Although you will probably do most of your cutting with power tools, there are times when a handsaw is more convenient. Learn the proper technique, and hand-cutting may turn out to be easier than you expected.

crosscut

To make a crosscut with a handsaw in narrow goods, set the blade's heel end (nearest the handle) at a 45-degree angle to the work. Set the teeth on the scrap side of the cut line. To make sure the blade doesn't wander, use your thumbnail as a guide. Pull the saw back toward you several times to start the cut. Don't force the blade; use the weight of the saw to start the cut while you guide it. Saw with a rocking motion, using a steeper angle at the beginning of the downstroke and a flatter angle at its completion. Again, don't force it; let the saw do the work.

clean finish

When you near the end of the cut, support the scrap end of the piece of wood. Grasp it firmly with your free hand, exerting a slight upward pressure to keep it from binding. This also will keep the piece from snapping and splintering on the last stroke.

cutout

To notch the corner of a board, position the blade of the saw so it is perpendicular to the work as you near the end of each cut. In that way, the bottom of the board is cut the same distance as the top. Often it is helpful to reverse the position of the saw, as shown above.