Sawing Bench Example *PICS*
Paul Alt on Cape Cod
>Jonathan,
You are right that traditional woodworking benches are, at best, awkward for sawing wood. I concluded that the biggest single impediment to hand sawing wood is the lack of a convenient way to hold the wood in place while providing both a comfortable stance and a good view to do the sawing. Having a good saw or good technique is of secondary importance, in my opinion, to having a good sawing bench. Sharp saws and appropriate technique are good things to be sure, but without the bench you are working at a disadvantage.
Below are some photos of the sawing �bench� I developed a while back when I was keen on doing unplugged work. I present it more as a starting point for you thinking about a solution rather than as THE solution for hand sawing. I found that the dimensions of the projects on which one works have a big effect on the type of bench to use for sawing. The one shown here is fine for most cabinetwork, but other solutions are better for working on things like beds and large entertainment centers, or at the other extreme, for working on fractional-scale models or small wooden parts.
The bench has a right triangular shape for rigidity and is about 6 ft. high. The working surface consists of two coplanar 4x4 beams parallel to each other, separated by 3-1/2�, and oriented about 20 degrees off vertical. Your degrees may vary depending on your height and the type saw used.
In a ripping operation a board is placed on a stop, clamped to the beams, and then sawn, as the sawyer stands nearly upright and comfortable.
An attachment, shown hanging from the bench, allows you to hold long pieces for cross cutting.
There is an array of dog holes in the beams whose spacing matches that of the holes in my woodworking bench, allowing the shared use of numerous jigs. At the top of the bench are adjustable lights that allow the cut line to be easily seen - I am aware of the irony of using electrical lights for a device designed to saw wood without the aid of electricity. If the line becomes obscured by saw dust during cutting (and it will) a straw in the mouth of the sawyer allows it to be easily cleared with a small puff of air.
For those to whom such things matter, this bench is easily constructed using only hand tools.
Paul
