"Backwards" ripping

1/29/06, 6:07 PM #1

Paul Kierstead
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"Backwards" ripping

Paul Kierstead

>or I have this faint memory it might be called the overhand grip? Anyway, I refer to ripping with the teeth facing *away* from you, and the saw almost upright. It is the latter part that I have an inquiry about; I tried this method today mostly because I have a high-ish bench and no horse, and I was too lazy to crawl up on the bench, besides it had to much crap on it.

The difficulty I encountered was the angle of the saw. I am using a rip-filed D12. In pictures I seem to recall seeing, the saw was quite close to upright. Now I could not really get ripping that way; it is hard to estimate the exact angle, but I think the saw had to be about 15 to 30 degrees. It required a little arm extension to keep the toe from banging my legs; probably not as much as I seemed to think it did (paranoia), but still...

Is this a saw filing issue or just business as normal, and I will get used to it?

Re: "Backwards" ripping

1/29/06, 8:39 PM #2

Don McConnell
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103 posts

Registered: 10/26/05

Re: "Backwards" ripping

Don McConnell

>Hi Paul,

Here is a photo from Charles Hayward's _Tools for Woodworking_ showing the overhand ripping technique you are asking about. In this case, I think a picture may well be worth a thousand words.

Though, I think it useful to point out that this is a "posed" photo, and I think is a little misleading in that it seems to suggest that one stands behind the saw during the cut. In my experience, the grip shown allows one to walk along somewhat beside the cut as it progresses. The specific angle of the saw likely varies according to the cutting geometry of the teeth and what you are comfortable with. As you surmise, this technique does take some practice for it to become truly comfortable.

Don McConnell

Eureka Springs, AR

Re: "Backwards" ripping

1/29/06, 10:55 PM #3

Paul Kierstead
Guest

Re: "Backwards" ripping

Paul Kierstead

>Thanks! That indeed is pretty close to what I was doing, so it appears I wasn;t mad after all.

Re: "Backwards" ripping

1/29/06, 11:44 PM #4

Paul in NJ
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588 posts

Registered: 1/2/04

Re: "Backwards" ripping

Paul in NJ

>I have found this overhand ripping technique fairly easy for me. My saw teeth face right and I cut from left to right, the saw blade almost vertical. You can put a lot of power behind the strokes, it seems pretty efficient to me. While I can follow the line well my cut is not always plumb, I guess I just need more practice.

Paul Dzioba

"Backwards" ripping

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