I enjoy working with hand tools, and I really like making tools that make my hand-tool work easier. One of the best tools I've made is my bench hook. It makes it a lot easier to get really accurate cuts.
I built mine after reading an article by Chris Schwarz about how to use them, but today I found a video which I think explains it better than any article can. http://blip.tv/popular-woodworking-videos/using-a-bench-hook-1303341
Build one of these out of scrap lumber, pick up an inexpensive hand saw from blue or orange, and you'll be amazed at how easy and trouble-free getting good accurate cuts is.
frank_shic
Sun, 07/31/2011 - 22:24
i got something out of that
i got something out of that but i think most people here would be better off with a plastic miter box to help them steer their cut. thanks for that link. i subscribed to popular woodworking before all the home projects started piling up lol
claydowling
Mon, 08/01/2011 - 03:36
Plastic mitre box
Is pure evil. I tried, because I was curious. Didn't hold the cut that well, and made a horrible screeching noise when I used it. Much better luck freehand with the hand saw and a bench hook.
frank_shic
Mon, 08/01/2011 - 11:00
you're right - it does
you're right - it does screech and there is a slight bit of slop in the kerf.
claydowling
Mon, 08/01/2011 - 11:25
Freehand cuts
It takes very little practice to get good freehand cuts, if you build a bench hook and learn proper technique. In fact, the most recent Popular Woodworking, the least experienced woodworker on staff used a combination of machine and hand cuts on one project, and discovered that the hand cuts were the more accurate of the two. And she had access to top-rate machinery.