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Tools and Equipment

Fretsaw

Woodworking Tools

A fretsaw is a bow saw built for intricate work with tight curves, taking its name from fretwork, the pierced and interlaced decorative woodwork it is used to cut. Though traditionally a woodworking tool, changing its blade lets a fretsaw cut other materials as well, and it is distinguished from the similar coping saw by its finer, thinner blade, which lets it follow tighter curves and finer detail than a coping saw's coarser blade can manage, at the cost of the coping saw's greater cutting depth and durability.

Facts
Open Questions
Introduced When (Circa)
Not established by the sources consulted.
The fretsaw is documented by its construction and use for intricate curved cutting; no source consulted gives a date of introduction.
Origin
The name comes from the tool's use in fretwork and ultimately from the French word freter, meaning lattice, a reference to the intricate lattice-like patterns the saw is used to cut. 1
Connections

Used In

Woodworking, Crafts

Fretsaw is used in Woodworking.

Sources
1. Fretsaw (Wikipedia)
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Lead section, first two sentences
    The fretsaw is a bow saw used for intricate cutting work which often incorporates tight curves. The tool takes its name from its use in fretwork.
  • Description section, etymology sentence
    The tool takes its name from its use in fretwork and ultimately from the French freter (lattice), a reference to the intricate patterns often created using this tool.
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