How to Saw Wood With a Handsaw

Series Summary

Home improvement and repair is some of the most rewarding and frustrating work homeowners can tackle. Whether it's building a new deck, installing drywall, laying tile, or just changing out old shelf paper, home repair and maintenance projects can be done successfully with the right tools and the right knowledge. The key to making your task relatively hassle-free is a tactic that has worked for ages: divide and conquer. With step-by-step instructions, and a few professional tips, getting things fixed up over the weekend can be easy. In this free video series on home remodeling, experienced handyman Nigel Gregory, discusses a variety of remodeling supplies. Gregory begins by explaining how to use a handsaw. He then discusses other home remodeling remedies, such as: how to measure wood, buy a power drill, sharpen a chisel, buy a sander, buy a chain saw, remove tile, install base molding and find a wall stud. Watch these videos and learn more about home remodeling today.

Video Transcript

"Hi this is Nigel Gregory with Blue Griffin Handyman. Today I'm going to show you how to use a handsaw. Now doing any sort of project like this it's always important to wear your protective gear, such as eye-wear or even ear protection. Now depending on the material you use you want to get the right kind of saw with good sharp teeth on it. None of them missing or dull or anything. This one here is a little rusted so it could probably use some oil on it. Anyway, when you're ready to make a cut measure the material you're working with where you want to cut the board. Take the saw and put it on that line. Then use your knuckles, make sure you use your knuckles and point your fingers away from the blade. Kind of like when you're cutting in the kitchen. This is going to help you guide the blade down on the line so that you have an accurate cut. Then bring it down at about a 45-degree angle and slowly guide it down until you have, until the teeth are really into the slat. Then once you have that, hold the board down and slowly bring it back up. It's sort of a 15-degree, 30-degree angle maybe, and then down 45 and then back up. This way the blade won't come out, the teeth won't stick in the slat. Then you can go to town once you have it in there. Watch your line as you're sawing and give it a nice steady and solid push. Once you've cut your board you're done. And that's how to use a handsaw."