Things You'll Need:
- Work gloves
- Some sort of bench or raised platform
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Step 1
A hand saw, like a chain saw, will only cut through firewood of certain thickness in a single cut. Unlike a chain saw, a hand saw will not fell trees. Here's a general rule of thumb for cutting firewood: if it's bigger than your thumb, you won't be able to break it. If it's bigger than your thigh, it's time to get the axe.
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Step 2
Having selected the proper piece of wood, place it on a bench or some other raised surface. You want one end sticking out into space, the other end secured against the bench or platform. When using a saw, your hand or knee can be used to hold the log in place if need be, but DO NOT cut against your leg.
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Step 3
Place the blade against the log where you want to cut it, and draw it back. The motion with a saw is all arm, no wrist. Your lower arm should stay reasonably straight, parallel to the ground as you saw back and forth.
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Step 4
If necessary, rotate your log and saw through from the other side. A saw will catch and bind in the middle of a thick piece of wood. If it gets stuck, work it back and forth gently to get it free.
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Step 5
When you're almost through, try and break it rather than sawing all the way through. It saves potential wear and tear on the saw and saves you from accidentally having the sawed piece fall on your foot.
