Hand saw

Also called: handsaw, rip saw, crosscut saw, panel saw

A hand saw is a toothed blade set in a handle that cuts wood when you move it back and forth by hand.

Choose the direction

A rip saw cuts with the grain, meaning along the direction of the wood fibres. A crosscut saw cuts across the grain, and its teeth are shaped to sever fibres across the cut. A panel saw is a finer saw for bench work and can cut thin wood; a general hand saw is a compromise that can be used for several purposes.

Understand the cut

The kerf is the narrow slot left by the blade. Each tooth removes a small part of that slot, so the saw's many teeth share the work. Rip-saw teeth act more like small chisels along the grain, while crosscut teeth cut the fibres at the edge of the kerf. Keep the waste side, the side containing wood to remove, of the marked line under the saw, because the kerf itself removes wood.

Use marks and a guide

A shoulder is the step at the end of a tenon, the projecting end of a joint. A fence gives a crosscut saw a straight reference for this step, while marks on both edges show the depth to reach. These gauge lines, layout marks made with a marking tool, tell you when to stop. Support the board so it cannot shift as the teeth enter or leave.

Sharpening and green wood

A saw vice, a clamp that holds the blade for filing, keeps the tool steady during sharpening. Freshly cut wet timber is called green wood. With this material a hand saw works quickly, but the opening stroke takes more care to place accurately. Match the saw to the grain and the cut instead of expecting one tooth pattern to do every job.