What is "frame saw"

Frame \Frame\, n.

1. Anything composed of parts fitted and united together; a fabric; a structure; esp., the constructional system, whether of timber or metal, that gives to a building, vessel, etc., its model and strength; the skeleton of a structure.

   These are thy glorious works, Parent of good, Almighty! thine this universal frame.
   --Milton.

2. The bodily structure; physical constitution; make or build of a person.

   Some bloody passion shakes your very frame.
   --Shak.

   No frames could be strong enough to endure it.
   --Prescott.

3. A kind of open case or structure made for admitting, inclosing, or supporting things, as that which incloses or contains a window, door, picture, etc.; that on which anything is held or stretched; as:

   1. The skeleton structure which supports the boiler and machinery of a locomotive upon its wheels.

   2. (Founding) A molding box or flask, which being filled with sand serves as a mold for castings.

   3. The ribs and stretchers of an umbrella or other structure with a fabric covering.

   4. A structure of four bars, adjustable in size, on which cloth, etc., is stretched for quilting, embroidery, etc.

   5. (Hort.) A glazed portable structure for protecting young plants from frost.

   6. (Print.) A stand to support the type cases for use by the compositor. (f) a pair of glasses without the lenses; that part of a pair of glasses that excludes the lenses.

4. (Mach.) A term applied, especially in England, to certain machines built upon or within framework; as, a stocking frame; lace frame; spinning frame, etc.

5. Form; shape; proportion; scheme; structure; constitution; system; as, a frameof government.

   She that hath a heart of that fine frame To pay this debt of love but to a brother.
   --Shak.

   Put your discourse into some frame.
   --Shak.

6. Particular state or disposition, as of the mind; humor; temper; mood; as, to be always in a happy frame. Same as {frame of mind}

7. Contrivance; the act of devising or scheming. [Obs.]

   John the bastard Whose spirits toil in frame of villainies.
   --Shak.

8. In games:

   1. In pool, the triangular form used in setting up the balls; also, the balls as set up, or the round of playing required to pocket them all; as, to play six frames in a game of 50 points.

   2. In bowling, as in tenpins, one of the several innings forming a game.

      Balloon frame, Cant frames, etc. See under Balloon, Cant, etc.

      Frame building or Frame house, a building of which the form and support is made of framed timbers. [U.S.] -- Frame level, a mason's level.

      Frame saw, a thin saw stretched in a frame to give it rigidity.

n. An old design of saw that used a relatively narrow blade, kept stiff by tension through the frame.

Frame saw sometimes refers to a woodworker's bow saw.

A frame saw or sash saw is a type of saw which consists of a relatively narrow and flexible blade held under tension within a (generally wooden) rectangular frame (also called a sash or gate). They are used for cutting wood or stone. The blade is held perpendicular to the plane of the frame, so that the material being cut passes through the center of the frame. Frame saws for use with wood are rip saws operated as a hand saw or powered in a sawmill. Frame saws used for cutting stone were powered saws in stone mills.

When used for different purposes may have other names such as for converting logs into lumber they are also called a pit-saw or whipsaw and for sawing veneer may simply be called a veneer saw. It is unknown how early framed pit-saws came into use however there is an Italian fresco from depicting their use.

A more modern development from the 18th Century is the open pit saw which resembled a large hand saw with no frame, a till for a handle at the top and a box for a lower handle. This form of pit saw is still in use in rural underdeveloped countries as a means of illegally harvesting protected trees.

The frame pit saw was the mainstay of resawing before stiff, unframed two-man saws called a muley or mulay saw, circular saws, and band saws took over. In some early sawmills a frame saw was powered from a water wheel, wind mill or other rotary motion through a crankshaft and connecting rod. Frame saws are now largely obsolete, though woodworkers who eschew power tools still make them for personal use in many sizes and styles of assembly.