I wish everybody who makes how-to videos for RU-vid would study how you do yours. Your videos are quite possibly the very best how-to videos on RU-vid. Always in focus, always within the frame of the camera, always well-spoken and concise, and never a waste of time.
I've been a carpenter and joiner for forty plus years and this is the best instruction on this topic I've ever seen. (And no fast forwards accompanied by irritating, distracting, or occasionally seizure inducing music! A+ !!!)
My grandfather was a carpenter and he always told me, Let the saw do the work. So I sit my saws out in my shop and them lazy things ain't cut no wood yet on their own! But I am a patient man so I'll wait.
Excellent teaching technique. It reminds of the old Army technique that I followed during years of teaching medical students : "Tell them what you're about to tell them, then tell them, then tell them what you told them."
Funny, when you first started talking about grip pressure on the saw, and showing the way you can hold it with just one finger, it reminded me exactly what I teach my students in golf.... then you said the exact quote I always repeat. It’s actually credited to Sam Snead, one of the best golfers of all time “grip the club like you were holding a baby bird” also my old club pro said “grip the club like an open tube of toothpaste and try not to squeeze it all over yourself. Matt I absolutely love your videos. You have as much skill for teaching as you do for your Woodworking. Keep it up!
Matt, you have a great gift of narration and explaination. Are all British folks like you so gifted at articulating what they are doing? I struggle so much with that in my videos, and dread talking to the camera! I soooo wish I could talk so effortlessly like you! Keep up the good work mate!
I hope to do a video in the future on how I film and edit my videos. Trust me that there are sooo many re-takes in each of these videos that it can take me up to an hour sometimes more to film each one. When you watch the next video, notice the amount of cuts that are happening after every couple of sentences. That cut is usually me getting rid of 5 attempts to say the same sentence whether I've stumbled on my words, someone walks past the window and looks in, or if my explanation doesn't come out clear enough. It still doesn't come natural to me but that's where the power of editing comes into play!
Ok, well that makes me feel a little better. I usually takes me 5-10 takes just to do a quick into. Forget me trying to do explainations of what Im doing live. I have better luck with voice over for whatever reason. I need to push myself to get in front of the camera more. It helps the audience connect a little better. Looking forward to that next video.
Yea so I've just finished rendering a 15 minute video. Started with an hours worth of awkward silences, mistakes, and forgetting what I was saying! It's weird to start with but I'm definitely becoming more relaxed in front of the camera. Practice makes perfect!
Yes, when it comes to a natural, relaxed, narration, Paul Sellers is certainly the master. His videos have virtually no edits. Mind you, he's been doing it a bit longer than Matt! For skill and clarity of explanation, though, I don't think there is much to chose between them. A video featuring both, talking about the pros and cons of a particular project, as it was being made, would certainly be instructive and entertaining.
Exactly what I needed today! I was about to accept that I am never going to saw a straight line! Thanks for another great video Matt - short, entertaining and incredibly relevant.
Great job Matt, you are a natural teacher ... your attention to the little details, that to often escape the casual instructor, are often the big details to the novice. I love watching your tutorials, it's rare that I don't pick up something new that I can make good use of. The amazing thing is that you are relatively new to woodworking at 5 years, you're a natural. Cheers ...
Best sawing video I've seen. Starting the sawing forwards instead of back (western saw) and using the reflection in the saw were new to me. Fantastic videos generally, good humour and very good production so well done :)
I just went into the garage and, following these techniques even with a cheap old unsharpened saw, made an infinitely more precise crosscut through a 2x6 than I have ever made in my life. Wow. Thank you for this.
Also it’s good to notice how much of the saw you are using. Beginners tend to use very tiny strokes as opposed to using the full length of the saw. This can take a lot longer to cut. Small strokes to establish the cut, and longer strokes to cut fast :)
Used to work with a bloke that was an absolute butcher with tools. Saw him go through needle files like tooth picks on a metal work job once. All worn through on the 2 inches in the middle. They weren't even his and the bloke who they belonged to was going nuts. "LONG, SLOW STROKES! USE ALL OF THE BLOODY FILE!!"
A really useful introduction. I've always admired the ability of woodworkers to hand saw accurately to a line. This should help anyone who is willing to put in the necessary practice.
You are quickly becoming my favorite instructional YT woodworker. Your concise, and full of practical knowledge to apply regardless of skill level, keep up the good work.
I don't saw too frequently but every time I do I figure there has to be a more efficient way. Thanks for showing me the 'right' way to saw. Great instruction and camera work.
Another great video ! One thing that I noticed that others sometimes don't mention is that there is absolutely no movement of your workpiece. No vibration or wobbling which can put people off sawing. Your workbench is commendable. Holding workpieces firm, tight and safely is the first thing to consider, whether working by hand or machine. Well done. I will be recommending your channel to others.
Depth of knowledge, great skill, first rate communication; Matt, you are a fabulous craftsman and a first rate teacher. Thankyou for your investment of time to produce such an excellent library of techniques and inspiration. As an aside, I cannot for the life of me understand who would downvote your video...perhaps they need a tutorial in manoeuvring their thumbs correctly....either that or just thumbs!
Good day Matt. As a retired teacher, may I say you have excellent teaching technique! I'm relatively new to wood working and your videos are informative and readily understandable. Thanks for this excellent work. Kudos from CAnada, and keep it up!!
I just found your channel and I love the way to teach. I watched two videos and learned a lot about why my cuts don't come out right sometimes. You make it very easy to correct my mistakes. Keep up the great videos. Thank you.
Wow Matt, I wish you were my woodwork teacher back in grade 6. I would (wood😂) have learned all the correct techniques back then and had 45 years experience by now. Sadly, I have not touched a saw, or any other tools for decades because I was told I was useless at it. Now, in my late fifties, I am trying my hand at it again and am loving it. Thank you so much😀
I have a touch of the 'tism, and those close-up shots of the saw, along with the thought process, reaaallllyy helped me learn what I couldn't from some other videos! Thanks!
Just discovered your page - and proof that I have been doing it wrong for 45 years+ and why I've never been able to see well - now to pick up a saw correctly.
A good reason for pulling back on the first cut with a Western saw is to reduce the risk of break out. Many softwoods, such as cheap pine, has a nasty habit of tear out on the first stroke. I always give one pull back, just to mark the wood before cutting.
As a newbie I've found that starting the cut at the back and the angling the blade right over to start the cut at the front has given me a natural point of reference to slide back to for the back of my cut. Hard to explain, but it gives me some muscle memory of where the blade need be for the back of the cut and just helps out on getting the angle right. I still struggle with cutting plum, practice is getting me there though.
It's amazing how we take so many things for granted. I always thought my problem with using these saws was that I've only ever owned cheap saws and while they get the job done they just never did it as well as I like. One of the biggest things I can honestly say I took for granted was "western saws cut on the push stroke". Such a small piece of information that completely changes how you think about the act of sawing. That said, I bough myself a ryobi saw because I've seen a lot of people using them on youtube lately and it was only $30. The thing is a dream to use compared to my push saws. The big thing I find is using it is I stand inline with my cut with both hands on the saw and that helps me stay really square with what I'm cutting and I've gotten much better results with just having that saw in the last few days than with all the western style saws I've had over years of use. I think the Japanese saws are pretty idiot proof in their design.
With the right saw, sawing straight is no problem. The problem starts when a line is involved that has to be followed O:) I have really learned a lot from such videos, thank god we have the internet and youtube, and thank god we have fine folks like you to share their knowledge. Thanks a lot for your efforts :)
I applied your advice today. By some magic, it worked even for me! Straight cuts at last. Off to do more practicing to really embed the technique. Thanks for sharing.
I just got my LV carcass saw today, did a Crosscut thru cherry, saw videos like this before hand, main thing I did was light as a feather start, almost perfect cut thru, Still learned even more with this video
Thank you for showing the right way to saw the wood. By watching this I have got something about sawing. Sir, please make a video about the sawing of mild steel. Thank you Sir, thanks from India. Good explanation Sir.
Yeah, the bady bird. Saw (noPunIntended) this one incomming. Great videos Matt! I´m just a beginner in woodworking, so I´m literally binge watching your videos to get ideas what to improve while working with this beautiful material. Keep up the fantastic work and greetings from Germany.
If I ever manage to make a diy workshop at home I’ll make a shrine with your picture in it. Your videos are beyond didactic, top notch quality with a great power of synthesis / get to the point. I really appreciate all your content thank you very much for doing this!
Extraordinary and super nerdy! As someone who has used only my head since birth, and only now is beginning to use my hands for anything of value this is great! Thanks a lot! :)
Thanks much Matt. All my cuts suck. Watching this vid, I think I was making every single mistake you talk about. I am going to make a lot of sawdust today trying to follow your instructions.
Didn't anyone else notice? That is probably the most beautiful work bench I have ever seen! Look at the dove-tail at the right hand end of the bench, for example!
Holy crap! In under 15 minutes you explained and showed how to use a saw which has dispelled 50 years of useless bogus data that others have shown me that made my woodworking stink. Thank you so very much. Time to go find where i tossed them.
Thanks for making these videos. Easily one of my favorite channels at the moment I've learned so much. Just want you to know that they're really appreciated and you do a great job.
What a great video! I have been wanting to watch a video like this for at least a year now. Thanks so much for the tips! Wish my Bad Axe saw was here so I can make some sawdust! Thanks again, awesome video!
Thank for the great video Matt. I had bought one of these Veritas saws (based on a Paul Sellers video) but was frustrated with my inability to use it correctly, so I gave up and bought a Japanese saw. I think it's time to revisit the Veritas. I can't believe you have gone 5 years without resharpening it- that is crazy considering how often chisels and planes get sharpened.
Thanks for the info! am new at this as a hobby when am not training at the gym .you have a very especial talent young man.from Texas keep up the good job and god bless!
Nice video. I'm a beginner but have always had difficulty cutting a straight line or an angled cut for dovetails. I'm glad you emphasized that it takes LOTS of practice to get that muscle memory and skill. I need to just go practice cutting lines one after another and perhaps after doing it a few hundred times I'll have the skill.
Great technique video! Thanks! It would be great if you could make one that focuses just on Japanese saws - how to grip, how much pressure, where to focus your eyes, etc... I've yet to find a video like that and I'd love to improve my Japanese saws technique as I'm new to them, and there's probably plenty of other people in a similar situation. I'm not even sure wether I should hold them with 1 or 2 hands on that LONG handle :)
Great video Matt. Hitting the key points, some of which I had forgotten over the years of not hand sawing as often as before. Keep up the great work as always mate.
Tip: If you expect to do a lot of sawing, get a fish tank aerator pump. A plastic hose, positioned near the blade (makeshift coathanger wire with duct tape) will prevent you from hyperventilating trying to keep the dust out of the way. A "T" connector or "Y" connector will let you use two plastic hoses, to clear dust from both sides of the saw. I've done it. Works GREAT, and not expensive.
This is a very informative video Matt mate. Thanks for the tips u gave us here bcos I keep making the same errors when sawing by hand. I really want to learn these techniques so my Laptop will be coming out into my crappy run down old Garage from now on and I'll be watching these videos while practicing..thanks pal..
Thanks for the tips! Yesterday I continued work on my wife's podium I am making out of mahogany, ambrosia maple, white oak and cherry. Ambitious first woodworking project for sure. I am using through tenons in 6 places, 2 through tenons, through tenons (Bottom cross brace will be through tenons through the through tenons at the bottom of the legs. There's no way to make sense of that in words, I think) at the feet, wedge tenons at the top, and regular mortise and tenon joints in the center panel. I tried to cut the mortises with my newly sharpened chisel set after hogging out the centers with my drill press, and ended up blowing out the backside of the mahogany feet that i had already cut. I know I screwed up the order of build by shaping my feet before cutting the through tenons, and that is a lesson learned. I should have cut my through mortises before I shaped the wood I think. Could you make a video of cutting through tenons? I have seen several videos, i.e. Paul Sellers, et al, but I'd like to see your method. Really enjoyed your workbench build. What a beast! Was drooling the whole time. Many thanks!
Fantastic video! Awesome techniques and advice! The sawing motion reminds me of moving a cue back and forth when playing billiards. The goal is to move the arm in a straight motion along a single plane, pivoting along the shoulder on the same axis. Cheers m8!
HI Matt, Thanks for these great videos. Trying my hand at dovetails and the tips that you are providing will certainly help me along the woodworking continuum. I recall watching my father sawing when I was a kid and thinking what the hell is he on about with all the ceremony??? Now I know, and that's why he could cut straight and true. Thanks again.
This is really well executed, as are all of your videos. I’ve been painstakingly sharpening the full length of the blade to 25 for years. It’s a royal pain. I love the idea of a small 30 degree secondary. I’m gonna start doing that. I’m all for less work and more efficient. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge
thanks - great video, well explained and demonstrated I have two comments to add: the first is the height of the saw, ie a carcass saw vs a gentleman's. for the taller saw, any given movement at the top of the saw results in a smaller angular deflection, and so is easier to control secondly, if you're using a Japanese ryoba (double-sided) saw, it's easier to start a rip (or dovetail) cut with the crosscut side, which typically has more tpi than the rip side
