Cutting with a Handsaw
For small, quick jobs where a power saw wouldn't make sense, you'll need to know the proper use of this carpentry staple.
Handsaws offer some distinct advantages over power saws. A handsaw is small and lightweight, so it’s easy to pack and carry. A handsaw also is a lot quieter than a circular saw and makes less of a mess. When you have only a few boards to cut, reaching for a handsaw is often faster than taking the time to run an extension cord and set up a power saw. And where a power tool might be cumbersome and dangerous—cutting overhead or on a ladder, for example—a handsaw offers a safe alternative.
Choosing the best handsaw for the job is the first step in making clean, accurate cuts (for more on this, read the articleHandsaw RevivalfromFine HomebuildingIssue #170 [April/May 2005], pp.64-67). But learning to use the saw properly is equally important. Because handsaws are not very good for cutting less than 1/8 in. off the end of a board, measuring and cutting accurately on your first attempt is essential.
Cut lumber with a long saw and a low horse
Step 1:Mark the cut. On thick material, mark the cutline on two adjacent faces. Some saw handles allow you to lay out 45° and 90° lines without reaching for a square.
Step 2:Use your thumb to start the cut. With the sawblade on the waste side of the cutline, use your thumb to align and steady the blade. Hold the saw at a low angle and pull to get started.
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Step 3:把你的体重在叶片后面。良好的态度是important when you’re using a handsaw to cut thick material like this 4×4. Low sawhorses or other supports will enable you to get your hand, elbow, and shoulder in line with the blade. |
Step 4:Use full strokes at 45°. Long strokes save energy and produce smoother cuts. Keep the blade at 45° when crosscutting.
Step 5:Don’t let the board break. Unsupported, the cutoff can cause the stock to tear toward the end of the cut. For a clean finish, clamp the stock to a sawhorse and support the cutoff with your free hand. Finish the cut with smooth, gentle strokes.
Better blade protection
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A handsaw is only as good as its teeth are sharp. That’s what makes the Carpenter’s Saw Bag a bargain ($22.50; 800-871-8158;www.leevalley.com). Fabric dividers inside the bag separate and protect up to four saws. Two outside compartments and a shoulder strap complete the package. |
Tips for making common cuts accurately
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Rip with the right saw.Ripping a board (cutting with the grain) is usually more difficult than crosscutting. Use the right saw: a traditional Western-style ripsaw (shown in the photo), a Japanese ripsaw, or a modern hybrid saw. Cutting action is best with the blade at a 60° angle. If the kerf starts to close and pinch the blade, use a wedge to keep it open. |
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Go vertical for notches.当开槽板或完成的结束cuts for a stair stringer, cut with the saw perpendicular to the stock. This way you won’t cut any deeper on one side of the board than on the other. |
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Cut moldings in place with a guide block.When a power saw isn’t an option for making a clean, accurate cut in an installed molding, use a backsaw with a square block of wood as a guide. |
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Don’t scribe the flooring.Instead, trim door casing in place when installing new flooring. Use a straight-handled, fine-toothed pull saw guided by a scrap of the new flooring. |
Photos by: Joseph Kugielsky, except where noted
From Fine Homebuilding #170
View Comments
Great post, really your content is very informative and helpful about handsaw. i am a professional woodworker and i will do overall cutting work with a handsaw, even i have available a miter saw and circular saw.Handsawis best tool for wood cutting chores.
Thanks for sharing your thought with us. keep up the good work.