This 'saw' works differently to a carpentry saw or cutting knife, because there are no sharp edges.

The smooth teeth of the Safe-Saw move through the cardboard by making small micro-tears, rather than cutting through as would happen when using a sharp blade. 

The roughened edge that is created by the Safe-Saw is in fact a safety feature! 

Because the edge of the cardboard has been softened, the risk of paper cuts is significantly reduced.

This is of benefit when making wearable creations and also structures to crawl through and play inside.

The Safe-Saw features graded serrations to allow sawing through any thickness of cardboard.

Use the small teeth on thinner cardboard for more control. You will also get a cleaner cut edge. 

Use the larger teeth on thicker cardboard or if you want a faster, rougher cut.

The Safe-Saw is intended for larger forms, and works best on larger surfaces down to about 50mm in width. 

We like to advise younger makers to try to keep the shapes they are cutting out at a size that is larger than their own hand.

If a younger maker is having trouble getting through the cardboard, try to score a line using the Fold-Roller, or punch a row of holes along the line of your cut with the pokey bit  at the end of the handle, about 1-inch apart. 

Then use the Safe-Saw to "join the dots" as you cut! 

When to use a cutting guide line: 

The cutting guide line works well for straight and curved cuts, as well as cutouts such as holes, windows or doors.

No, we only sell the tools for cardboard construction - to safely cut and connect.

In the spirit of making do, you need to find the cardboard locally.

Here are a few ideas for where to find good cardboard:

- In your home recycling bin
- At the grocer
- At the hardware store 
- Near the loading bay at most supermarkets 
- From picture framers
- At bicycle and appliance stores  
- At second-hand box suppliers 
- At cardboard recycling plants 
- From cardboard manufacturers

The amount of Makedo you need depends on the number of people who will be working with Makedo at any given time and also the scale of what they are working on. As a rough guide we recommend the following: 

1-2 makers: 1x Explore kit (50 pieces)

2-5 makers / family group: 1x Discover kit (126 pieces)

4-8 makers / family + friends: 1x Create kit (260 pieces)

12-24 makers / classroom: 1x Invent kit (360 pieces)

Top up your collection:
Additional packs of Makedo Scru connectors and individual tools are also available from our online store. 

Anyone over the age of four can Makedo. If you are able to imagine that a cardboard box can be something other than ‘a box', then you have just earned your License to Makedo!

General recommendations:

Children aged 4+ can make with the assistance of an adult.
Children aged 7+ can make independently.
Children 3 years or younger are not advised to have unsupervised access to Makedo.

Older siblings, parents, neighbours and friends are all encouraged to join in too!

What can you make? What can't you make! 

With Makedo cardboard construction tools, makers of all ages can join cardboard together quickly, cleanly and easier than ever before.

To see some of the fantastic ideas for creations from Makedo makers across the globe, head to our Inspiration Hub ⇢

Makedo strives to support children and adults all over the globe to become 21st century thinkers!

We believe when people are making and playing freely they are solving problems, exploring new ideas, stretching their imagination, developing new skills, testing their limits, tapping into their instincts, collaborating and innovating.

These are all good things and we want to foster more of it.