#07 – Framesaw

Framesaw Traditional Joinery — The Remarkable Tensioned Saw of 5 Centuries

Framesaw traditional joinery is the remarkable craft of cutting with a thin, narrow blade held rigid within a wooden frame by a twisted cord — capable of straight cuts, curved cuts, ripping, and crosscutting with equal precision. In framesaw traditional joinery, this enduring tensioned blade was the saw of the joiner, the cabinetmaker, and the cooper for over 5 centuries before the panel saw replaced it.

History of Framesaw Traditional Joinery — 5 Remarkable Centuries

The framesaw has medieval origins and dominated European woodworking from the 15th through the 19th century. As noted in Wikipedia’s bow saw article, the framesaw was the remarkable defining saw of framesaw traditional joinery until the industrial era replaced it with the rigid panel saw.

How the Framesaw Works in Traditional Joinery

The rugged wooden frame holds the blade in tension via a twisted cord at the top. Greater tension means a stiffer blade and a straighter cut. The blade can be rotated within the frame, allowing the craftsman to saw at angles or follow curves — a timeless versatility that no rigid panel saw matches in framesaw traditional joinery.

Framesaw Traditional Joinery in Coopering and Cabinetmaking

Joiners used the remarkable framesaw for ripping thin boards and curved shapes; coopers used it to cut stave blanks; cabinetmakers used it for veneer work. See also Handsaw — No. 06 for the enduring panel saw that followed it.

The Framesaw Today

The framesaw has seen a remarkable revival among hand-tool woodworkers. Bow saws — the framesaw’s direct descendant — are used daily in framesaw traditional joinery worldwide.