I Tried The Ultimate Hand Saw Challenge!

PLANS / MERCH / & MORE
www.frankswork...
**Links to Tools I Like**
-- Marking and Measuring --
Pencils - amzn.to/3s593q6
Marking Knife - amzn.to/3sOl3Im
Benchtop Tape Measure - amzn.to/3Ytq6ya
Marking Gauge - amzn.to/3QyDgZ4
Combination Square - amzn.to/3iL4bxO
Machinist Square - amzn.to/3ONhu2a
-- Saws --
Crosscut Saw - amzn.to/43XygA4
Rip Saw - amzn.to/4426ClE
Backsaw - amzn.to/3655jqX
- amzn.to/3DPqA8l
-- Bench Planes --
WoodRiver Jack Plane (#5) - amzn.to/3PO9GeC
WoodRiver #6 - amzn.to/3Ytr65o
Block Plane - amzn.to/3oMLayx
Scrub Plane - ebay.us/62pAb9
-- Joinery Planes --
Router Plane - ebay.us/5GAmLm
Rabbet Plane - ebay.us/231UIU
Plow Plane - ebay.us/ZuNJZW
-- Chisels --
Bench Chisels - amzn.to/3YqbnEl
Mortise Chisel - amzn.to/3KBC8zM
-- Sharpening Stones and Equip --
Combination India Oil Stone - amzn.to/397qXfW
Arkansas Stone (black) - amzn.to/47tWLIf
Arkansas Stone (translucent) - amzn.to/43XYZwx
Strop - amzn.to/3YwrWyA
Diamond Stone Set - amzn.to/3sbPSLd
-- Striking Tools --
Woodworking Mallet - amzn.to/2Y2MFeV
Ball-Peen Hammer - amzn.to/3DRb4ck
Framing Hammer - amzn.to/44XeSEC
-- Shaping Tools --
Coping Saw - amzn.to/3pECvOh
Bow Saw - toolsforworkin...
Spokeshave - ebay.us/iW0Kre
-- Other Stuff I Like --
This Pencil Sharpener - amzn.to/3pB0cY1
Liquid Hide Glue - amzn.to/3a8tzut
Tried and True Varnish Oil - amzn.to/3TDkOMC
Square Awl - amzn.to/47nW431
Dividers - amzn.to/3KBEwXs
Cordless Drill and Driver - amzn.to/3KvLc9x
Brad Nailer - amzn.to/3KvLeOH
I earn a commission on qualifying purchases through any affiliate links. This comes at no cost to the consumer.

[@petrsidlo7614]

2:40 - my guess is bullets.

[@Mikey__R]

I was thinking the same, lead bullets from a muzzle loaded pistol, by the look of them.

[@jmrivera83]

For the next part of the desk, you could see how long it would take to make those cuts with a coping saw.😂😂😂 Another great video!

[@bobweiram6321]

You should use those weightlifting stands for lumber storage. You can get an extra workout unloading and loading it. 😂

[@micdiva]

Why did you stop making videos?

[@cracktact7676]

I love this whole "challenge" to be honest. I work with basically the same parameters but it's mostly because I'm broke and love hand tools. Super fun stuff to watch!

[@scottricks1676]

Same here my guy! But tbh I wouldn’t change it. There is something intoxicating about JUST using hand tools. Plus it always seem to impress ppl.

[@joeleonetti8976]

Thanks Frank. At some point, I had to make multiple long rips through ash. I didn't own a bandsaw then so I had no choice but to use a handsaw. Ash is well, hard. Wasn't pleasant but I would set timers for like 10 minutes to help me focus. I'd cut for 10 minutes, go back to my desk and do day job work (was during Covid) then need a break and saw for another 10 minutes. All in all, I think it was a total of 32 linear feet of cut in eight quarter stock. It got done and every time I see the thing I made, I smile.

[@carlogle6207]

Nothing better than hand tool prep. Sometimes I can talk myself out of a gym workout knowing I have a board to prep. A tip that may work for you and is highly recommended by the 18th / 19th century pros, is the handlebar mustache - it definitely helps during resaw work or long cuts such as this one. Great vid!

[@scottricks1676]

How does the stash help?

[@carlogle6207]

@@scottricks1676 it channels your inner craftsman =-)

[@nickmastro9287]

Hi Frank, it’s been a while since your last video, hope you are doing well.

[@ybtypical]

Awesome golf jab😁

[@JAUN320]

I'm really enjoying the minimal shop challenge, looking forward to more. I would be interested to hear a comparison of saw horse vs saw bench ripping. I would think that having more of your body weight above the saw would make it easier...

[@terryt2910]

Awesome demo! And now you need to do 30 minutes with a hand weight on you left shoulder.

[@DirkieB]

That's bullets

[@SparrowStockwell]

I hope you’ll show us the making of the desk!

[@frankhill9527]

I like using hand tools. I only have a bandsaw and a drill press everything else is hand tools.

[@pedrogava]

You are definitly not the average guy. You did a far better job than I would have done. And thank God for eletricity!

[@petertaylor3150]

Great job 👍 if you need to rip some more slabs etc. I would recommend making a couple of shorter saw horses. A hight where you can kneel on the slab. From this position you can put a lot more force into the cuts, use your whole body rather that letting your arms do the majority of the work!

[@michaelallenyarbrough9503]

Great video! I would suggest to anyone to clamp your stock so the cut is vertical. Clamped this way, you don’t have to reach over 12-18 inches and strain your shoulder more (the amount of force you can apply decreases with distance away from your body, slash a constant amount of force coming from your muscles exerts more torque on your shoulder and less force into a workpiece that’s at a distance from your body), and with a vertical cut your arms will not need to move as much, and you’ll instead distribute the forces among the strong muscles in your back and legs, and of course work with gravity. Depending on how you clamp it (say, on the corner of your table with a pair of parallel clamps), you can just walk to the other side of the board rather than flip the board over.

[@transmundanium]

I did a lot of ripping on a project a couple of years ago. About 12 feet of 6/4 cherry and about 35 feet of 4/4 cherry. I found that switching hands helped a lot, and discovered that I wasn't too bad at ripping with my off hand.

[@VertexCarver]

Where's your roubo frame saw?! ^^ Currently rebuilding a nicer frame for mine but I figured the roubo frame saw could kind of "pit saw" such a rip cut quickly. (Patáto, potàto i know. However, I thought it'd be fun to see if it's as efficient as I imagine... )

[@Homespunmusic]

Did you wear yourself out on that one, Frank? Haven't seen you in a while.

[@barnamadau7857]

People who chide youtubers for having tens of thousands of dollars of tools and making excuses for themselves not being able to build stuff lack imagination, motivation, determination, etc... Where there's a will, there's a way.

[@BakerVS]

Nice job, but I think you could make it a bit easier on yourself. Like you said, a 26" saw would be easier, but you don't necessarily need lower ppi, your saw is already pretty aggressive (but 3-4ppi would be faster). Next, you really want the slab at knee height for better body mechanics. If you can lay it on one or two saw benches you can hold it down with your knee and place your body right above the work. You'll be able to better see what your doing, and your shoulder and arm will be at a more comfortable angle. Finally, you don't need to constantly flip the board. That looks exhausting, and likely doubled the time and effort. On the one hand, if you get above the work by using a saw bench, you find it's easier to keep the saw plumb. On the other hand, with this thickness of board it doesn't matter if the cut is slightly off the line (provided you stay in the waste), since you'll in any case need to run a jointer plane down the edge to make it straight and square. That flipping technique is for tenons that you want to use straight off the saw, or for resawing a board into two thinner boards (where drifting a bit off the line WOULD make a big difference). In any case, thanks for the video!

[@melainekerfaou8418]

Those slabs would be super dangerous on a table saw. I'd use my track saw for this but I can very well picture myself doing it by hand, now that you've shown it's not that long. Maybe not for a big project but just for the sake of making less noise a Sunday morning, or if I am getting cold, or if it's the cross cutting blade that's currently mounted on the track saw... and safety, because even if a track saw is safer than a table saw, a hand saw is just on a completely other level.

[@thainesmith]

Great video. I'm still pretty new to woodworking and the other hand tool youtube guys don't really cover ripping or resawing.

[@מעייןהמלבלבתחייםםםם]

It's the best exercise...I'm using this type of sawing myDisston D23 which is longer with less teeth ( aggressive).

[@donspeese8220]

Frank, have you built the desk after ripping those walnut slabs? We would love to see the video.

[@TomBuskey]

I ripped 6' of a 8" thick red oak log once. It's *way* easier to split. Or chainsaw. If I had a slab like you have, I'd get the circular or jig saw out.

[@GuardianFaction]

Really enjoy this channel. Wish you could post more but i understand not enough hours in a day.

[@StuartSanborn]

I had a blood vessel burst just watching you.

[@BStreet666]

You have the only channel that keeps me wanting to use hand tools. Really appreciate the content and effort that goes into making this.

[@MCsCreations]

Awesome work, Frank! 😃 But yeah, table saw all day long for me. 😬 Anyway, stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@scottricks1676]

I never knew about flipping on a long cut. Thank you.

[@TheHandToolery]

Nicely done! Great times! While 20 minutes isn't as fast as a circular saw on a track, it's much faster than what most people think it will take. I've resawn 11" wide walnut about 3 feet in length by hand, and it was under an hour I think (not the most aggressive saw either). It's definitely tiring, but I actually enjoy the accomplishment. Looking forward to the desk build!

[@Erik_The_Viking]

Those metal pieces were bullets. Great job on the project1

[@ashleyhall5686]

I like muscles that aren't just for show 👅

[@KevinOMalleyisonlysmallreally]

Those are definitely bullets right?

[@panteliswoodwork9100]

Frank thanks for the great tips!

[@1deerndingo]

What teeth per inch would you prefer for rip cutting such a larger piece. Hand tools are primarily for hobbyist wood workers. And particularly for those that enjoy the process of doing each step - seeing each step as an outcome in itself.

[@BakerVS]

Answer at 11:30 in the video.

[@johnford7847]

Absolute maniac...few screws loose...yup, that's Frank. Impressive sawing, there. And many useful bits of advice. Thanks for sharing.

[@HaroldShipley]

The metal looks like a bullet to me.

[@JeffreyMyzie]

Is Frank Ok? The last video he posted was four months ago. I hope nothing is wrong.

[@FranksWorkbench]

all good man, ill be back!

[@DetroitSicilian]

Great video!

[@HdtvTh]

You didn't really make this easy on yourself, a sturdier 3 TPI hand saw or even a 3 TPI bow saw would have made it a lot easier by not having to flip the board, and probably about 3 times faster. Then again these are hard to find new, so you'd probably have to go antique hunting, which is not that fun.

[@VDHandcrafted]

I have been cross cutting 4x2 to 4x1 for my workbench bearers. Get's you heart going and a good workout for the arm muscles. It may take longer than with a power tool but you save time on going to the gym 😉

[@dpmeyer4867]

Good job

[@douglashopkins8070]

Whenever I have a job like that I find that my saw sharpening improves.

[@michaelholmstrom7677]

I think you can get rid of the hand weights and just hand saw walnut for a workout.

[@yasarmevlutoglu776]

Заработные деньги этим методом,в ресторане не потратишь,Я тоже 😂

[@nicetryfbi357]

that headbang, i felt it too lmao can't wait to see video about the desk

[@silamaleesri8661]

Where do you get your handsaws?

[@awantamta]

Awesome cutting