I have had a Knew Concepts for several years now but I just purchased the Green Lion because I use much smaller size saw blades for pierce sawing and the Knew Concepts kept breaking the tip of my saw blades and my fingers were worn out from tightening the screws repeatedly. It's absolutely wonderful to saw with but the screw just would not keep holding the 5/0 blades and smaller. I even did the maintenance on the screw holding section and it didn't correct the problem. I am loving my Green Lion and it holds all sizes of blades without a problem at all. I can pierce saw and move the blade hands free of holding the frame. I'm really glad that I didn't get the Haymaker as a replacement as I considered it. Thank you so much for your review! Great info!

Thanks Jane for your time and effort!

This was a great service, Jane. Thank you. I have three of the four, and like them all very much. I also like having a selection, because, like you, I love beautiful tools.

After years of watching people shill a product under the guise of conducting a review, it was exciting to see such a complete and objective examination of a product done. No product was slammed, and no product was panned. They do all have their advantages. For instance, I can’t stand the GL handle, but I love the hook on the front of it; I love the Knew when it is working well, but it really seems to pull right, and the turned aluminum handle on the Haymaker could certainly stand some knurling, etc. etc. Thank you so much for the review!!

@janearcher3834

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your kind words. I will pass on the suggestion about knurling the handle on the Haymaker. I think that is an excellent suggestion.

I am currently using one of the old school saw frames and have today decide I want a better frame. You video is fantastic, thanks. I had heard both the Knew and the Haymaker and wondered about the advantages of both. I sometime shy away from gimmicks which I had thought the tensioner on the Knew might be but after watching this video I will now order the Knew. Our local supplier is currently out of them but I will place my order anyway. Thanks again for the great reviews!

Excellent. Helped me decide

This video is fantastic! I'm teaching myself metalsmithing and I'm in the very beginning stages - it can be daunting... but not with this video! I without question am going to go with the Knew Concepts saw based on your video and blade load-ability. Thank you thank you for taking the time to do this!

@janearcher3834

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Lauren. As a beginner, if you haven't already, you should consider joining the Inspiring Metalsmiths Jewelry Facebook page. We have lots support for beginners there, and lots of inspiration from talented and accomplished metalsmiths from all over the world. Watching KZread videos is one of the things we recommend for beginners. There are so many excellent metalsmiths who have made excellent tutorials here. Good luck.

Thanks for the review of these frames. I didn't realise just how big those sawframes are. For many years I used the smallest of the "German" style. Changed over to a Grobet non-adjustable and couldn't be happier. Very light, compact and easy to use for long periods of time. Worth looking at as well.

@janearcher3834

2 жыл бұрын

Oh my where does the time go? I'm sorry I didn't see your comment earlier. I'm glad you are learning about the different options for saw frames. I have several different ones myself because sometimes I just feel like using a different one. Sometimes I need a different one. I like tools in general and do kind of collect them. Especially beautiful ones.

@utooth8114

2 жыл бұрын

Generally I use the German sawframe or Grobet. Only been in the trade since 1976. 😉 Have a great day.

@janearcher3834

2 жыл бұрын

@@utooth8114 Interesting. Your comment reminds me of a comment by a very talented Navajo/Dine jeweler, Mike Perry. He said he only uses the German saw frame and sees no need to look further for a different frame. If it works, why change? I get it. I recently bought the Green Lion frame. Not only have I coveted it for its design, but I am having problems with my thumb joint, and the large rubber handle is so much easier for me to grip when it is inflamed and in pain.

@paulwiggins183

Жыл бұрын

You are absolutely right about the Grobet... the only saw I would recommend for a beginner.

Love your fuel! :D Seriously, thank you for taking the time to do such a thorough review of different saws here. It's interesting that you aren't a fan of the small wing nuts on the Haymaker - that's one of the reasons I like it :D I have very tiny hands, so they are perfect for me. Saws are such a personal decision. I think the best way to decide on one is to try them out if possible.

@janearcher3834

3 жыл бұрын

I agree that saws are a personal preference. Hopefully the reviews help people make decisions about which one to choose since most people will never get the chance to 'try one out' without buying one - other than the inexpensive German saw frame.

Thank you so much for this honest review. I'm just starting out and just sent back a German-style saw frame - going to invest in the Knew Concepts now. The different type of blade insertion is very attractive for me, in addition to other qualities you mentioned. I wish you could compare the different styles of KC - and please make more videos. I'd love to see some of your creations, too.

@janearcher3834

3 жыл бұрын

Which styles of KC would you like me to compare? I do plan on making more videos. I am going through cancer treatment this year so things are drawn out a bit. I have a couple in the works right now. Thank you for your kind words.

@janearcher3834

3 жыл бұрын

Also, while the German saw frame is basic, it is good to have around for that reason. In case something goes wrong or you can't find your main saw frame (it does happen) it is a good backup. Or have some other saw frame as a back up. I still have my German saw frame hanging around. I am thinking of getting the Green Lion because it is beautiful, and I like beautiful tools.

@lynneb.3935

3 жыл бұрын

@@janearcher3834 Just noticed your reply. I'm keeping off social media lately to try to preserve (what's left of) my sanity. I was wondering if there was any advantage to the swivel version of this saw. I tried a German type saw, but I have limited mobility in my hands, and I found changing the blade difficult. Wishing you best of health - I have a niece who is a cancer survivor. ❤️

Hi, about the German model I learned to close it not with pressure in the sternum but near the shoulder, witch is easier and less hurtful...

Thanks for the video, I appreciate your comments. I’ve been piercing metal for a few years now and have been using my Green Lion for about three. Just my two cents, but choosing a saw is more emotional than science. I used my old starter German frame and was fine with it. I bought a Green Lion mainly because I liked its looks and compactness and I still do. The Knew saw is a bit too fussy and technical for me.

@samuelbyron8202

2 жыл бұрын

You all probably dont care but does anyone know a trick to log back into an instagram account..? I was dumb forgot the account password. I appreciate any tricks you can give me!

@samuelbyron8202

2 жыл бұрын

@Bruno Taylor Thanks so much for your reply. I got to the site thru google and im in the hacking process atm. Seems to take a while so I will get back to you later with my results.

@samuelbyron8202

2 жыл бұрын

@Bruno Taylor It did the trick and I actually got access to my account again. I'm so happy! Thanks so much you really help me out :D

@brunotaylor4872

2 жыл бұрын

@Samuel Byron Happy to help :)

Great video and testing, I am looking to buy a new "expensive" saw (and hopefully much better) than my German saw. One thing I was curious about did it seem to take less time with one saw over the other. It would have been good to time each one to see if they had any major differences in time. Obviously changing the blade would probably take the most time for a broken blade, so I assume the Knew Concepts did best. But just curious if you noticed a difference in the time/effort it took in each of them. Thanks for the great video! This definitely helps me make a choice.

@janearcher3834

3 жыл бұрын

I did notice a difference. The least time was used with the Knew Concepts saw because it is so quick to undo the saw blade when moving the blade into a different hole to cut out. Also it did have the fewest broken blades. The next quickest was the Green Lion Saw. It had the next fewest broken blades. It also is easier to change out the saw blade. The German frame took the longest. Mostly because you have two joints to tighten or stabilize, and it had the most broken blades.

Hiya Jane, Thank you for this video. I have a German Style and Knew Concepts and the red devil is by far the best. I do have large hands and arthritis but the handle is fine for me. Some jewellers insist the hole the blade goes into will become clogged with lemel and be a pain, not so, the blade is in the hole, how can anything else get in? Duh. So yes we agree that the Knew Concepts is very good, and yes I had a lot fewer broken blades, once I had the tension sorted it was sorted for every blade I put in it. Stay safe, Steve...

@janearcher3834

Жыл бұрын

I have them all. The times when my hands really hurt I use the Green Lion because it's large sized rubber handle demands the least grip from my hands. Thank you for your comment.

Jane, good review - when doing mass review please do it in metric (grams) finer and numerical review. The most important to me would balance and handle control would be more important than mass. Your critiques comments and observation are very good. Being critical or opinionated is not a detriment but an assist in my opinion! I like critical thinking from anyone, as I am also when it comes to tool and tool design. Very small changes to a tool can make a difference to the performance or feel to the craftsperson example the same as a sharp or dull chisels is to a carver or woodworker. Hardness of the steel, the balance, length, thickness, handle shape-length-shape, species of wood, metal, or plastic the overall appearance and appeal! Steven Columbus Michigan

@janearcher3834

2 жыл бұрын

Steven, thank you for your comment. I will take that into consideration going forward.

Fantastic review! Thanks so much. Can I ask what the swivel model of the Knew saw is called? You mentioned there's another model that has a swivel function.

@janearcher3834

2 ай бұрын

Thank you for your kind response. You can find the swivel replacement blade clamps here: www.knewconcepts.com/replacement-swivel-blade-clamps-for-mkiii-saws.php or here: www.knewconcepts.com/replacement-swivel-blade-clamps-for-mkiv-saws.php You just need to make sure that they match the saw frame that you have. You can reach out to Knew if you are unsure which frame you have.

I just discovered your review. Thank you. Newbie question: where can I find designs to practice with? Thx in advance

@janearcher3834

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your comment. I did an internet search for 'Celtic knot designs'. Also Pinterest is a fantastic resource for designs and inspiration. Good luck!

Well done review, thank you! I was wondering if I would like the Knew saw and you answered my question. No more chest bruising for me! Is there any drawback with the Knew saw?

@janearcher3834

11 ай бұрын

Thank you for your kind words. What I hear most from people about their frustration with the Knew is that they have a hard time getting the saw blade to hold in the screw clamp. I have never had that problem. But clearly others have. The second issue is getting the tension correct using the lever on the model I have. That, like so many things in metalsmithing is a matter of practice. Once you get it you shouldn't need to change the settings on your saw frame. FYI, Knew saw frames are used in woodworking and many other applications, not just for silversmithing. Have a great day!

@lorimichels4515

11 ай бұрын

@@janearcher3834 hi. I appreciate your response to my comment! I need to find a replacement for my green lion saw (yes, I thought it was attractive tool, too), or, buy a chest plate to wear when piercing/sawing a project. That makes sense, trying to master the tension. It would have been lovely for them to stay how many turns of the tension dial knob to turn for sawing metal, for instance. I can't imagine the tension needing to be different from sawing copper from silver. Then, again, I'm new to piercing and sawing. The second comment you mentioned, hard time getting the saw blade to hold in the screw clamp, are you talking about when you unscrew the bottom dial knob to take out the blade and then put it back in and re-tighten it? I'm trying to find a thorough review on the saw, and I'm only getting positive reviews. No complaints and no explanation how to avoid/fix the negative issue that you stated. Could you speak a little more about the issue of the saw blade holding in the screw clamp?.

Thank you for great review! The question I have for you is, did you use a new saw blade in each saw or the same one multiple times?

@janearcher3834

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, I put a new saw blade in when I started with the next frame. That is the only way to evaluate each on par. I broke two saw blades with the german saw, one with the Green Lion, none with the Knew Concepts, and one with the Haymaker.

@amkreationz

3 жыл бұрын

Jane Archer Thank you!

I saw the Knew Consept Saw frame months ago and i want to buy it. Please tell me which exactly model is yours on the video? Thank you for the video, perfect and helpful

@janearcher3834

3 жыл бұрын

My Knew frame is the 5" Mk.IV HEAVY DUTY FRET SAW WITH LEVER TENSION. I just have not needed the swivel feature. Knew Concepts also has distributors on all continents.

@janearcher3834

3 жыл бұрын

My bad, my Knew Concepts frame is actually the 5" Mk.III FRET SAW WITH LEVER TENSION, not the heavy duty saw!

I’ve seen that people have been having issues with blade slippage with the lion punch frame.. the plates that keep the blade have no teeth, so nothing to bite your blade

@haidafella8651

3 жыл бұрын

Seems they have fixed that

@janearcher3834

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, they have done a factory fix for that. Now those little plates have grooves in them to grab the blades. But if you have a LP frame which doesn't have grooves on the little plates, you can grind or file grooves into them.

@haidafella8651

3 жыл бұрын

@@janearcher3834 I’ve also seen that there is a secondary little bit of metal threaded up and over the aluminum frame at the bite.. I’m sure for grip, and to protect that pretty aluminum frame

I would consider all of these frames too heavy for a beginner... the Grobet 3'' weighs 3.5 oz and runs about $15 from Rio Grande. These big frames make more sense as your wrist gets stronger.

@janearcher3834

Жыл бұрын

Do you mean to heavy or too big?

@paulwiggins183

Жыл бұрын

@@janearcher3834 I think I'm trying to say too heavy. After using the heavier German saws for years I bought this Grobet and became one with the universe right then and there. Much easier. These other saws are gorgeous but I just can't give this one up. Seriously, for me it was about strength and muscle memory in the right hand. It took some time. And if the work requires 5/0 blades you are definitely going to need a lighter saw frame.

@janearcher3834

Жыл бұрын

@@paulwiggins183 The problems most people have when they are learning to saw is getting the blade tension right and learning how much pressure to apply to the saw blade against the metal they are cutting. One would only need to use a 5/0 saw blade if they were cutting thin metal (22-24 gauge metal). The rule of thumb is that you want to have three teeth touching the metal at all times and not more or less. Now this is a rule of thumb and it works well for smooth cutting. However, for artistic reasons or personal preference people go outside those guidelines all the time. About the weight for beginner, that may have worked for you, but as I mentioned it isn't a primary problem for most beginners. The 3" Grobet is not a saw that is commonly used in the US, so I have not used one. It comes with a fixed and a moveable frame (like the German saw frame). The problem I would anticipate for a beginner would be the shallow throat, which is already a source of frustration for beginners starting out with a 4" saw frame. It is one reason I don't have any small saw frames. The Knew saw frame is very light, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for a beginner. It is one of the more expensive saw frames and can be a little fiddly to learn to get the tension right. Here is some good information about sawing, including charts on which blades to use with which gauge metal. pepetools.com/blogs/news/what-size-saw-blade-to-use-tips-and-advice-on-using-a-piercing-saw

@paulwiggins183

Жыл бұрын

@@janearcher3834 In reply... blade tension is not an issue with the Swiss saw. The blade goes to the stop and no further. And the tension is correct. I've taught some beginners and there is certainly no substitute for time behind the saw... jewelry making is not supposed to be easy. And knowing how to back out of a cut is not a bad lesson to learn.

@janearcher3834

Жыл бұрын

@@paulwiggins183 I look forward to trying it out.

Will you be doing more video's soon ?

@janearcher3834

3 жыл бұрын

Yes there will be. But I am undergoing treatment for cancer at this time and it is just taking me a lot longer to do than normal. The next video will be on soldering hold downs and soldering aids.

How does yours differ from the original design?

@janearcher3834

3 жыл бұрын

I'm not clear on the question. I didn't design anything. I just review four saw frames. Could you rephrase your question?

@AnnMeyer

3 жыл бұрын

Sorry. I was referring to your Knew concepts saw. Mine is old. It worked well for several years but I can no longer keep the blade taught. I have tried replacing the knobs but that did not solve the problem.

@janearcher3834

3 жыл бұрын

@@AnnMeyer Ah, I see. I purchased my Knew frame about 5 years ago. I don't know how or if it has changed since it first came out. But I strongly urge you to call them and tell them what is going on. They are very responsive. Or you can email them. It may be that you need a part replaced.

@AnnMeyer

3 жыл бұрын

Jane Archer Thank you

@janearcher3834

3 жыл бұрын

@@AnnMeyer You are welcome. Let me know how this works out.