The piercing saw marquetry method is very good for subjects like silhouettes and repetitive patterns where you can
make use of a "veneer pack" to ensure identical cuts throughout the pack.

Piercing Saw

The piercing saw is a smaller version of the fret saw and is used by model makers and jewellers, it is ideal for cutting smaller pieces of marquetry.

The fret saw can also be used, but it is inclined to be cumbersome.

The piercing saw blades come in various grades, they are brittle, but can be softened by immersion in hot lead.

I would suggest that you start with a coarse blade until you get used to handling them, and then gradually progress to the very fine blades.

If you use either of these saw frames you will be limited to sawing a wad of four veneers, to cut more than this you will need a treadle saw, or an electric saw set at a reduced speed.

You will need four pieces of veneer (piercing saw example 1) in this case we are using 3 pieces of sycamore and one of sapele.

The top and bottom veneers are your wasters, the other two make up your picture.

Trace your design on to a piece of sycamore, if you are able to get any waxed paper, inter-leave this between the four veneers, this will help to lubricate the saw blade, it is also a good idea to veneer tape all the veneers.

Make a “sticky tray” out of cardboard, say 7” x 9” (18 x 23 cm’s approx) and back it with a piece of Fablon (Fablon is a sticky backed plastic covering, often with a wood grain effect, used for covering and decorating blank surfaces such as cupboard doors etc.

If the Fablon brand is not available in your locality any similar type of sticky backed plastic covering will suffice). Remove the backing sheet from the Fablon and hinge this to the top of the tray (see piercing saw example 2).

Tape together tightly all four pieces of veneer (piercing saw example 3). The first pieces to be cut out are the high lights on the face and mouth.

With a needle make a hole on the pencil line and thread the saw blade through the hole, as you cut out each piece, discard the top and bottom veneers (the wasters) and place the other two pieces on the “sticky tray”.

Carry on doing the same procedure for the rest of the picture. When you have completed all the sawing, cut your wad of veneers apart, discarding the top and bottom veneers as you did with the first cut.

The remaining two veneers can now be assembled from the pieces on your “sticky tray”.

Piercing saw example 4 shows the completed picture.

Piercing saw example 5 shows the picture awaiting the remaining pieces on the tray.

Piercing saw example 6 shows the cut out pieces of sycamore on the sticky tray ready for insertion into the piece of sapele as seen in example 5.

The eye can be cut in afterwards by using your knife in the usual way.

Piercing saw example 7 shows two other designs cut with a saw.  

To accompany this tutorial we are including two pages of "stills" from the video recording of Alf's demonstration of piercing saw work. To view these "stills" just click the link button below: