Luke Dupont
04-26-2022, 10:00 AM
I just noticed a few things that help me saw accurately:
1. Saw next to a line, rather than trying to split it. Often times I do strike a line that I intend to split, and try splitting it (when it's not necessary to trim down to a line or saw on the waste side), but I find I get better results when I saw next to it, or saw between two lines.
I did a number of crosscuts both ways, and I can achieve almost perfectly square crosscuts beside a line or between two lines, but always find myself off when trying to split a (pencil) line.
2. I find that I can actually cut more accurately using saws without a back. ie, a Ryouba versus a Douzuki, or a Bow-saw with the blade turned 45 degrees versus a Tenon Saw. The reason is that my eye can see the exact angle of the blade / either side of it, whereas the thickness of the back on a backsaw obscures my vision such that it's difficult to see the precise angle that the blade is at. I'm sure this isn't so important for some people, but I find that being able to sight down the thickness of the blade to see the angle of it really helps me.
And one common one that doesn't:
- The tip about looking at the reflection in the saw plate to see if you're straight or not. For whatever reason, when I do this, it just distracts me from actually following the line and keeping the handle traveling perfectly straight and at a 90 degree angle to the work, and so I find that my cuts are always less accurate when I attempt to employ this method. A lot of people swear by it though, so I'm not knocking it. I just find I get better results when I focus on the line that I'm cutting beside, and my body mechanics.
All in all, I'm happy to say that my sawing has improved significantly over the years. A shooting board is still required for perfect precision, but I can come really close, especially if I take my time. And I can usually saw tenon cheeks right up to the line without needing to trim them. Sawing straight and square was one of those skills that alluded me for the longest time, but with enough practice, you eventually get pretty good at it.
Anyway, not much to this thread, so I'll make it a little more general and ask about everyone else's experience. What has helped you to become better with the saw? What works for you, and what doesn't?
1. Saw next to a line, rather than trying to split it. Often times I do strike a line that I intend to split, and try splitting it (when it's not necessary to trim down to a line or saw on the waste side), but I find I get better results when I saw next to it, or saw between two lines.
I did a number of crosscuts both ways, and I can achieve almost perfectly square crosscuts beside a line or between two lines, but always find myself off when trying to split a (pencil) line.
2. I find that I can actually cut more accurately using saws without a back. ie, a Ryouba versus a Douzuki, or a Bow-saw with the blade turned 45 degrees versus a Tenon Saw. The reason is that my eye can see the exact angle of the blade / either side of it, whereas the thickness of the back on a backsaw obscures my vision such that it's difficult to see the precise angle that the blade is at. I'm sure this isn't so important for some people, but I find that being able to sight down the thickness of the blade to see the angle of it really helps me.
And one common one that doesn't:
- The tip about looking at the reflection in the saw plate to see if you're straight or not. For whatever reason, when I do this, it just distracts me from actually following the line and keeping the handle traveling perfectly straight and at a 90 degree angle to the work, and so I find that my cuts are always less accurate when I attempt to employ this method. A lot of people swear by it though, so I'm not knocking it. I just find I get better results when I focus on the line that I'm cutting beside, and my body mechanics.
All in all, I'm happy to say that my sawing has improved significantly over the years. A shooting board is still required for perfect precision, but I can come really close, especially if I take my time. And I can usually saw tenon cheeks right up to the line without needing to trim them. Sawing straight and square was one of those skills that alluded me for the longest time, but with enough practice, you eventually get pretty good at it.
Anyway, not much to this thread, so I'll make it a little more general and ask about everyone else's experience. What has helped you to become better with the saw? What works for you, and what doesn't?