I’d like to echo Allan’s comments about the Knew Concept sawframe.
Who ever would have thought that something as mundane and universal
to metalsmiths as a sawframe had so much room for improvement! I’ve
been using a top-of-the-line Swiss frame for decades and thought it
was among the best on the market, until I got one of the Knew Concept
frames. By comparison, it makes my Swiss sawframe look like something
from the nineteenth century. Lee Marshall says he makes jewelry for
jewelers, and this saw frame proves it, in my book.
The first thing I noticed is the weight. This frame seems
weightless! The second thing I noticed and probably the most
important improvement is the stiffness. I never would have believed
my trusty old Swiss frame was as wobbly as it is, but it’s like a
soggy noodle next to the high-tech Knew Concept frame. The result of
this rigidity and stiffness is the ability to cut straight lines or
curves with absolute precision, with no tendency to wander. Cutting
multiple pieces simultaneously such as open braided wire, spaced
rings or ring guards is a piece of cake as the blade tension remains
more or less constant on all of the strands. It also cuts down on
broken blades and it looks really cool to boot.
Those experiencing problems associated with tensioning blades using
their sternum and bench pin will love the tensioning device on this
sawframe. That little piece of engineering is what allows the rest of
the sawframe to exist. The flexibility that allows the normal
procedure used to tension blades is the very thing that makes the
traditional sawframe wobbly and obsolete.
Allan’s opinion of the handle and the clamps were exactly my initial
impressions, and were the only things I might have changed. But
having gotten used to it, I wouldn’t change a thing. Well, maybe a
hand-turned walnut burl handle and hot rod style flame job lightening
holes might dress it up a tad.
I really like this sawframe. Lee sent me an early prototype of the
3" to evaluate and after using it pretty heavily for a few weeks, I
bought three more, one each for my shopmates (mine kept disappearing)
and one for my brother, a fellow goldsmith/tool junkie. Can’t wait to
see the titanium versions. I think I’m going to have to hang them on
the wall instead of hiding them in a drawer so everyone can see them.
They’ll go great with the laser and the flat screen microscope
monitor in the twenty-first century shop!
I have to agree with Allan’s assessment:
There is a small learning curve here, but it's most definitely
worth it. Bravo, Lee!
Hear, hear! But give that flame job a thought, Lee. Custom jewelry
just for us gear-heads, don’t you know.
Dave Phelps