We may receive a commission when you use our affiliate links. However, this does not impact our recommendations. Ripping at the horse is surprisingly fast and effective. Here (dressed in the traditional garb I wear at Pennsbury Manor) I’m using the more heavily raked teeth at the toe of the saw to help start the cut. The traditional hand saw (when wielded correctly) can size all your stock. Here’s a basic primer. H and saws were used to make some of the finest furniture ever built. They are very clearly capable of producing accurate cuts. Hand saws require little shop space, and produce little appreciable noise or dust. These facts conspire to allow work in environments or at hours otherwise inhospitable to modern means. Please don’t underestimate the advantage of working outside, late at night, in the living room or kitchen, etc.…