The 9 Best Coping Saws
This wiki has been updated 23 times since it was first published in October of 2017. If your woodworking project requires extra precision, consider purchasing a coping saw. These tools allow you to make elaborate cuts and intricate patterns in wood — feats that are difficult or even impossible to accomplish using power tools or other varieties of hand saw. The models on this list boast features such as adjustable tension, ergonomic handles, included blades and more. When users buy our independently chosen editorial selections, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. Knew Concepts 6-1/2 Inch
2. Smithline SL-410
3. Irwin Tools 2014400
Editor's Notes
March 01, 2021:
While we did windup removing the Sheffield 58203 and Task Tools T33105 due to availability issues, we also found three new selections to add to our list, effectively replacing our lost picks and increasing the size of these rankings by one item.
Our first new pick was the Irwin Tools 2014400. It’s unlikely that the 2014400 is going to be the saw of choice for many devout fine woodworkers or gearheads, but we still thought that the combination of its wallet-friendly price and lifetime warranty made it a choice well worth including, for the benefit of casual hobbyists and professionals with stretched budgets. Notably, its design is quite similar to that of the Stanley Fatmax 15-104 (an alternate option from the same parent company), but the 2014400 is slightly more affordable than the 15-104’s already quite-reasonable price.
Our second selection was the Smithline SL-410, which caught our eye with its ergonomic handle, which provides a second spot to hold that’s perpendicular to its main grip. The SL-410 does cost a bit more than some options in this category, but it’s still an affordable choice, and our guess is that there’s going to be a lot of carpenters who don’t mind paying the difference for this added utility — which can save you a lot of unnecessary wrist strain, and also save you from spending so much time strategically planning how to set your samples in your bench vise.
Our last pick is certainly on the pricier side, but serious finish carpenters with money to spend still might want to put some thought into purchasing the Knew Concepts 6-1/2 Inch, which is made in the USA and features a contoured wooden handle, cam-lever tensioning mechanism and slick aluminum-frame design.
Feel free to keep browsing through our website for further finish carpentry-related rankings. We’ve got lists for everything from mortise chisel sets to hand planers.
March 15, 2019:
Choosing a variety of handle types was an important factor in the selection process, which is why the products featured here have handles made from a range of materials — including wood, rubber, and plastic — to accommodate different comfort preferences. We've moved the Bahco 301 to the very top of the list due to an increase in popularity among both professional and amateur woodworkers. User concerns about the blade of the Olson Saw SF63510 shifting out of alignment are overwhelmingly outnumbered by endorsements of the product, which is why it remains in the list.
Special Honors
Zona Tool Company In addition to a selection of tools and hardware suitable for finish carpenters, this outfit offers several replacement-blade options for your coping saw. Whether you're looking to pick up a pack of four or a package of 144 blades, they've got you covered. zonatool.net
Lee Valley Lee Valley has a wide-ranging wealth of tools, hardware and project ideas that's likely to appeal to many professionals and hobbyists. When the grip wears out on your Knew Concepts coping saw, this is where you can go to find a replacement handle. leevalley.com
4. Bahco 301
5. Eclipse 70-CP1R
6. Robert Larson 540-2000
7. Olson Saw SF63510
8. Stanley Fatmax 15-104
9. Zona 35-670
After deciding that the pen was mightier than the pliers, Canadian electrical contractor William Rhoda abandoned his career and headed back to college, where he majored in marketing and advertising and won a scholarship along the way to earning a diploma in creative communications. His past career landed him a depth of knowledge in tools and hardware, while his current career schooled him in audio, video and camera equipment. During his leisure time, he’s learned lots about outdoor gear, and years of tiresome backyard maintenance have taught him all about pools and hot tubs. His recreational pursuits include rest, relaxation and revolutionary action, and his roommate’s a hairless cat.