What You Need to Know About Crosscutting

[@isaacplaysbass8568]

The saw on my leatherman-like tool has come in handy many times; especially when exploring France from my van.

[@jsmxwll]

I love Chinese style frame saws. I was introduced to them in Taiwan. Once you get used to the mechanics, they can be very accurate and they are usually very fast.

[@richardsinger01]

It’s the first time I’ve seen one.. How do you find holding the frame at 45 degrees? It seems as if it would be top heavy and tiring.

[@jsmxwll]

@@richardsinger01 Holding it at an angle took some getting used to, but it wasn't harder than adapting from western saws to Japanese saws for me. I've also done a lot of coping, so maybe that helped a bit. It feels awkward at first and that lead to being tiring. But after a bit the stabilizer muscles adapt and I don't notice it really. I use mine to resaw 3/8"x4x28 veneers from reclaimed American chestnut mostly, and it feels better and less tiring than my other saws if that helps answer your question.

[@richardsinger01]

@@jsmxwll Thanks, yes that’s interesting. Presumably this is a two handed saw? Is it used like a turning saw with one hand fore and one aft?

[@jsmxwll]

@@richardsinger01 No, they are usually just used one handedly as far as I know. I made mine following this video series: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJjLfXiqhJWKgLc (link is to the end after the saw was completed just quickly demonstrating its use) That is part 3 of the video series, the related videos should get you part 1 and 2. He makes the blade in part 3 from a coil spring from an old clock and most of the rest of the saw is made in part 1 and 2.

[@jsmxwll]

@@richardsinger01 kzbin.info/www/bejne/aWS3eaCkZcZ7n8U John Zhu made one based on the other video I linked. His is probably a lot easier to follow. The first series I linked are all in mandarin and he's kinda just making it uncut. John Zhu's video is edited down and seem pretty easy to understand. He also shows some of it in use toward the end with better lighting and more use. There are two ways the saws mount the blade. One is with the wood at the end of the frame cut at an angle the the blade attached there. the other is with dual pins, which is less traditional, but easier and very common with modern made Chinese frame saws. One final note. Chinese frame saw blades are usually only set every other tooth. So you have a left set, straight, then right set, then straight again. It really makes cutting through stock feel less burdensome but it also leaves a pretty ragged surface at low tooth counts.

[@exploringplaceshistoryantiques]

Very informational. Years ago when I was around 14 my grandfather let me use a two man cross cut saw with him. He built an x-frame to lay the logs in to cut them for firewood. The neat thing he did was pour some kerosene in an old coke bottle and pack the neck with pine needles to act as a brush. He would then go up and down the blade to use as a lubricant to keep the blade from sticking. It worked. He was just an old poor farmer but he figured out how to make things easier. Thanks for bringing some great memories to my mind by showing this saw!

[@mattevans-koch9353]

Thank you for the information on body alignment when cross cutting. You just reminded me to pay more attention to alignment when I am using my hand saws.

[@ikust007]

Hello Mike ! Happy to see you !

[@josephgf9451]

The setting, the subject, the explanations, the Mike and Joshua, the M&T magazine, the fundamental videos on the website : I love every thing about this/them. I owe them to have gone through my dark times (after my accident) and to now do handtool work in my appartement: I dare.

[@MatthewHarrold]

I score all my cuts (Paul Sellers makes sense there), use a Ryoba for most rip and cross cuts, and clean up cross cuts with a file-rasp thingy I finally purchased last year. When doing construction (rarely) I use a cheap panel saw that has "some coating" that I don't understand but it stays sharp and lives under my house without rusting. $0.02 thanks for a great quality woodworkers video.

[@liquidrockaquatics3900]

I think of hand saws as a steam locomotive where the operator is the engine and the saw is the axle; it’s precise rhythmic motion that gets you through, not muscle

[@JayCWhiteCloud]

Excellent video...!!!...Well done...I too love the Chinese-style saws...

[@SebR-FR]

you've use one ? I wonder how it feels in the hand, it looks unbalanced at first glance but I'm sure they are effective.

[@JayCWhiteCloud]

@@SebR-FR Yes, several actually, and also while traveling...The ones I use now (400mm and 700mm) are not fixed as the true traditional ones are yet I still use them in this same canted style most often...However, it is all in what you get used to and "feels" right in your hand... Josh (Mr. Chickadee) here on KZbin works a great deal in Asian design and building methods. He still likes Western tools more than Asian. I have zero issues with what tools someone finds work best for them. The "tool is the best teacher for a given student and each has their own preference regardless of the style of work they find fits their goals and/or personality within a craft. One of the nice parts of the current trends in traditional woodworking (and other crafts) is the amalgamation of so many different cultures in a free and open context... Hope that was of some help...

[@abdossett]

Excited to see new videos, this one was excellent.

[@vinceLi3096]

I love seeing the Chinese frame saw mentioned here! I have been planning to make a 4 TPI rip saw with that style for some times.

[@Mark_Wood]

Great informative video Mike. I need to get more saws!

[@mortisetenonmagazine]

Always!

[@tomkovacic2736]

great video. Love your magazine, I am a subscriber.

[@charliekingpin8568]

Thank you for a great video keep the good work up

[@moqtev]

Great video - thanks!

[@dpmeyer4867]

Thanks

[@stanbrown915]

I have 15 hand saws all Diston and Superior. I can't pass them up when I find them for 5 or 10 bucks. It breaks my heart to see some excellent saws painted up with barns and raccoons and what not🤣🤣🤣

[@snowwalker9999]

Those Japanese tools look like hostages😅in that quaint old rustic Western woodworking shop you guys have in there.

[@mortisetenonmagazine]

Kept quietly under the bench...

[@vincentdecarpigny7574]

wow, first ? :D