handle loosely. There is
nothing so tiring as a tightly grasped saw. The saw has but one handle,
hence it is designed to be used with one hand. Sometimes, with long and
tiresome jobs, in ripping, two hands may be used, but one hand can
always control a saw better than two hands.

[Illustration: _Fig. 20._]

THE STARTING CUT.--In order to make our understanding of the starting
cut more explicit, we refer to Fig. 20, in which the thumb of the left
hand is shown in the position of a guide--the end of the thumb being
held up a sufficient distance to clear the teeth. In this position you
need not fear that the teeth of the saw (A) will ride up over the thumb
if you have a firm grasp of the saw handle.

The first stroke should be upwardly, not downwardly. While in the act of
drawing up the saw you can judge whether the saw blade is held by the
thumb gage in the proper position to cut along the mark, and when the
saw moves downwardly for the first cut, you may be assured that the cut
is accurate, or at the right place, and the thumb should be kept in its
position until two or three cuts are made, and the work is then fairly
started.

[Illustration: _Fig. 21. Wrong sawing angle._]

FOR CROSS-CUTTING.--For ordinary cross-cutting the angle of the saw
should be at 45 degrees. For ripping, the best results are found at less
than 45 degrees, but you should avoid flattening down the angle. An
incorrect as well as a correct angle are shown in Figs. 21 and 22.

FORCING A SAW.--Forcing a saw through the wood means a crooked kerf. The
more nearly the saw is held at right angles to a board, the greater is
the force which must be applied to it by the hand to cause it to bite
into the wood; and, on the other hand, if the saw is laid down too far,
as shown in the incorrect way, it is a very difficult matter to follow
the working line. Furthermore, it is a hard matter to control the saw so
that it will cut squarely along the board, particularly when ripping.
The eye must be the only guide in the disposition of the saw. Some boys
make the saw run in one direction, and others cause it to lean the
opposite way. After you have had some experience and know which way you
lean, correct your habits by disposing the saw in the opposite
direction.

[Illustration: _Fig. 22. Right sawing angle._]

THE STROKE.--Make a long stroke, using the full blade of the saw. Don't
acquire the "jerky" style of sawing. If the handle is held loosely, and
the