As you could read in this former article of mine: basic crafting materials, using a craft table saw, is the easiest and most useful machine to have to craft your dollhouses and miniatures.
But I can imagine that when you start out with this hobby, that you don't want to spend too much money yet on a machine or that you just don't have space, even though a craft table saw is not that big. In that case, the craftsman hacksaw comes to the rescue!
The craftsman hacksaw.
A hacksaw (in combination with a file pin) is indispensable for making fine sawing work in both wood and metal. It is a wonderful tool that seems to be a revelation for many as soon as it is used.
Probably we all learned to use a fretsaw at school with huge blades (especially in children's hands) on a silly-looking board with a hole in it.
It was difficult to hold the wood, clamping the blades without help was almost impossible, and then the challenge of keeping the blades in one piece came. Some children immediately saw the fun and possibilities.
I thought it was a disaster and I quit very quickly. Knitting and crochet were more fun.
But when I started crafting my dollhouse miniatures (furniture), I got hold of a craftsman hacksaw again and this time I wanted to stick to it. A part of this small tutorial is about mastering this tool.
This time a more practical one, with the name 'hacksaw' instead of 'fretsaw'.
How to set it up.
Tensioning is very easy. The bracket is placed with the top against the table.
The saw blade, with the teeth pointing downwards, is secured in the slot of the upper wingnut.
The handle is then placed against the breastbone. If one then leans forward, the bracket is, as it were, pinched shut and the saw blade can be placed in the lower slot.
Close that wingnut as well and voila the saw blade is tense.
You can check if it's well-placed by touching the saw blade with a nail like you would 'strum' a guitar string and a high 'ping' will tell you if the saw blade is well tensioned.
The thickness of the saw blade ranges from 0.8 to 6, with 6 being the coarsest. To determine which thickness can be used for a workpiece, the thickness of the material that needs to be cut must be considered.
It is ideal to use a saw that touches the material to be cut with three teeth at the same time. This is even more important when cutting metal.
Have a look as well at this Youtube video on how to use the craftsman hacksaw:
How to use the craftsman hacksaw!
Hold the saw upright, the saw blade well vertical, and put it on the wood, plastic, or metal.
If you move downwards: then you saw, the upward movement does not saw!
Saw calmly and controlled, let the saw do the work to get the best results.
When working on a freestanding piece of wood, every movement can be checked and supported.
To start in the middle of a workpiece, the saw at the bottom of the bracket is released.
Drill a hole in the workpiece, pass the saw through it and fix it again in the bracket.
Many saw brackets are adjustable. This is useful because a broken saw blade can still be clamped and used in this way.
Conclusion
If you believe that using a craftsman hacksaw is too much of a hassle for you or that making your miniature furniture would take too much time to make, then you can still buy a craft table saw.
I made a previous article where I reviewed 2 of them that I have used myself or still am using which are the Proxxon ones: Proxxon table saws, a review.
But if you are handy enough, have all the time in the world, want to use your muscles! , and want to start out cheap, then I would surely try the craftsman hacksaw.
You can get any kind on Amazon, or at your local DIY store.
If you have any questions, make sure to leave a comment below and I will answer you back as soon as possible!
You can now also join my newest Facebook group or Youtube channel.
I wish you happy crafting!
Best regards,
Lizzy