Hand Saw Foundations

Syllabus

Using a hand saw is a basic, but very important skill to master when learning to use hand tools to work wood. If you cannot follow a line with your hand saws, you will struggle to accurately dimension stock, and your joinery will not fit “off the saw”, requiring hours of extra time fine tuning the fit of each joint. Worse, your joinery may end up too loose, necessitating a repair, or ruining the joint entirely. So, it is vital that you can choose the correct saw for the task at hand and be able to use that saw confidently. That’s why Hand Saw Foundations is the first class in the Foundations of Traditional Woodworking series.

In this class I’ll show you what to look for, and what to avoid when you’re in the market for a good, Western style hand saw. I’ll go over the different types of hand saws and discuss each of their uses in the traditional hand tool workshop, focusing on those saws you’ll need the most as a new hand tool woodworker. I’ll cover the basics of maintaining your hand saws, including how to sharpen them, and set them up to perform at their best. Finally, I’ll show you how to properly use your hand saws to make straight, precise, efficient cuts, as we build a valuable workshop appliance, and a handsome piece of furniture.

There are no prerequisites for this class. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced woodworker looking to incorporate more hand tools into your work, your competence using hand saws will benefit from the topics and exercises covered in the class.