Handyman Guide > Handsaws and How to Saw

Sawing a straight line can be accomplished by observing a few simple rules. First, the line to be cut should be marked, using a square or rule, so that the line will be straight.

Do not trust your eye alone as a guide when sawing. By marking two or more sides of the wood before starting, you provide additional assurance that the cut will be right.

Hold the saw at a 45-degree angle to the wood for cross cutting and at a 60-degree angle when ripping. Use the knuckle of the thumb as a guide. A piece of wood can be used instead. of the thumb, and this will prevent injury in case the saw jumps. The first few strokes of the saw will indicate whether you are going to get a square cut or not. Saw with slow, deliberate strokes and do not hurry.

A small nail driven in the opening of the cut will prevent the wood from closing in on the saw and causing it to bind. Do not force down on the saw in an effort to make it cut. The weight of the saw is sufficient, provided that the saw is sharp.

Tenon Saw

This saw is also caned a backsaw or a miter saw. It is a crosscut saw with 12 to 16 points to the inch, a thin blade, and a reinforced back. This saw is used to make the very fine cuts required in cabinetwork and other fine woodwork. To make the cuts accurate, the tenon saw should be used in conjunction with a miter box.

Coping Saw

The coping saw is used for fine work and for cutting curves in wood. The blade is held in the frame under tension and can be turned in the frame so that cuts may be made at different angles. The blades can be removed when they become dull or broken. Keep a supply of extra blades in the tool kit because thin blades are easily broken.

Compass Saw

The blade of this saw is pointed, and is used primarily for cutting curves whcre it would be impossible to use a coping saw because of the frame. The general practice in working with the compass saw is to drill a hole with a brace and bit large enough for the blade of the saw. After this has been done, the saw is inserted in the hole and the remainder of the wood is cut out with the saw. A keyhole saw is similar to the compass saw; the handle is shaped differently and it is smaller.



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The Workshop
Equipping the Workshop - Heating - Fire Precautions - The Workbench - Saw Bucks - Tool Rack.

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Elements of the House - Building Materials - Lumber - Molding - Kinds of Wood and their Characteristics - Plywood Wallboard - Roofing Materials - Concrete - Mixing Concrete - Cement Mortar - Concrete Forms - Concrete Blocks - Cinder Blocks - Bricklaying - Fieldstone - Anchoring in Masonry - Soldering.

Furniture
Upholstered Furniture - Furniture Upkeep - Removing Stains - Removing Dents - Leather Upholstery - Cane Seats - Furniture Repairs - How to Repair Breaks - Levelling furniture - Remodeling Furniture - Polishes and Polishing - French Polishing - Painting Furniture - Sticking Drawers - Metal Furniture.

Painting
Paint Brushes - Storing Brushes - Varnish - Water Paint and Plastic Paint - Types of Paint - Paint Thinners - Mixing Paints - Preparing the Surface - Painting Flaws - Removing Paint - Exterior Painting - Painting New Wood - Repainting - Metal - Interior Painting - Calcimine - Painting Woodwork - Old Wood Trim - Staining - Fillers - Varnishing - Bleaching - Enameling - Painting Radiators - Painting Concrete - Shingles - Stoves and Stove Pipes - Whitewash.

Heating
Home Heating Systems - Chimneys - Coal Furnaces - Fuels - Burning Wood - Furnace Dampers - Starting a Coal Fire - Removal of Ashes - Coal Stokers - Oil Burners - Kerosene Heaters - Thermostats - Boiler Dampers - Fuel Economy - Warm Air System - Steam System - Vacuum System - Hot Water System - Radiators - Boilers - Maintaining the System - Insulating the System - Home Insulation - Storm Windows - Weather Stripping - Insulating Your Home - Blanket and Rigid Insulation - Unfinished Attic and Exterior Walls - Winterizing a Cabin - Preparing the foundation - Winterproofing a Cottage - Fireplaces - Reducing Condensation - Humidity.

Plumbing
The Plumbing System - Fresh water supply - Low Water Pressure - Hot Water System - Hot Water Heaters - Hot Water Tanks - Dirty Hot Water - The Sewage System - Sewage Disposal - Cesspools - Septic Tanks - Clearing Sewer Pipes - Clearing Drains - Plumbing Traps - Toilet Traps - Noisy Plumbing - Leaks in Water Tanks - Frozen Pipes - Clogged Water Pipes - Hard Water - Faucets - Shower Mixing Valves - Leaky Flush Tanks - Flush Valves - Removing Toilet Bowl - Leaky Pipes - Draining the Plumbing - Sealing Traps - Draining the Heating System - Types of Pipe - Insulating Pipes - Water Corrosion - Cleaning Fixtures.

Electricity
Definition of Terms - Ohm's Law - Alternating and Direct Current - Sources of Electrical Power - The Electrical System - Overloading the Circuit - Rewiring - Reading a Meter - Precautions - Fuses - Types of Cord - Splicing Wires - Replacing Plugs and Switches - Home Lighting - Electric Motors - Signaling System - Transformers - Burglar Alarms - Repairing the System - How to Install a Bell System.

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