How to saw in a straight line?

Question

When i saw wood with a hand saw i always veer to the left of the line I mark, any reason for this, I am left handed.

Answer 1

Look at the teeth on the hand saw.  Very likely one side is sharper than the other.  That will make it very difficult to cut a straight line.

Answer 2

Maybe Get One Of Those Long Metal Ruler Things, And Saw Along That :)

Good Luck ;)

x

Answer 3

Check to see which way your saw cuts; there's been an influx of Japanese 'Pull-Saws' that cut on the backstroke, while your standard saw cuts on the fore-stroke. They'll only cut IN THAT direction; saw teeth are NOT double-sided! Once you've established which direction you're cutting in... SLOW DOWN! Speed is what cause most curveture in hand-cuts. Slow down and think about each stroke. It's takes longer, but you only have to do it once... WORD!!!...

Answer 4

2 G-clamps,long piece thin steel,use steel as guide,with clamps holding it down.

Answer 5

The things you can use are a table saw, chop saw or miter saw, circular saw or jig saw with a straight edge. Now using a regular hand saw, to cut straight lines you need practice, practice, and more practice........

Answer 6

You need to buy a left handed saw !!! ( Thought this would have been obvious !! )

Answer 7

use a mitre box.

Answer 8

Keep the angle of the saw as shallow as possible, making a long sallow cut, rather than a steep angle giving an upright cut. use long steady strokes of the saw rather than short fast ones.

Answer 9

It's all in the way you hold the handsaw, and in using the full length of the saw and not just the middle part.

Placing the index finger along the handle's side gives proper control of the blade as you saw, combined with the knuckle part of your right thumb as a guide against the blade. Practise makes perfect..

Answer 10

When you saw, use the blades on the back part of the saw instead of the front. It will make a straighter and will cut better because the back blades are the less used and have the sharper edges. By sawing like this you have more control also. I will only use the front to pre make a line while I am sawing to follow.

Answer 11

stop drinking before or during your work or just buy a table saw

Answer 12

Your saw may have rubbed against a nail sometime and dulled it on one side so now its not cutting on that side.

Answer 13

Keep your head above the wood at a right angle when sawing. Make sure you draw a straight line on it first.

Answer 14

If you do that even with a pencil line, then pick a mark ahead of the saw, and in a line with your cut, could be on the floor, wall, anywhere and when you make your forwrd stroke aim to push the front of the saw to that mark each time

Answer 15

Clamp a 2x4 fence to hold your saw against while you cut

Answer 16

Chop saws are great but limited, electric is the way to go for straight lines tho.

Best tip i've had is to put your index finger down the side of the handle pointing to the opposite end of the saw. This has helped me cut stright for years so it might just be in my head but try it and hopefully it will work for you.

Answer 17

Put a rod or 2 by 4  or something stable in a straight line next to where u want to saw as a guide

Answer 18

Buy a jigsaw or a mitre saw. problems over.