Cutting wood, no matter what type of saw you’re using, requires a certain amount of precision, and you need to ensure that you are getting it done right in order to make sure that you are able to achieve the accuracy that you might have been looking for.
Even with the best tools on the market, you will have to experiment a bit to get the project right. It can be annoying to get through retries when you can’t seem to cut the wood straight, and seeking pointers from an expert is the best method.
You can visit your local workshops or reach out to the dealer regarding methods on how to get the wood straight. That way, you will avoid a lot of guesswork as you practice with the handsaw on your next project.
How To Cut Wood Straight With Hand Saw?
That goes for all the different types of woods and saws, for sure, since you will have to be precise and not leave anything on the chance.
If you are looking to cut the wood straight with the Hand Saw, here are a few things that you will need to be careful about.
- Mark it straight
All those who are working with the wood in any capacity know that the cut is as precise as the markings, so you will need to ensure that you are marking it right.
That is why you will need to ensure that you are checking on all the factors that might be there on your wood, and then mark the straight line where you want to cut the wood.
It would be better if you could get the marking done with some straight scale since it will have the right accuracy that you might be looking for.
- Mount the wood
The next thing that you would need to do is to mount the wooden piece that you are working with strongly, so it will not cause you to have any issues later on by getting slipped or something.
If you can find some of those stands that will hold the wood for you tight enough, that is simply the best that you can get. However, if not, you can try placing it under some wrench jaws and ask someone to hold the wood firmly in its place.
That would definitely help you out, and you will not have to worry about a single thing at all.
- Cut it right
The next thing is cutting in a straight line, and while it sounds pretty simple. The handsaw cutting requires certain skills on your part as well that you will need to use.
That is why you will have to ensure that you are using a handsaw with a sharp blade that will be able to cover it up properly for you, and you will not have to worry about the saw slipping or not having accuracy.
After that, you need to cut in fast and steady strokes on the wood piece that you are trying to cut straight with the handsaw. Start from one end and take it to the other by ensuring that your saw blade is straight and not going in some other direction.
That will definitely help you out properly in getting the job done and not having any problems with efficiency or accuracy either.
You need to be precise with each stroke while you are cutting the wood straight with a hand saw, and that will help you get the job done more accurately.
- Adjust Tension On The Saw
At this point, you need to be mindful of the tension on the saw. You can’t really expect the cut to be straight when you’re not keeping track of the tension.
You need to keep in mind that the saw can’t cut through the whole block in one go. Putting more and more pressure on the saw will only hold you back in the long run.
So, to avoid that issue, you just have to adjust the tension on the saw and then remove the slack. That will be more than enough to help you develop a cleaner cut.
This issue will be a bit harder to manage when you’re using an older saw. Sadly, there are no quick fixes that can help you manage a broken system. So, be sure to check the condition of the saw as you’re trying to get through the project.
Sometimes, replacing the saw is the right move. Even when you’re doing everything right, the issues with the saw can complicate the situation.
So, to avoid that situation, you will just have to get a new saw and then try getting through the block one more time. Hopefully, you will not have to deal with more errors down the road.
- Limit Wobble
The wobble on the wooden piece can also create problems with the straight cut. It is not always the easiest to manage the wobble, and you will have to make sure that one side of the wood is perfectly level with the platform.
Another method that you can use here is making use of smaller wedges to stabilize the piece. There is simply no point in trying to get through the project when you can’t seem to limit the wobble. So, be sure to check on the piece accordingly.
All that you’re trying to do here is make sure that the tension on the saw is optimal and that there are no issues with the stability. That will give you a bit more margin as you try to get through the whole log.
Most of the time, it will not be that hard to manage. However, you will still need to spend a bit of time creating the wedges or smoothening out one side if you have not done it before. It all comes down to making the process easier for your tools.
- Ask Local Experts
Lastly, the best method to learn is to reach out to a local professional. There are no guides on the market that can even come close to the presence maintained by an expert. You will get far more out of a physical demonstration.
So, all that you need to do here is ask a local expert about this issue. He will take a peek at your setup and then guide you accordingly on the issue. Hopefully, you will not have to bother with more errors down the road.
Similarly, you can also hire a local contractor or any other expert. There is no point in guessing with different materials as you will be wasting a lot of money and time that way.
So, just spare a few bucks on the side and spend 20 to 30 minutes in a workshop learning from an expert.
You will benefit from this experience and won’t have to worry about any issues throughout the project. Moreover, the pointers given by the experts can help you avoid a lot of pitfalls down the road.
Wrapping Up
In the end, it all comes down to your skill as an expert, and it will take a while before you get used to the proper technique.
What we will recommend is that you look up some tutorials on YouTube and also reach out to local experts. They will help you speed through the process.
The learning curve can be pretty steep when you’re trying to do everything on your own.
However, when you have help from an expert, the overall process can become effortless. You will not only avoid the major pitfalls but will also get a cleaner finish.
All you have to do on your end is to reach out to a local workshop and practice with the experts. Even observing these experts will do you more good than harm. So, be sure to spare some time out of your weekly routine to visit a local center.
Hopefully, you will not have to bother with any more uneven cuts. Similarly, the methods mentioned above will help you speed through the project while still maintaining a decent level of consistency.