In a of hijack of JeromeB's thread on Neanderthal gathering, I'd like to start a brain storming thread on learning to handsaw.
In my mind, how does this sound:
1. Using this site, help those interested in finding, selecting a saw, files, vise and sawset. Help everyone get a baseline.
2. Have a gathering where we learn to sharpen one saw. From my education in Bill Anderson's great class, I think doing one rip saw would be more than enough to work on during an afternoon.
3. Another gathering called "learn to rip". That'd includes marking lines, holding saws, starting the cut, recovery when off the line. I'd vote to get cheap white wood from a home center, probably no thicker than 1". This would involve use of a chalk line, maybe marking guage.
We'd need to sort out saw benches. I feel like this is cart-and-horse time. If you can't saw, how do you make a sawbench, but if you don't have a sawbench, how to you saw.....
I bet if we put our heads together we could come up with a simple temporary solution. Maybe a few 2x6's nailed down to some logs.
4. Yet another gathering, sharpen and use of cross cut saws. I'd say that once we learned to file rip, that we could knock out both sharpeing and sawing with a cross cut.
5. Now the fun part? Gathering to make a saw bench and a basic bench hook. Now that we can rip and cross cut (I hope!).
Anyone think this sounds like fun? I sure do.
So, I ask everyone who is interested, chime in with your thoughts.
I'm partial to multiple gatherings. My experience to date has been too much has been crammed into one class for me to develope enough skill.
Future gatherins could include joinery saws (dovetail, tenon and the like). I think if we set up something, the gatherings could also be refreshers or practice for those with more experience.
My ultimate goal, since you wondered, is not world domination :widea:. I'd like to establish a methodical approach to learning and using our beloved handtools as a group.
Of course, sharing some beer and pizza never hurts!
Jim
In my mind, how does this sound:
1. Using this site, help those interested in finding, selecting a saw, files, vise and sawset. Help everyone get a baseline.
2. Have a gathering where we learn to sharpen one saw. From my education in Bill Anderson's great class, I think doing one rip saw would be more than enough to work on during an afternoon.
3. Another gathering called "learn to rip". That'd includes marking lines, holding saws, starting the cut, recovery when off the line. I'd vote to get cheap white wood from a home center, probably no thicker than 1". This would involve use of a chalk line, maybe marking guage.
We'd need to sort out saw benches. I feel like this is cart-and-horse time. If you can't saw, how do you make a sawbench, but if you don't have a sawbench, how to you saw.....
I bet if we put our heads together we could come up with a simple temporary solution. Maybe a few 2x6's nailed down to some logs.
4. Yet another gathering, sharpen and use of cross cut saws. I'd say that once we learned to file rip, that we could knock out both sharpeing and sawing with a cross cut.
5. Now the fun part? Gathering to make a saw bench and a basic bench hook. Now that we can rip and cross cut (I hope!).
Anyone think this sounds like fun? I sure do.
So, I ask everyone who is interested, chime in with your thoughts.
I'm partial to multiple gatherings. My experience to date has been too much has been crammed into one class for me to develope enough skill.
Future gatherins could include joinery saws (dovetail, tenon and the like). I think if we set up something, the gatherings could also be refreshers or practice for those with more experience.
My ultimate goal, since you wondered, is not world domination :widea:. I'd like to establish a methodical approach to learning and using our beloved handtools as a group.
Of course, sharing some beer and pizza never hurts!
Jim
Last edited: