How to Saw Lumber

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 1: Support the wood at a comfortable level.

   Use a table or sawhorse and align your body over the workpiece.
2. 2

   Step 2: Wrap all of your fingers and thumb around the saw handle

   Place your index finger on the side of the handle, pointing down the blade, to serve as a guide. , Don't use too much pressure. , Once you're about 1/2 inch (13 mm) into the wood, increase the length of your strokes.
   
   Shorten the strokes once more toward the end of the cut. , When making a square crosscut, place the saw at the edge of the wood, and line up the actual edge of the wood with the reflection of that edge on the saw blade. , If using your handsaw requires a lot of strain, and it's difficult to make a clean cut, hold the blade up to the light.
   
   If the tips of the teeth reflect light, sharpen the saw.
3. 3

   Step 3: except for your index finger.

4. 4

   Step 4: Saw with a fair amount of pressure when pushing forward

5. 5

   Step 5: and use little to none when pulling back.

6. 6

   Step 6: Use more length of the blade when the cut gets deeper.

7. 7

   Step 7: Use the blade's reflection to guide a perpendicular cut.

8. 8

   Step 8: Check for a dull blade.

Detailed Guide

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