How to Start A Hand Saw Cut | Hand Tool Woodworking Skill

How to start a hand saw cut
when first getting started it can be difficult to start a cut with a hand saw here are a few quick tips to help you along the way.

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[BillHartCooks.]

I absolutely love the little nuggets of wisdom I can glean from your videos. "Once you're in; You can go to town.. and that's where all the fun starts!" #17. Awesome!

[markharris]

Thank you, it’s videos like this us newbies desperately need. I really like how you say starting at the front or back is a personal choice and there’s no right or wrong there, not all YouTubers have this approach.

[FranklinWoodWorks]

Excellent! Amazing how hard I've made it all these years.

[jettkeyser]

You found it...and shared it...grateful...Keep looking

[mikescncshop]

I think running the saw back and forth first, without touching the board, is a great teaching tip. It gives a little bit of practice at holding the weight off of the saw plate and gives the beginner a better feel for what they need to do before they commit to the cut.

[kevinetheridge]

Man...this month's series of little tip videos like this one have been so valuable. Thank you. I found myself saying "Dangit!" at about 3 different points in this video, hearing little tips for sawing that I'd never heard before (that I hope will help). Thank you :-)

[bentcountershaft]

I grew up sneaking the tools out of my dad's garage to build ramps to jump my bicycle on. The only tools he had that plugged in were a bench grinder and a corded drill. He wasn't a wood worker but all of his home maintenance tools were just basic hand tools. Without any instructions, since I wasn't supposed to be using them, as an eight year old I really struggled with starting cuts with his 26" hand saw. I quickly adopted the 2-3 back strokes method for starting my groove and I'm still doing it 34 years later. It works for me but it's always interesting to see other people's methods.

[MakeBrooklyn]

Great info James! Your more than halfway through your 30 day marathon, keep on truckin!!

[russellschwartz]

Brilliant! When we moved last year I got rid of most of my power tools. I have a lot of hand tools that belong to my father and my maternal grandmother. I wanted to start using them but I am generally clueless. This video has saved me from ruining a board! 😀

[bothann]

Very useful indeed. Thanks, James! Basics are evergreen.

[TheWoodYogi]

Over half way through the 30 day daily videos. These are great to watch when limited for time :) ॐ

[rjtumble]

FYI, for the saw you held at the beginning of the video, the on switch is hidden, but located in the back of the wooden handle. It's engaged by pushing forward on the saw. The saw automatically turns off when you pull back.

[Varvitski]

That ending is so great!! Thanks as always for the very helpful tips. Incidentally, that backdrop is looking fantastic!

[adamwhiteson]

Excellent! An important and under appreciated skill.

On a Western saw, I avoid starting with the toe. I use the teeth under the center of gravity, just beyond the handle. I find the plate is less wobbly and I have finer control over contact pressure.

[kurtpalmer]

Great tips love these quick pointer videos 😊

[imortaldeadead]

Thank you for the great tip, it’s really got me into sawing logs today. 😂👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[JeepTherapy]

I can start on the forward stroke... but I’ve had quite a few pieces blow that very corner out and splinter. So I’ve just started back stroking. But like you said it’s preference. Thanks James.

[rick]

Good fine tuning videos these days; of great value to guys like me...cheers..rr

[JimDockrellWatertone]

Still practising this one. Still don't quite have it down yet. Thanks for the tips.

[Dewelful]

"Once you're in... go to town" Finesse, thanks James