Saw Straight Every Time with These Simple Tricks

[@garetnuite3508]

Who ever did the graphics in this video did a really good job.

[@asherdoubek8740]

no really shout out to the person who did that foot line animation very nice

[@gibbidz]

Yeah I was pretty impressed with that

[@WalkerRichmondRanger]

Zj 😊​@@asherdoubek8740

[@CeeJayThe13th]

I hadn't watched Rex's videos in a while but I've just caught up on a bunch. I noticed that the editing has really stepped up. The editor really needs to be credited somewhere obvious because they're doing great and they might be able to get more work if they need it.

[@handyboy2000]

​@@CeeJayThe13th It's Nate. He's in Rex's lesson on using a hand plane.

[@skoll2712]

So basically Rex says we have a skill issue in the most constructive and helpful way possible

[@jarod144]

He’s right lol I use terrible saw and can saw straight cuts

[@McSlobo]

For some people this is harder than for others and it's good to aknowledge that it's a common issue. If it's difficult with handheld tools you can spend some money that could make it a bit easier. Good quality jigsaw, rotary saw or a router for example. I was making heavy duty shelf legs for myself and wanted them dead straight but because they were so tall I had to do the final touch with a router and a guide.

[@lazerblade2]

Ooo fancy special effects at 1:40. That's called production value, folks. This is why Rex makes the big bucks.

[@lobsteroverrun]

idk if he actually makes the big bucks, but i feel like he should.

[@johnmm]

Now this is a darn good video - just what the doctor ordered. The 1st key skill to get squared away for any woodworker. Rex's channel is the place to start your woodworking journey on KZbin. Just the most teaching focused woodworking channel on KZbin.

[@Ashitaka1110]

I really have to encourage everyone to go get that Spear and Jackson saw and follow Rex's modification instructions on it. I did and it works incredibly well. And recently I got a $300 Rob Cosman tenon saw, and it is amazing and I love it...and it does NOT work better than the Spear and Jackson that I have. If you follow that video you will get a saw that will perform with the very best modern saws you can buy.

[@johnford7847]

I hope all your viewers find this as useful as I have. I discovered I have to relearn many things after cataract surgery with hard implants "corrected" my vision. Excellent video, Rex. Thank you very much.

[@louisd95714]

I know this doesn't make anything better, but I wanted to say that my wife also had cataract surgery on both eyes with hard implants, and she is experiencing the same problems. She has to use reading glasses to read almost anything with smaller print.

[@Ketaset999]

For the Japanese saw users: To get perfectly vertical cuts, look in the reflection of the side of your saw (after you line it up across the top of your board!). Wiggle it back and forth, and see how the board's reflection bends. When you look in the reflection and it looks like the board is strait, not kinked, you are perfectly perpendicular to the board. This is super handy since you can't look on the back side of your board as you start cutting at the corner away from you instead of near you like a western saw. Now you can look at both axis at once by following your line and the reflection without a game of twister to see a vertical line to follow.

[@nevinmurtha1670]

Most people aren’t going to buy a new saw. Yet often the problem is the saw. How about a video on diagnosing saw problems?

[@jarod144]

It’s usually the person but might be the saw lol

[@1pcfred]

@@jarod144 the saw is definitely a part of it unless you have an excellent saw. Acquiring a decent hand saw today is a specialty purchase too. You ain't just running down to the local hardware store and doing that. Not in this day and age. You're ordering it and paying for it too.

[@Trillapurge]

What are you talking about? You can purchase a decent Japanese saw for $30 ​@@1pcfred

[@1pcfred]

@@Trillapurge yes but I wasn't talking about Japanese saws. I'm an American. So I was referring to western saws. Because I'm a westerner. Yehaw! Now get along little doggie. Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam, where the deer and antelope play. Where seldom is heard a discouraging word and the skies are not cloudy all day. OK maybe I don't live that far west, but you get the idea.

[@jonahunderhill]

I really appreciate how you still make these beginner tips videos.

[@FriedPi-mc5yt]

Glad you mentioned the Japanese Dozuki. I’m only using pull saws now after using European style saws for decades. A good Ryoba and a small Dozuki are about all you need for basic work. To really up your pull saw game. Add in a flush cut, a cross cut Kataba, a rip cut Kataba and a large Dozuki.

[@1pcfred]

I like western style saws. Those Japanese saws are for the Japanese.

[@FriedPi-mc5yt]

@@1pcfred Well, I’m not Japanese. But it’s a free country, so you can make dumb choices if you like.

[@1pcfred]

@@FriedPi-mc5yt Japan is a closed society. They made a dumb choice when they attacked us though.

[@FriedPi-mc5yt]

@@1pcfred Yup. But their saw style is way better.

[@1pcfred]

@@FriedPi-mc5yt I wouldn't consider their saws particularly stylish. Very uncomfortable to use. But then again I don't use them right. I stand up. In the east they sit on low cots or mats on the ground and don't have workbenches. They hold things with their feet. My back aches just watching them. At my age if I end up on the floor I'm staying there.

[@andrejwalilko634]

to expand on 'geometry or whatever', in geometric space, 2 points identifies a line, and 3 points identify a plane. so, causing two lines to intersect on your workpiece makes a total of three points on one specific plane. if you follow both lines, your saw hits all 3 points and follows the plane you want to cut.

[@charlesbrousseau3988]

excellent intro with the dotted lines and the words on the wall!

[@darodes]

I really need to become a Patron because I can’t believe I missed a collab between 2 of my favorites 😮…. You and Shannon are AWESOME

[@chris-C8]

Hey Rex, thanks for the excellent videos. I would also like to thank you because I purchased the quickstack plans and built my first workbench! It is absolutely SOLID! The only thing I changed was using 1" ply for the top, as I also need to use it for my router sled. I also put wheels and adjustable feet so I can level the bench on uneven surfaces. If anyone reads this and is considering building the workbench, build it! You won't regret it; I regret not doing it sooner!

[@charleswilson8915]

I just finished your most recent video at the end of a "Rex" Marathon. I hadn't viewed you for awhile because I was very busy. I started with your first thru your most recent, including all your shorts (because I couldn't remember where I had left off 😂). Loved them all. Keep up the great work.

[@BenjaminMellor]

I'm kinda lazy, so I think I'll stick with the miter saw, but this still shows good techniques. I am definitely more of a power tool woodworker, but I still like watching your content. I definitely plan on building one of your workbenches once I have the time to do so.

[@PapaJoeWalsh]

Great video. I struggled with this issue for a long time after starting woodworking for the first time 4 years ago. I still mess up - often! These techniques will make a difference I believe. The idea of imaging a true line going from the piece across the bench and across the floor is life-changing! I know when I try this today it will have a great impact on the quality of my cuts. Thanks for posting probably the most helpful video on straight cutting I have seen to date.

[@UrbanGarden-rf5op]

Great tips. Two pointers though. Knife wall is not just a means to sawing straight, my main reason for using it is to minimise tear out on the surface. And you don't have to do the advanced version with a chisel, a straight cut with a sharp knife will do just fine in most cases. And to quote one of my guitar teachers: "Practice doesn't make perfect. Practice makes permanent! So practice perfect" It's all about creating muscle memory. And that is a very strong kind of memory. Thanks for helping me getting perfect. ✌✌

[@heapner]

Not cutting square can really cause a beginner to quit woodworking, I almost did. This is a simple yet important video.

[@SandyMasquith]

Thank you Rex! I so appreciate your teaching. Your techniques are great and your explanations are so clear. One thing I've been struggling with is sawing. In some woods (hardwoods like walnut and oak), the saw blade wants to follow the grain (I think... at least that's what it feels like) and I really have a hard time following the line. I'll keep at it, but practice on hardwoods gets a bit spendy!

[@trackie1957]

Also helpful is really good lighting so you can see what you're doing.

[@peterbaum1823]

My saws need a bit of work to make them shine again. I bought them from Noah's kids when they were done with their boat. I should probably spring for a new one to practice with. Great tips, btw.

[@michaelrentsch8936]

Practice really makes perfect.. I can now manage 3 out of four crosscuts that I don't have to use the shooting board to clean up for, and it only takes 1-2 mins to fix the errant cut., whereas 4 months ago, I managed 0 out of four, and it took me about 30 mins to clean up my ends. All the best Mike R.

[@mikesalmo]

That was funny. I was just thinking that I knew how to do this about a month before I could do it reliably. It takes practice, and I still check my body mechanics regularly. I don’t know if that goes away. …and that’s when you said using it on your next project is too late 😂. I usually practice on shop stuff. I’m doing mortises with wedges right now to build a mini paint booth out of construction lumber that I can knock down flat. The only issue with that is that SPF sucks. It warps, it’s full of knots, it likes to crack or crumble. So I don’t expect a great result, just practice. Yellow pine is much better, but I can only get it in 2x8+ here. It’s wet, knotty, and almost always cupped but at least the wood is denser and acts more like wood.

[@MCsCreations]

Thanks a bunch for all the tips, Rex! Really valuable information!!! 😃 Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@jons2447]

THANK YOU! Mr. Krueger! Another excellent video! BTW, you patreon is one of the BEST! values on the internet. I don't get in the forum as much as I'd like but it's a GREAT group. I *highly* recommend it to anyone that wants to start/learn woodworking. When I started I thought I'd cancel after a month or 2 but I'm still at it. Have a GREAT day, Neighbor!

[@J.A.Smith2397]

I really like you redo videos, coming back after more information and current tips

[@miketype1each]

Am considering my investments in pull saws was a mistake. Their thin kerfs make for speedy cuts, I suppose.. and less waste, perhaps, but I'm somehow unable to get even a halfway decent straight line with them. Thanks for this tutorial!

[@dannyrinc]

Rex doesnt even need a saw anymore, he just cuts joints out with that hella sharp jawline

[@vtecbobby]

This lesson was great. Thanks Rex!

[@ShaneTheViking]

Yes I can knifewall each and every single cut in my tool cabinet with 96 inlaid dovetails, I don't recomend others do it, but it can be done, if you don't have a deadline.

[@1pcfred]

When he said you couldn't I thought, oh yes I can.

[@controllerpleb6568]

Finally the video I really needed

[@elterga6224]

I love these videos, they give clear and attainable steps to surprisingly great woodworking

[@stemogstel22]

Great timing on this one. I was making practice cuts on a scrap 2x4. Disappointed in the quality of my cuts, I thought Rex would be the right person from whom it get some pointers. Never disappointed!

[@minotaur3868]

Another great vid, Rex. Thank you for remembering that to many first time woodworkers, even the simplest of tasks can seem daunting however your friendly and non-condescending manner and method of instruction is refreshing and engaging and encourages newbies like myself to give it a try and keep practising until we have mastered it. Bloody well done fella.

[@TaiWanWaf]

Give yourself permission to be bad. That’s the best advice 💜

[@1pcfred]

Well the permission gets you past any anxiety. But that won't carry you all the way. To complete your journey you have to be mindful of what's going on.Then integrate what you've experienced to find the path to you where you want to go.

[@sarinhighwind]

Ive been using the reflection and lines and had great success. Gotta use all the tools for best success

[@DJFelixChester]

A great way to practice your saw technique is to make a bunch of stakes. They require right and angled cuts and I use them all over my lawn and garden.

[@thomashverring9484]

Useful, easy to understand-and chock-full of amazing special effects! Thanks Rex!

[@jurikristjouw]

Thank you Rex! I am getting better every day!

[@jeffspaulding9834]

Shannon Rogers rocks your stripey socks. I watched his videos about sawing years ago and it made an immediate difference. I still follow his advice today.

[@trackie1957]

I have tried the knife wall. A lot. And I haven’t seen a real advantage, but I don’t have decades of practice. When I have some important square cuts to make, I use a level to make sure my stock is level in the vise. That eliminates another variable and lets me feel when the saw is square.

[@1pcfred]

A knife wall gives you a crisp edge and guides the saw at the outset. But if those aren't advantages for you then fair play I suppose.

[@brucematthews6417]

One thing you didn't mention is that we want/need to start with a saw that has even set and sharpness on both sides. A saw that isn't set up with matching set or got run into a nail on one side will want to push the blade to the better cutting side. But yeah, it's a learned skill and it requires practice to find and keep the proper body stance.

[@HangingAxes]

Larry Haun, who I learned of through Essential Craftsman, emphasized "seeing square" and I' always practice it and recite it in my head when making a cut.

[@1pcfred]

You can see square, when you present a square to the work. That's why those instruments exist. So you can check for square.

[@smurray8246]

Production value got a huge bump. Love it!

[@louisd95714]

I have little to no interest in hand sawing but I have immense interest in whatever Rex Krueger has to say.

[@pimcramer2569]

I can feel it click in my brain while watching this. One of your best videos

[@gibbidz]

Thanks Rex! You're a gentleman and a scholar!

[@Aberger789]

Excellent! Thanks Rex-- you've really helped my conceptual understanding and execution on projects. Great content as always

[@MansourAlAkeel]

Very valuable techniques. I will keep this in mind, and try to fix my posture to get better results. Thank you for sharing

[@mtorrisi42]

this is such a classic educational Rex video 🙌

[@jayc5012]

i just use magnetic saw guides that i build. its teaching me what it feels like when im in the perfect cut, and when i veer off .

[@jonoabroad]

I'm downstairs practicing my saw cuts. I may have attacked my bench first , but I think I'm improving - the sawing, not the attacking. Going to be watching this about 120000 times. Wax on / wax off except pull saw / push saw. Thank you Rex and team, Not having $100000 dollar tools and having humanity about your skill makes it approachable for others.

[@dpmeyer4867]

good tutorial

[@kevinhenri5751]

I’ve seen almost all of your videos and I don’t think you’ve ever showed us a look at your green toolchest and the outfitting. That would be an interesting video for some of your viewers such as myself!

[@mikec8451]

It would also be a very interesting video to build such a toolchest

[@kevinhenri5751]

@@mikec8451maybe he thinks it’s too simple or there’s something he’d like fix about it. To me, that almost fits into the furniture forensics profile he does, as well as just showing what the “every man” can build. It would be neat to get a video analyzing it and then building one. Not everyone wants to build the Chris schwarz anarchist tool chests

[@1pcfred]

I think that toolbox is just decoration. He doesn't keep any tools he uses in it I don't think. It's just a nice thing to have in the shop for inspiration. It sets the mood.

[@kamilozaur0]

knowledge is power 👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@histreeonics7770]

Having access to a professional machine shop I think I will make a slip on back for my present saws. A piece of bar stock with a groove cut down it the thickness of the saw blade should do nicely.

[@on3tee539]

Nice vid Rex. It should be noted for others that the Spear and Jackson teeth are set for rip cuts and the Crown teeth come set for cross cuts.

[@avivat3010]

Super video Rex!

[@DraganIlich-r1s]

Thank you Sir. You is educative and encouraging. Thanks again.🎉🎉

[@ramonbmovies]

Rex says that once the saw is deep into the wood, it is impossible to go off the line. I wish that were true. If you use my techniques and body mechanics, or just watch me try following a line, I bet you $100 that even if Rex starts the cut for me, if I continue cutting Rex will think the wood got warped as I cut it. :) I'll even combine my hand cutting w/ power saws, and I'll still get warped cuts. So I'll definitely try his technique.

[@devinteske]

Practice makes improvement

[@TC-qd1zw]

I learned as an apprentice is that your arm is like a piston rod just going back and forward. Start to learn slowly and gradually increase speed.

[@kaydotz]

Ah so similar mechanics to bowling 👍

[@aprendizdeebanista]

Great video! Thanks!!!

[@edwardmedina1236]

So a couple of things. First it matters what kind of saw you have, what you are sawing and in what direction you are sawing. Trying to saw a crosscut with a rip saw is very difficult. Also, sawing soft pine is entirely different from sawing white oak. I experienced this very issue this past week. I purchased a cheap saw at Home Depot (doing some work for my mother and flying with my tools wasn't an option), but the Home Depot saw was a rip saw (not a cross cut saw). So I could easily rip wood, cross cutting was impossible. I ended up using a Hacksaw for the cross cut on the white oak piece of wood, because the rip saw was just making a mess. So - The type of saw you have and what you are sawing makes a difference. In addition, practice makes a great deal of a difference. Someone like me who saws manually maybe 3 times a year will have a much harder time sawing straight than someone like Rex who probably does it daily or at the very least weekly.

[@kennethnielsen3864]

Thanks for sharing.

[@astronemir]

I do still wish you would take us on the journey of learning to use that Ryobi saw, even if you are not an expert. Your own journey in learning would translate to a really educational video. Price wise, it is more approachable of a saw for a beginner woodworker.

[@tatehogan5685]

Great video as always. Any chance you can do a review on the Rob Cosman carcass saw? Expensive but is it actually worth it?

[@hassanal-mosawi4235]

Thanks for sharing that!

[@johnlofts3316]

great video rex as always. My suggestion is: stop trying to do so much with your hand! The harder you grip the saw the more likely you are to twist it out of line in one plane or the other. Instead, use it just to lightly hold the saw upright and then then think about guiding and pushing it not with your hand but your elbow. Works for me. Cheers, johnnyangel

[@cfraschetti]

Thank you.

[@Clark42EoC]

1st class cut, third class cut. Use your knife walls people. :) 10 dollar ryoba's from harbor freight have cut some truly amazing joinery in my hands. 30 dollar dozuki will cut ultra tight joinery. I'd recommend Suizan for a cheap but great dozuki/dovetail saw.

[@mariasaha8303]

Thx for the rec’s!

[@Clark42EoC]

@@mariasaha8303 You're very welcome.

[@rkalle66]

Most important is to keep the board clamped/secured. You cannot saw straigt when the board is wobbling around.

[@semilog643]

GREAT video

[@blayne2029]

another great video

[@stephensiler3854]

I agree wholeheartedly that cutting to a line is an indispensable skill to wood workers. I don't care if you're hanging doors or making furniture, you need to be able to do this. Creating a jig to do the work for you is just silly. Learning to cut to a line and plane it smooth simply saves you time.

[@rohmatbubut-um4ug]

Tutorial ini sangat bermanfaat ya terimakasih salam dari saya pemula semoga bisa membantu, Anda walau hanya dari waktu saya nonton pidio tutorial ,ini ,,, terimakasih atas berbagi nya 🙏🙏

[@joetoner8848]

1:19 no sense going to the store for Polar Seltzer water. Rex bought it out 😮😂 buy 8 cases, the 9th is free? Damn, I’m thirsty.

[@snteevveetns]

Woah woah woah, as a woodworker I cannot use my imagination! 🤣😂🤓

[@kirklaws-chapman7281]

I've always believed that one important technique for holding the saw when cutting along a line is to point the index finger of your saw hand along the blade as you move the saw back and forth. It has something to do with reducing the tendency of the wrist to flex and rotate when you push forward. I notice that you always do this. You can test this by holding your loosely clenched fist out and gently shaking your arm with the other arm - the wrist is 'floppy', but if you do the same thing when pointing your index finger forward it stops being in floppy and you can feel that you're moving your whole forearm as a single unit (that's easier to demo practically rather that describe in words!). The same holds true when using a knife to cut slices from a loaf of bread or when paring vegetables. Point your index finger along the blade for straight, even slices!

[@arturbecker9936]

On the backsaw, do you think a beginner can get away with just one tenon or carcass rip saw? Or does one also need a crosscut saw and other sizes (e.g. dovetail)?

[@BenjaminMellor]

There is a hand plane you can get at Harbor Freight for $13, and I think you should review it. I got it myself, and I don't think I've been able to set it up properly. I am curious what modifications you would make for the plane.

[@robertberger8642]

Good video

[@DiersakZelesnik]

Hey Rex, what is your opinion on how much the saw plate thickness matters for joinery saws? I have a sash saw from eBay that seems very high quality but the plate is 0.04 in thick, and most sash saws from bad axe, grammarcy, and other high quality saw makers have plates that at 0.02-0.025 in thick

[@מעייןהמלבלבתחייםםםם]

Practice, practice and practice

[@adeptmage2293]

That thumbnail has got to be the best facial expression ever.

[@braveworld2707]

Just had to check the Bad Axe No 9 saw using the link and it costs *AUD$553 PLUS shipping* 😱😱😱😱all for a USD$98 tool. Even at USD$98 (AUD$148.00) that is about my total outlay on hand tools that I have to spare. I have to make do with a AUD$5 saw but even with that I still can't afford to purchase wood here in Australia. I guess the material doesn't grow on trees anymore.

[@buzzpatch2294]

ONCE AGAIN THX

[@darylthomas4522]

most people use the cheap plastic handled hard tooth saws but with good technique you can still make a good cut with a bad saw

[@NoOne-fe3gc]

1:20 that copium tiliting! Who has never tilted the square and thought: "it looks square if I hold it like this!"

[@thomashverring9484]

"Good enough!"

[@lifeofalex9199]

Does the crown tenon saw come with rip teeth or cross cut teeth? I looked everywhere from various sellers and I couldn’t find any information other than it has 13tpi

[@timbeaton5045]

Funny, but I found i immediately got on with the Japanese style saw when it comes to sawing a straight(ish!) line. I suspect it is because on the pull stroke the blade is tensioned whilst cutting, and at least for me seems to be easier to control. Maybe I'm just a bit weird!

[@jayc5012]

also because i use magnetic guids, i can usually joint right off the saw cut, i use japanese saws tho

[@ping170]

Knife walling endgrain indeed takes ages 😅

[@c-lope1950]

What happens if you line up with both lines in the beginning but then your saw begins to drift later in the cut? This has been my big issue when I try to get a square cut. Could the saw really be twisting that much though? Or maybe some of the teeth stuck out on one side?

[@andrewkrahn2629]

I'm also new, but how wide is the kerf (width been left/right tooth-tips) compared to the plate's thickness? If there's a lot of room there might be room to tilt? I've also found that happens less when I'm just dragging the saw and letting the teeth do the work, rather than really pushing hard. I assume I just need to sharpen my saw?

[@jeffspaulding9834]

The "set" (how far the teeth stick out to the side) can cause that if it's wrong. If it's set unevenly, then you'll always curve in the same direction. If it's set too heavy on both sides, you'll probably still mostly curve in the same direction but you can also make it curve in the other direction if you try. If it's set properly, then it'll be hard to get it to curve more than slightly. If one of your saws does that, then it might be the saw. If all saws do it, then it's probably something you're doing. If you've got a woodworking specialty store near you (something like Woodcraft), you might ask them to let you try out one of their backsaws. You should be able to trust a mid-range factory made saw to be set correctly. That has the side effect that some of those guys actually know what they're talking about and might spot problems in your technique. If you do have a problem with your technique, I second Rex's recommendation on Shannon Rogers' sawing videos. He goes into a lot of detail on technique and his advice really works.

[@petridish3045]

Just like any other skill, practice, practice, practice.

[@kyronnewbury]

Bro. Geometry and stuff for realz.

[@pettere8429]

Actually, a frame saw with a fine tooth blade also works great for joinery.

[@johnfitzgerald8879]

I do cut and chisel a backwall every time.