I Tested 5 Coping Saws: Here are the Best (2024)
Coping saws are known for their unique shape and thin blades, and they’re great at making extremely thin cuts in all kinds of materials.
These hand saws are amazing tools that can make your next project a breeze.
If you’re looking for the best coping saw you can buy, I tested some of the most popular options. Here are my favorites!
In a hurry? The best coping saw overall is the Jorgensen Coping Saw because it’s an easy-to-use, well-designed, lightweight saw that’s made with top-quality materials, and it’s cheaper than most comparable products.
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- 5 saws thoroughly vetted and hand tested
- 10+ data points and key considerations
- 17+ hours of use
Best Coping Saws
- #1 Best Overall – Jorgensen Coping Saw
- Best Quality – BAHCO Coping Saw
- Best Value – Irwin Coping Saw
- Most Comfortable – Stanley FatMax Coping Saw
- Best for Deep Cuts – KAKURI Coping Saw
1. Jorgensen Coping Saw – #1 Best Overall
Durable, versatile, and easy-to-use, the Jorgensen Coping Saw is a great coping saw for amateurs and experts alike, and it’s affordable too when compared to coping saws of similar quality.
Its 6-1/4” frame is made of alloy steel, and it accommodates a 6-1/2” blade.
Weighing just 9.3 oz, this hand-powered saw has a tool-free blade-replacement mechanism; just turn the handle to remove the dull blade and turn again to tighten after the new blade has been inserted.
The blade is made of high-speed steel and it has 15 teeth per inch.
It has an ergonomic plastic grip that’ll stay in place for many years, and it can cut through a variety of materials, including wood, wood-based materials, plastic, and thin, nonferrous metals.
What I Liked:
- Ergonomic grip ensures this saw can be operated comfortably for an extended period.
- 15 TPI means you can make precise cuts quickly and easily.
- Lightweight, streamlined frame ensures this saw is easy to maneuver.
- Blades can be changed out quicker and easier since no tool is required.
What I Didn’t Like:
- A denser frame would make its maneuverability superior.
- Included blades dull quickly when cutting anything other than wood.
My Thoughts
The Jorgensen Coping Saw is the best coping saw overall because it’s built-to-last, efficient, and easy to maneuver. And, it’s a lot cheaper than other high-quality coping saws, delivering precise cuts in a range of materials. Its streamlined design and comfortable handle ensure you can make numerous cuts without experience discomfort, and its weight is ideal. I just wish the frame was made of a slightly denser metal, but this is my only complaint of this all-around superior coping saw.
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2. BAHCO Coping Saw – Best Quality
Featuring a nickel-plated steel frame and beech handle, the BAHCO Coping Saw is a top-of-the-line coping saw that’s both durable and easy to use.
Its blade is made of carbon steel that’s been tempered and hardened, and there are 14 teeth per inch making it great for cutting wood, plastic, and even metal.
No tools are required to change out the blade, and the blade is kept firmly in place by two retaining pins.
This coping saw is 11.02” x 11.02” x 7.09”, its blade is 6.5” long, and it weighs 9.2 ounces so it’s not light, but not overly heavy.
What I Liked:
- It can make precise cuts in wood, plastic, and metal thanks to many durable, fine teeth.
- Beech handle is easy to grip and won’t wear down.
- Streamlined, nickel-plated steel frame ensures accurate cutting & seamless maneuverability
- Blade changes are quick and easy since no tools are required.
What I Didn’t Like:
- Gets uncomfortable cutting for an extended period because of handle’s shape.
- Pin furthest from the handle can loosen in the middle of cutting and make it ineffective.
My Thoughts
If quality is your top concern, the BAHCO Coping Saw won’t let you down. Its reinforced metal frame and beech handle ensure it’ll last for many years, even if you use it all the time like I do. And for a product made of high-quality materials that can cut through a range of materials, it’s not that expensive. Plus no tools are required for blade changes. If the handle was more ergonomic and it was a little cheaper, this would probably be at the top of my list.
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3. Irwin Coping Saw – Best Value
The Irwin Coping Saw’s most distinguishing quality is its low price, but it’s also a reliable, capable saw that doesn’t require much skill to use.
Its frame is made of allow steel and has a depth of 5.5”, while its 6.5” blade is made of high-speed steel.
The blade has 17 teeth per inch and it’s kept in place by two DuraSteel pins.
It also has an ergonomic, triangular grip that’s super comfortable.
What I Liked:
- 17 TPI blade is durable enough to cut through softwoods, hardwoods & thin metals.
- Ergonomic triangular handle ensures you can saw for awhile without feeling discomfort.
- Heavier frame helps with making precise cuts.
- No tool needed for blade changes thanks to sturdy DuraSteel pins.
What I Didn’t Like:
- Frame is larger than other models and can be a hinderance sometimes.
- Blade bends when attached and can’t be smoothed out easily, which can be frustrating.
My Thoughts
The Irwin Coping Saw may be a low-cost coping saw with a larger-than-average frame, but don’t think for a second this means it’s a low-quality saw. In fact, it’s one of the most capable and reliable saws on my list, and it doesn’t take long at all to get the hand of it. It has an ergonomic grip so you can saw for a few minutes straight without feeling discomfort, and its well-designed steel blade can make precise cuts in all kinds of materials.
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4. Stanley FatMax Coping Saw – Most Comfortable
The Stanley FatMax Coping Saw is an easy-to-maneuver, effective coping saw that can deliver a range of cuts in all kinds of materials, and it’s designed for professional woodworking.
Like many of the other coping saws on this list, its frame is made of alloy steel, and its 6-3/8” blade is made of high-grade high-carbon steel.
The blade has 15 teeth per inch and you don’t need any tools to remove or fasten the blade.
It has an ergonomic, ridged, rubber handle and it weighs 10.6 oz making it the most comfortable coping saw on my list.
What I Liked:
- Its ergonomic, rubber-ridged handle ensures comfortable operation.
- It’s easier to cut precisely because the frame is made of a heavier steal.
- Blade doesn’t wear quickly even if you regularly cut hardwoods.
- The blade fasteners are reliable and easy to turn.
What I Didn’t Like:
- Larger teeth make it difficult to achieve clean cuts quickly.
- Blade can be hard to fasten since it’s not very flexible.
My Thoughts
With its superior rubber grip and durable steel frame, the Stanley FatMax Coping Saw is a dependable, professional-grade coping saw that can easily cut through woods dense and thin, as well as other materials. If you want the most comfortable coping saw, this one’s for you. Stanley is known for making high-quality hand tools, and this product reinforces that reputation. Sure, its blade has less teeth per inch than other saws, and more flexibility wouldn’t hurt. But its blade resists wear well, it’s easy to maneuver, and blade changes require no tools. What more could you want?
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5. KAKURI Coping Saw – Best for Deep Cuts
With its superior cutting depth (6.3”) and simple design, the KAKURI Coping Saw stands out as a great coping saw for larger, thicker materials.
Its blade is made of carbon steel and its handle is wooden, and it has a tool-free blade-change mechanism.
What I Liked:
- Can cut through large lumber, pipes, etc. thanks to its large frame.
- Blade changes can be done quickly and easily since no tool is required.
- The blade resists wear well so this tool is more cost-effective.
- Lightweight but strong frame makes this coping saw easier to handle.
What I Didn’t Like:
- Wood handle is hard to grip continuously because of its shape.
- Aggressive cutting can bend the mounting pins and prevent accurate cutting.
My Thoughts
The KAKURI Coping Saw will serve you well in a pinch, and it’s definitely ideal if you regularly make intricate cuts in larger materials. I just wish it had a better handle as the wooden one prevents you from cutting continuously for several minutes. That said, this is a capable, well-built saw that’s sold for a fair price, so I would recommend it wholeheartedly.
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What to Consider When Purchasing a Coping Saw
Tool Frame
A coping saw’s frame is important for a variety of reasons.
For one, if it’s made of durable steel, it can accommodate a strong blade.
And if it’s on the heavier side, it can help with achieving clean, accurate cuts.
Plus, the larger a saw frame is, the more cutting capacity it has.
Some coping saws employ a heat-treated metal frame to ensure durability, and these are usually professional-grade saws with coarse blades, that used to cut wood, molding, and other trim materials quickly and easily.
Finally, the best coping saws have reliable mounting pins that secure the blade with a few easy turns.
Blade
The thin blade a coping saw utilizes in large part determines its cutting quality. If its a coarse blade with many sharp teeth, the blade will be able to remove more material in a shorter period.
How the coping saw blade is installed is also important. Most coping saw blades don’t need a wrench or hex key to be loosened or fastened, which means blade installation shouldn’t take long at all.
Virtually all these saw blades are made of light steel, and some are even made of hardened carbon steel.
Most are capable of cutting metal, especially the course blades.
Handle
Handle quality is just as important as frame and blade quality.
After all, if your coping saw doesn’t have an ergonomic handle, chances are your hand and wrist will get tired after a minute or so of continuous cutting.
The best handles are ridged and made of rubber. Some coping saws employ wood handles, but I’m not sure why, since isn’t usually comfortable to grip; plus they can splinter after many years of use.
With a ridged rubber handle, it’s easier to cut tight angles and coped joints take, and cutting intricate shapes won’t take hours.
Lastly, I’ve heard good and bad things about plastic handles, but I choose to stay clear of them since they tend to break easily.
Wondering how to use a coping saw? Check out the video below!
Price & Warranty
A well-designed coping saw that uses a top-tier cutting mechanism is going to be closer to $30.
Most other coping saws are around $20.
You can even get a traditional coping saw for as little as $10.
And as the Irwin Coping Saw proves, just because a product is low-cost doesn’t mean it’s subpar; this is one of the best products on my list.
As far as warranties go most, these saws usually come with a lifetime limited warranty that covers any defects related to workmanship or materials.
But there are many ways to void a warranty, and you should try your best to stay clear of these.
Looking for other hand saws? Check out these best dovetail saws you can buy!
Coping Saw vs Fret Saw
People get coping saws and fret saws mixed up all the time, which makes sense since they look alike.
The key difference is the way the blade is attached to the mounting mechanism. On a coping saw, pins go through the blade to keep it in place, whereas on a fret saw the blade is attached directly to the mounting mechanism.
Fret saws can also utilize a fine blade, but this quality doesn’t make them unique.
As far as blade rotation goes, it’s easier to switch out most blades designed for coping saws; all you need are sturdy pins and a rigid frame.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for the best coping saw overall, the Jorgensen Coping Saw holds the top spot on my list because it’s durable, easy-to-use, and affordable when compared to products of similar quality.
The BAHCO Coping Saw, with its nickel-plated steel frame and beech handle, boasts a superior design and other appealing qualities, but in a couple key respects the Jorgensen product is better.
Lastly, there’s the Irwin Coping Saw, which delivers great results for a can’t-beat price.