Sawing wood

[BigBen]

I am building some decking in the garden and need to cut the wooden posts that I have sunk into the ground.

My questions are:

i) How do I ensure a parallel cut in the horizontal axis when trimming the posts to the correct length, is by hand or with a circular saw the best bet.

ii) A few of the cuts are very close to the ground, again any techniques to use.

If I can purchase any tools to help with this job then I am 100% interested !

Cheers

Ben

[Simpo Two]

Interesting question. You really should have cut them before you made them all vertical and difficult!

I don't know how deep your circular saw cuts but mine is 40mm - maybe mark it all round and do it from four directions?

As for close to the ground, avoid soil getting in the blade - it will wreck it.

Edited by Simpo Two on Monday 10th August 22:59

[BigBen]

Simpo Two said:

Interesting question. You really should have cut them before you made them all vertical and difficult!

I don't know how deep your circular saw cuts but mine is 40mm - maybe mark it all round and do it from four directions?

As for close to the ground, avoid soil getting in the blade - it will wreck it.

Edited by Simpo Two on Monday 10th August 22:59

But it would have transferred the difficulty into setting the posts up so they were all level. Easier to cut them afterwards I thought....

Experimenting this evening getting quite a good cut with the circular saw seems quite good but not very accurate.

Ben

[astroarcadia]

Only use a circular saw if you are confident with it. Otherwise you can use a hand saw, square a line round the post and scew an offcut of timber to the line. This can be used a guide to steady/rest the hand saw and keep the cut straight. Use a sharp saw, don't force it and let the blade do the work.

Hope that makes sense.

[mgtony]

Measure the distance from the blade to the edge of the circular saw, then nail a piece of wood as a guide to your post and run the saw along it.If the blade is deep enough, you'll get away with doing it on two sides, otherwise do it all the way round.

[garycat]

Get a mitre saw like this one



...a few quid from Wickes, and then G-clamp it vertically to the post before you saw it.

[headcase]

No srysly i wouldnt do that, stick with a new handsaw and mark the post properly, just take your time.

[Simpo Two]

BigBen said:

But it would have transferred the difficulty into setting the posts up so they were all level. Easier to cut them afterwards I thought...

IMHO it's easier to cut downwards than sideways.

I like the earlier suggestion of a circular saw but with guides nailed/clamped to the post. As long as you keep the base of the saw flat to the post (ie vertical), I don't see that you can go very far wrong.

[DB7 pilot]

headcase said:

No srysly i wouldnt do that, stick with a new handsaw and mark the post properly, just take your time.

This one's right. Get a brand new 'jetcut' handsaw, mark around the post, let the saw cut into the wood at its own pace, don't push it or it will bind. If it's outdoor wood, i.e. tanalized, it's going to hold a lot of moisture, so part way through the saw will bind as the timber expands behind the cut. Use some candle wax on the saw blade and apply gentle pressure on the post, pushing it away yourself to open up the 'V'. Slow down your cut and pressure on the post when you near cut through. Job done. First one will feel awkward, but you'll be surprised by how quick you get through them.

[BigBen]

I think I am going to do the following:

-Some of the posts are too close to the ground for the circular saw I will use a handsaw + guide on these
-The ones where I can use the circular saw I will use an attached guide, unless hand cutting proves just as easy when doing the above.

In both cases I will use an attached guide bit of wood

Oh and the final step is cut then first next time !

Cheers

Ben

[Autonotiv]

How are you constructing the frame? i normally bolt the frame to the posts the cut the posts off at an angle aferwards. meaning you can make the frame and adjust it accordingly then fix and cut the posts of afters.


Hope that helps?

[Wings]

astroarcadia said:

Only use a circular saw if you are confident with it. Otherwise you can use a hand saw, square a line round the post and scew an offcut of timber to the line. This can be used a guide to steady/rest the hand saw and keep the cut straight. Use a sharp saw, don't force it and let the blade do the work.

Hope that makes sense.

Buy and use a good/branded sharp hand saw

[Plotloss]

Another vote for handsaw.

Though you could do it with a Makita 18v Li-Ion Cordless Reciprocating saw if you want a new 'toy'

[CedGTV]

Please never use a circular saw in any other way then in a bench scenario, believe me when it garbs it has a way of becoming very unstable, and fking dangerous. Always be above the electric saw when using it.
I would use a hand saw and try to visualize cutting in a straight horizontal plain, after marking out the cutting line with either lazer or string line.

[The Black Flash]

Handsaw. I've done this on a few posts, and it's really not that bad to do.

[Simpo Two]

CedGTV said:

Please never use a circular saw in any other way then in a bench scenario, believe me when it garbs it has a way of becoming very unstable, and fking dangerous. Always be above the electric saw when using it.

It does surprise me that in these H&S days, the likes of B&Q are allowed to sell them to anyone. I recall a story of a circular saw than ran across the floor, up a bloke's trousers and into his, er, sports department. Not sure if true though.

Having said that, mine is cordless and relatively low power, but I still treat it with great respect.

[mgtony]

Simpo Two said:

CedGTV said:

Please never use a circular saw in any other way then in a bench scenario, believe me when it garbs it has a way of becoming very unstable, and fking dangerous. Always be above the electric saw when using it.

It does surprise me that in these H&S days, the likes of B&Q are allowed to sell them to anyone. I recall a story of a circular saw than ran across the floor, up a bloke's trousers and into his, er, sports department. Not sure if true though.

Having said that, mine is cordless and relatively low power, but I still treat it with great respect.

I think this happened in Itchy and Scratchy
As long as you keep both hands on the saw and not one trying to hold what you're cutting they are perfectly safe.
Of course if your cutting trees or damp timber or using it for a purpose it was not intended for, then it can be lethal.
A bench saw can be just as dangerous, can you imagine tring to hold the whole bench up against a vertical post.

[BigBen]

Autonotiv said:

How are you constructing the frame? i normally bolt the frame to the posts the cut the posts off at an angle aferwards. meaning you can make the frame and adjust it accordingly then fix and cut the posts of afters.


Hope that helps?

I am using 4" posts and 2" wide joists. My plan is to cut away 2" of the post so that the joists can sit on the post and be bolted to the remaining vertical bit.

I have a couple of decent handsaws ready to go, will report back tomorrow evening if it is dry enough to be outside.

Mind you if Jewsons have a deal on reciprocating saws this lunchtime things might be different !

Ben

[astroarcadia]

Wings said:

astroarcadia said:

Only use a circular saw if you are confident with it. Otherwise you can use a hand saw, square a line round the post and scew an offcut of timber to the line. This can be used a guide to steady/rest the hand saw and keep the cut straight. Use a sharp saw, don't force it and let the blade do the work.

Hope that makes sense.

Buy and use a good/branded sharp hand saw

My weapon of choice, not to be mistaken with the 20".......

http://www.toolstop.co.uk/bahco-sandvik-244/22-har...

Far superior to Jack IMO.

[sleep envy]

clamp a mitre block to the post and use a tennant saw

TBH getting them level would have been easier in the first place rather than cutting after...