict
Reviews of Top 10 Coping Saws
Best Overall
1. Robert Larson Coping Saw
What You Will Love: This coping saw is lightweight and has easily replaceable blades.
The Robert Larson Saw is a German made sturdy tool. The wood handle does not rotate as some do, so the user retains a great deal of control.
The blade length is 6″ and is easily replaceable with standard size blades, meaning you do not have to spend extra money on a special size blade.
Because coping saw blades break pretty easily, buyers suggest purchasing the replacement blades at the same time that you purchase the saw.
You can easily adjust the tension of the blade for better performance. It is lightweight and has a cutting depth of about 5″.
The price is nice as it generally runs under $20. Unfortunately, while it can handle smooth curves, it does not work well cutting hard angles.
Pros
- Good price
- Sturdy
- Users have great control
- Easily replaceable blades
- Uses standard size blades
- Lightweight
- Adjustable blade tension
- Good price
Cons
- not good at handling hard or sharp angles
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Best Budget
2. Olson Coping Saw
What You Will Love: The blade can be rotated 360 degrees so that you can saw in all directions.
The Olson Saw allows you to adjust the tension of the blade from both ends of the saw. It is a sturdy tool with a hardwood handle that uses standard pin end coping saw blades.
It usually costs less than $15, so it is a very budget friendly tool. Buyers rave about the sturdiness of the blade and that they did not expect a coping saw that is so inexpensive to work so well.
It is quite possibly the best value coping saw. Both hobbyists and professional woodworkers found this Olson saw to be a useful tool. Even with all the great opinions of this hand saw, there were a couple of suggestions for improvement.
One stated that when the blade was pulled to full tension, the handle would bend making it a bit difficult to use.
The other suggestion was to make the handle larger and easier to grip, which can lead to accidents.
Pros
- Good price
- Good for professional and personal use
- The blade can rotate 360 degrees for versatile cutting directions
- Sturdy blade
- Can adjust the tension from both sides of the saw
Cons
- The handle may bend when the blade is fully tense
- The handle is small and difficult to get a good grip on
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Best Wooden Handle Coping Saw
3. Eclipse Wood Handle and Steel Frame Coping Saw
What You Will Love: This coping saw comes with a bi-metal blade that is virtually unbreakable and great for fine cutting.
The Eclipse Wood Handle and Steel Frame Saw is over 10″ long and nearly 12″ high, but other sizes are also available.
The blade is a tough, bimetal blade that is nearly unbreakable, safe, and wear resistant. It can also be rotated for use in multiple directions, and the blade stays in the position you set.
This saw is great for model makers and fine cutting projects on thin materials like plastic, wood, and bone. The price usually hovers around $20, but you may find yourself spending closer to $25.
Most buyers say that they would pay more for this Eclipse Wood Handle saw because it does such a great job. It is both sturdy and lightweight.
Besides some users having difficulty rotating the blade, this seems like an excellent choice in coping saws. It definitely seems to be the best rated coping saw within this price range.
Pros
- Good price
- Great on thin materials
- The tough blade that can be rotated
- Sturdy
- Lightweight
Cons
- Some users have trouble rotating the blade
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Best Wooden Handle (1st Runner-up)
4. BAHCO 301 6 1/2 Inch Coping Saw
What You Will Love: The Bahco Coping Saw has a nickel plated frame providing more strength and durability.
The Bahco 301 6 and 1/2 inch coping saw is a large coping saw that has blades constructed of tempered and hardened carbon steel. Another feature is the frame is constructed of nickel plate steel.
The handle is a beautiful orange lacquer on top of a beech wood handle. Due to its 14 teeth per inch and its blade length of 6 and 1/2 inch, it has a powerful cutting surface.
The teeth are also milled and set. The blades are interchangeable and keeps blade in place with retaining pins.
Finally, the blade turns 360 degrees to allow for fine tuned wood cutting.
Pros
- Comes with a carbon steel blade
- Sturdy construction
Cons
- Blade is not always aligned properly
- You may see bowing in the blade
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Best for Heavy Duty
5. GreatNeck 28 Coping Saw Frame
What You Will Love: The Great Neck 28 Coping Saw Frame is fully polished to help resist rust damage.
The Great Beck coping saw frame fits the best coping saw blades, as it can hold all standard saw blades. The blade length is adjustable between 6 and 6 1/2 inches.
Another feature is its heavy duty frame which provides strength and durable life. It has a fully polished plating that resists rust for the life of the product.
The blade is adjustable for a full 360 degrees giving you the most flexible cutting of the most intricate shapes. Most noteworthy is the finished hardwood handle.
Pros
- Resistant to rust
- Fully polished plating
Cons
- Ensure all pieces are included upon receipt of coping saw
- Not manufactured in US
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Best Rubber Handle Coping Saw
6. Irwin Tools ProTouch Coping Saw
What You Will Love: The high-speed steel coping blades can cut through many materials quickly and with ease.
It is equipped with a coarse blade length of 6.5″, 17 point tooth blade that is held in by DuraSteel pins. The frame is 5.5″ deep, and it has an ergonomic handle in the shape of a triangle for extra comfort.
Irwin Tools ProTouch Saw is an excellent deal as it usually runs less than $15, and it comes with a lifetime warranty. The frame makes it very durable yet a bit heavy.
A couple of buyers have stated that when they first received the tool, the handle and blade were not in line as though something heavy was sitting on top of it.
After a little force and maneuvering, they got it straightened out and claim that it works very well.
Pros
- Great price
- Respected company
- Ergonomic handle
- Coarse blade with 17 teeth that are held in place well
- Deep sturdy frame
- Lifetime warranty
- Tough and durable
Cons
- A bit heavy due to the steel, some blades and handles are not properly aligned
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Best Rubber Handle Coping Saw (1st Runner Up)
7. Stanley 15-104 Fatmax Coping Saw
What You Will Love: The Stanley 15-104 Fatmax Coping Saw has a tempered blade that is hardened giving you clean cuts every time.
Adding this coping saw to your selection of tools is a great move for all of your intricate cutting needs.
Another great feature is the handle that has a cushioned rubberized handle that provides a comfortable grip while making your fine cuts. The blade length is 6 1/2 inches long.
The overall length of the saw is 13 1/4 inches and the throat depth is 4 3/4 inches. The blade has 15 teeth per inch to provide superior cutting.
Pros
- Walnut stained handle
- Finest professional quality
Cons
- May break if you drop coping saw
- Be careful not to over tighten the blade
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Best Professional Grade Coping Saw
8. Smithline SL-400 Professional Grade Saw
What You Will Love: It comes with a ergonomic handle for a better grip than other hand tools.
The Smithline coping saw is made with a steel frame and die-cast zinc alloy blade holders.
It has a cutting depth of 4.5″ and a 360-degree blade rotation. The hardened, tempered blade is 6″ long and the tool comes with an additional four blades.
The ergonomic handle makes it much easier to get and maintain a good grip, which can prevent a lot of accidents.
You can often find it for less than $20 making it an excellent deal. The only complaint I have found is that thanks to the steel frame, the tool is a bit heavier. Others seem to think it is one of the best quality coping saws.
Pros
- Great price
- Die-cast zinc alloy blade holders
- 4.5″ cutting depth
- 360-degree blade rotation
- Rubber handle for a better and safer grip
- Four extra blades included in package
- No slipping while cutting
Cons
- Heavier than other coping saws due to the steel construction
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Best for Ergonomic Grip
9. Smithline Ergonomic Professional Grade Coping Saw
What You Will Love: You’ll love that this coping saw is easy to use and does an excellent job for your DIY and other work needs.
Get the job done without straining your wrists or hurting your hands with this comfortable and high-quality woodworking hand tool.
Patented soft grip handle
The rubber grip makes this coping saw comfortable to use so that you can use it for long periods while saving yourself from unnecessary strain or effort.
Professional grade
The standard 6 ½ inch blade is made of alloy steel and has a throat depth of 4 ¾ inches, and is built to last from top quality materials. When it comes to performance it works well in all conditions and you can not go wrong with this one.
Ergonomic design
The ergonomic design of this saw can reduce wrist strain and is assembled directly onto the frame in Canada.
Pros:
- Quality frame and blade, suitable for professional use
- Comfortable to use thanks to the soft handle with its rubber grip
- Simple to use a variety of hand positions while cutting
- Hardened, tempered blade that makes clean cuts
- Users say this saw is nice and sturdy for coping
Cons:
- Some users say that the span is half an inch too wide and that the standard 6 ½ inch blades do not fit as the snaps can pin off when you try to tighten it
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Best for Lightweight
10. Knew Concepts Woodworker Coping Saw
What you will love: This coping saw is easy to use since it is lightweight. You can adjust the blade to fit the task at hand. It has some of the most innovative designs for fret saws available.
Tensioning the blade gives you a smooth time since it comes with a unique holder, making the process easy. It hardly requires any maintenance since it is coming from durable material.
Using this fret saw should come easy to you, whether you are a professional or a DIY project. It is a 15 TPI #7 skip tooth blade. The weight of all the gadget parts adds up to 5.2 ounces making it one of the lightest coping saws.
Weighs 5.2 0unces
It is lightweight, which makes it easy to use for various projects.
Distinctive blade holder
This part makes tensioning a straightforward process.
Comes with a 15 TPI #7 skip tooth blade
It is highly durable and unlikely to break.
Pros:
- Equipped with the most innovative designs
- It is easy to use
- It is lightweight
- Durable
Cons:
- Expensive
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How to Choose the Best Coping Saw
There are many options available to you when you are looking for a coping saw, so it is hard to know which one is the best for you.
There are some features that you should keep in mind while doing your search. These features are key to finding the right tool for your need.
Frame
You should look for a frame that is made of steel and often plated with nickel to help protect it from rust.
Blade installation
You want to find a frame that can hold a standard blade. The blade can be kept in place with pins to hold it securely.
Blade rotation
You want to find a blade that rotates to a full 360 degrees to help make the closest cut with the most precision.
Blade quality
You want to use a thin blade because they move easily and do not break as easily. The thicker blades tend to be a little more rigid and break easily when in use.
Tension in the blade
The tension on your coping saw blade is a significant factor. You want to make sure that you keep constant tension on the blade or it could break while you are making your cuts. You want to find a coping saw that allows you to maintain constant tension on your blade.
Handle
When looking for a coping saw, you want a handle that feels the best in your hand and makes it easy for you to hold while making the cut. You want a handle that makes it easier for you to make precise cuts.
Expenses
Most coping saws are affordable, so price does not typically come into play. However, when you are looking for a coping saw do not let the cost alone drive your decision. Cost is important, but it should not be the only factor.
Coping Saw Vs Fret Saw
A fret saw and coping saw are incredibly similar to each other. Both saws allow you to cut intricate shapes more precisely. They are also both used to cut wood and plastic.
There are some differences between the two which may seem small but are not. The major difference between the two is that a fret saw has a longer frame that extends further away from the blade.
Sometimes a fret saw is also called a scroll saw because it is perfect for precise scroll-work. Scroll-work is when complicated shapes are cut into the inside of a wooden surface.
A fret saw is able to cut further away from whatever it is that you are cutting because of its longer frame. The fret saw allows you to cut curves that are tighter and shapes that are more delicate.
Fret saws tend to have shorter and thinner blades than a coping saw does. They are usually about 5.5 inches long. This allows them to cut tighter curves. A fret saw cuts on the stroke when you are pulling. This means that you need to place the teeth of the blade in the frame so that the points are facing back towards the handle.
A fret saw is not intended to be used for fast and aggressive cutting. The blades are fragile and you must treat them with care. The cutting process also takes time and a slow and controlled cut is the best with a fret saw.
Final Verdict: Best Coping Saws
We have presented you a list of the top coping saw across several categories. We looked for coping saws that offer you flexibility and ease of use.
We know that it is important to cut intricate angles with a coping saw, so we found ones that rotate 360 degrees. We also wanted to find coping saws that use standard blades, so they are easy for you to change.
We did all the work for you and hope you enjoy what we believe are the top eight that meet our standard of best coping saw.
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