Build Your Own Bow Saw

Instructor: John Manthei

A bow saw (often referred to as a frame saw or buck saw) is a must-have tool for almost everyone, especially if you enjoy camping or harvesting wood for other projects.

The idea is quite simple – a flexible, thin blade is tensioned between two members of a frame and that frame becomes the handle with which you pull and push the saw through wood. The idea behind a thin blade is that it removes very little wood, thus requiring less effort while cutting. These blades come in standard sizes and different tooth configurations (dry wood, green wood, meat and bone) and are available at most hardware or building supply stores. The saw we will be making weighs very little and breaks down into a small bundle that easily fits in a backpack.