{"id":983,"date":"2021-09-18T18:48:04","date_gmt":"2021-09-18T22:48:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/?p=983"},"modified":"2021-09-18T18:48:04","modified_gmt":"2021-09-18T22:48:04","slug":"how-to-use-a-hand-saw","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/how-to-use-a-hand-saw\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Use a Hand Saw?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Learning how to use a hand saw is one of those fundamental skills that every homeowner, DIYer, or woodworker should strive to perfect. While powered saws certainly have their place, if you\u2019re working somewhere without access to power or your batteries are drained, then a good hand saw is your best option for the task at hand.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Hand saws are cheap, require minimal maintenance, and are far easier for beginners to get started with than their powered counterparts. They will teach you the fundamentals of making a clean cut through a given material, which you can then apply when using other cutting tools.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s take a look at how to use a hand saw in more detail \u2013 so you\u2019ll be able to make crosscuts and rip cuts accurately and efficiently.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_61 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Jump To:<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-65dac79143f15\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-65dac79143f15\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/how-to-use-a-hand-saw\/#Tools_Materials_Needed\" title=\"Tools &amp; Materials Needed \">Tools &amp; Materials Needed <\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/how-to-use-a-hand-saw\/#How_to_Use_a_Hand_Saw_%E2%80%93_Guide\" title=\"How to Use a Hand Saw &#8211; Guide\u00a0\">How to Use a Hand Saw &#8211; Guide\u00a0<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/how-to-use-a-hand-saw\/#Step_1_Measure_and_Mark_Material\" title=\"Step 1: Measure and Mark Material\">Step 1: Measure and Mark Material<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/how-to-use-a-hand-saw\/#Step_2_Secure_Cutting_Material_with_Clamps\" title=\"Step 2: Secure Cutting Material with Clamps\">Step 2: Secure Cutting Material with Clamps<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/how-to-use-a-hand-saw\/#Step_3_Make_the_Starting_Cut\" title=\"Step 3: Make the Starting Cut\">Step 3: Make the Starting Cut<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/how-to-use-a-hand-saw\/#Step_4_Position_Yourself_for_Cutting\" title=\"Step 4: Position Yourself for Cutting\">Step 4: Position Yourself for Cutting<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/how-to-use-a-hand-saw\/#Step_5_Make_the_Cut\" title=\"Step 5: Make the Cut\">Step 5: Make the Cut<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/how-to-use-a-hand-saw\/#Step_6_Finish_the_Cut\" title=\"Step 6: Finish the Cut\">Step 6: Finish the Cut<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Tools_Materials_Needed\"><\/span><strong>Tools &amp; Materials Needed <\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Hand saw<\/li>\n<li>Carpenter\u2019s square or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Tools-Combination-Square-Metal-Body-1794469\/dp\/B005XUHIBG?&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=homeimprovementscout-20&amp;linkId=f9e6d04d1a0a318606ea0e29de30703e&amp;language=en_US&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">combination square<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Clamps<\/li>\n<li>Pencil or pen<\/li>\n<li>Cutting material<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Use_a_Hand_Saw_%E2%80%93_Guide\"><\/span><strong>How to Use a Hand Saw &#8211; Guide\u00a0<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_1_Measure_and_Mark_Material\"><\/span><strong>Step 1: Measure and Mark Material<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>As the old adage goes, always measure twice and cut once! Before you do anything else, the first thing you\u2019ll want to do is precisely measure and mark your cutting material.<\/p>\n<p>You can use several different measuring tools to accomplish this step, but a combination square or carpenters square will both work well. If you don\u2019t have either of these lying around, then you can use a scrap piece of lumber or even the backside of your saw to create a straight edge for marking your cut.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_2_Secure_Cutting_Material_with_Clamps\"><\/span><strong>Step 2: Secure Cutting Material with Clamps<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>When cutting with a hand saw, the material tends to move around as you move the saw back and forth. Clamping the cutting material to your <a href=\"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/how-to-make-sawhorses\/\">sawhorses<\/a> or workbench will keep it locked in place and eliminate any movement while working the saw.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_3_Make_the_Starting_Cut\"><\/span><strong>Step 3: Make the Starting Cut<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>When cutting with a hand saw, making the starting cut accurately is key. This notch will serve as the guide for the rest of the cut, so it\u2019s important that it\u2019s done accurately to prevent you from making an inaccurate cut.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-992 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/hand-saw.jpg?resize=800%2C522&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"using a hand saw\" width=\"800\" height=\"522\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/hand-saw.jpg?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/hand-saw.jpg?resize=300%2C196&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/hand-saw.jpg?resize=768%2C501&amp;ssl=1 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Use the thumb of your hand holding the material to guide the saw blade as you start the notch.<\/p>\n<p>Use short strokes with the teeth closest to the handle (for a crosscut saw) to begin the cut. If you\u2019re using a ripsaw, you\u2019ll want to start cutting with the fine teeth on the saw furthest from the handle.<\/p>\n<p>Generally, you\u2019ll want to cut on the <em>outside<\/em>, or <em>waste side<\/em> of the cutline you marked in the previous step. This means cutting closer to the side of the wood you don\u2019t plan on using. That way, your cut will tend towards slightly too long instead of too short \u2013 as you can always sand the wood down if it\u2019s too long, but if it\u2019s too short you\u2019re out of luck.<\/p>\n<div class=\"su-box su-box-style-default\" id=\"\" style=\"border-color:#b97500;border-radius:3px\"><div class=\"su-box-title\" style=\"background-color:#ECA804;color:#FFFFFF;border-top-left-radius:1px;border-top-right-radius:1px\">A word about hand saw types:<\/div><div class=\"su-box-content su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"border-bottom-left-radius:1px;border-bottom-right-radius:1px\">While there are a wide scope of general use and specialized hand saws available, the majority of them will fall into two basic categories: the <em>crosscut<\/em> saw and the <em>rip<\/em> saw.<\/p>\n<p>The crosscut saw \u2013 as the name suggests \u2013 is used for cutting across the grain of the wood. This task is more challenging than a rip cut, which is why crosscut saws require smaller, finer teeth to slice through the wood grain. Crosscut saw teeth are sharpened on both edges, which means they cut both on the push and pull motion of the saw.<\/p>\n<p>Rip saws are designed for rip cutting through the wood grain, cutting in the same direction as the grain. Ripping is an easier task than crosscutting, as you\u2019re cutting with the grain, essentially splitting it like you would with an ax. Rip saw blades have fewer, larger teeth that only cut on the push portion of the stroke.<\/div><\/div>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_4_Position_Yourself_for_Cutting\"><\/span><strong>Step 4: Position Yourself for Cutting<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>When making a cut with a hand saw, you can increase your accuracy and effectiveness by cutting with the correct stance and technique.<\/p>\n<p>When cutting with a crosscut saw, you\u2019ll want your saw blade to be at a 45-degree angle to the wood. For rip cuts, the ideal angle is 60 degrees.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019ll want your entire body to be in alignment with the saw as you make the cut. That means your wrist, shoulder, and arm should be in line with the saw blade. Also, you\u2019ll want to keep your elbow tucked in and try not to bend it out at the end of the <em>pull<\/em> stroke.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re right-handed, your left foot should be forward when cutting. This will give you the power and balance necessary to make smooth cuts.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_5_Make_the_Cut\"><\/span><strong>Step 5: Make the Cut<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Once you\u2019ve created the starting groove, you can move on to the main portion of the cut. Use long smooth strokes so all of the saw\u2019s teeth can cut at the same time. You want to let the saw do most of the work, so try to avoid using too much pressure or force while cutting.<\/p>\n<p>If you find that you can\u2019t cut through the wood without having to apply excess force, your saw may be in need of sharpening.<\/p>\n<p>Another issue that you may run into is the saw veering away from your cut line. This can happen if you apply too much force, or if you\u2019re not careful while making the cut. If this happens, simply reset the saw back to where the veering began and slowly restart the cut.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_6_Finish_the_Cut\"><\/span><strong>Step 6: Finish the Cut<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Towards the end of the cut, you generally want to slow down and finish the cut delicately. If you\u2019re too fast or rough you can cause the end piece to fray \u2013 also called <a href=\"https:\/\/www.manmadediy.com\/4715-how-to-prevent-tearout-and-splintering-when-cutting-plywood-once-and-for-all\/?chrome=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">tearout<\/a>. This is a particular issue when crosscutting plywood.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><em>Featured image <a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/tuchodi\/16557670316\/in\/photolist-nPJ7dL-o7yVFy-nMEbob-nQaTVQ-8us1WT-o7CdTM-o7xq6A-dmWgPc-nQaLEL-huoQEQ-o7v5N1-o53oF1-re9owq-nQbfFf-nPJSdD-o5BCZ7-nQbXuD-nMEbdm-o7naSn-nPLcia-o7wTw9-2grhSQs-2gri9oC-2grhVYw-2jZEceZ-o53opQ-o5zQTw-2grhViy-o7Evwn-nPJ5jM-2gri8L5-nQbYGi-o7v6V1-7ni5Y-o7Ex64-DaVh6q-6fupE6-o7yTV9-o7ySVU-o7jSDD-nQbgXo-6iGSwb-o7CcEK-DZp8Pz-r9x7sL-rbQvXz-rbQwjr-LipX7a-2j4VQUs-5kECYY\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">source<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learning how to use a hand saw is one of those fundamental skills that every homeowner, DIYer, or woodworker should strive to perfect. While powered saws certainly have their place, if you\u2019re working somewhere without access to power or your batteries are drained, then a good hand saw is your best option for the task &#8230; <\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more-container\"><a title=\"How to Use a Hand Saw?\" class=\"read-more button\" href=\"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/how-to-use-a-hand-saw\/#more-983\" aria-label=\"More on How to Use a Hand Saw?\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":990,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,7],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How to Use a Hand Saw? - Home Improvement Scout<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learning how to use a hand saw is one of those fundamental skills that every homeowner, DIYer, or woodworker should strive to perfect. 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If you\u2019ve been getting by using a variety of prybars, hand saws, and chisels \u2013 the best way to take your DIY game to the next level\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Tools&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Tools","link":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/category\/tools\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"how to use a reciprocating saw","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/how-to-use-a-reciprocating-saw.jpg?fit=880%2C501&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/how-to-use-a-reciprocating-saw.jpg?fit=880%2C501&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/how-to-use-a-reciprocating-saw.jpg?fit=880%2C501&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/homeimprovementscout.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/how-to-use-a-reciprocating-saw.jpg?fit=880%2C501&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1259,"url":"https:\/\/homeimprovementscout.com\/reciprocating-saw-vs-circular-saw\/","url_meta":{"origin":983,"position":1},"title":"Reciprocating Saw vs Circular Saw","author":"Denis Gardner","date":"October 29, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"When it comes to the most versatile tool to have around the house, job site, or DIY project, you\u2019ll have a tough time choosing between the reciprocating saw vs the circular saw. 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