The latest version of the Knew Concepts Precision Saw Guide Mk.III includes the Knew Concepts magnet Version Bench Clamp and a fixed dovetail mounting plate, the same type of mounting plate used in GRS BenchMate products.
Now it is super easy to mount the Knew Concepts Precision Saw Guide anywhere you want.
The Knew Concepts Precision Saw Guide was designed primarily to help metalsmiths cut steel blanking dies and Plexiglas matrix dies used in Hydraulic die forming, but also serves anyone who does a lot of sawing looking for an easier way to cut straight and true.
The feature that makes this frame so desirable for cutting dies is its ability to precisely angle the sawframe relative to the cutting surface 450 in either direction. This is the original sawing product designed by Lee Marshall and incorporates many of the features found in subsequent Knew Concepts Sawframes.
The Precision Saw Guide features a lightweight 7oz. laser cut anodized aluminum frame designed for extreme rigidity to minimize sawframe flex that causes premature sawblade failure. The frame is so rigid that it cannot be flexed to tension the blade as in other frames. Instead, the blade tensioning occurs by turning a knurled knob on top of the upper blade clamp. With a 5” throat depth, this frame is large enough to handle a wide variety cutting jobs.
Other features include:
Soft closed cell foam handle-grip-Ergonomically angled slightly to more nearly match the mechanics of your sawing motion. The foam easily conforms to your hand and feels good!
Vertical alignment is incorporated into the frame itself-Two ball bearing wheels lock the saw at the top and the bottom and provide perfect alignment, and at the same time allow immediate removal of the saw for blade changes. The upper guide wheel runs within a vertical slot that has a keyhole opening at the top for disengagement. The bottom guide is simply the front of the frame running in the lower wheel.
Hold-down pin-This is a brass pin mounted in a swivel mount that holds down the metal as you are sawing. It helps to reduce blade breakage as the metal cannot suddenly bind and jump. Easily adjustable for various height material, including Plexiglas for matrix dies. The pin also provides guidance and support to the blade itself, allowing more pressure to be applied to the blade.
Bench pin-Hard anodized aluminum with a narrow slot. This is the same bench pin that is used on the New Concept Saw. Bench pin tilts 45 degrees each way for angular cuts.
Cynthia Eid of Cynthia Eid Designs commented: “I like this new saw frame so much that I have been using it even when I am not making a die. The angle of the handle is comfortable, and the blade-tightening mechanism is much nicer than pressing a saw frame between my chest bone and bench while tightening a blade. I think that the saw frame has potential for appealing to all jewelers—whether they have need of the blanking die capability or not. As with many inspirations, this tool is brilliant in its elegant simplicity.”
For more information about the blanking die process, see the book, "Hydraulic Die Forming for Jewelers & Metalsmiths" by Susan Kingsley. .
