While on a job in Africa (Ghana) some years back I noticed people (workers
from India) holding a hand saw backwards and sawing away from them.
Example, to cut across a 4 foot wide sheet of plywood (plywood on the ground
standing on edge) they would start at the bottom (slightly raising the
plywood on their toes) and cut up towards the top. If making the same cut
on saw horses, again they would start at the near edge and cut away from
themselves.
Now, not only did this look awkward, but, the saw handles weren't designed
to be held upside down. Must have hurt!
When I asked the workers why they were sawing backwards, they replied that
it is standard and the way the British taught them. I got the same reply
from other workers (east Indian) and foremen.
Question:
Do the British really cut 'away' instead of 'towards'???? Do they have saws
with reversed handles?
BTW, this was an American construction job with workers from all around the
world.
All replies appreciated.
Ivan Vegvary
"Ivan Vegvary" <[email protected]> wrote
> While on a job in Africa (Ghana) some years back I noticed people (workers
> from India) holding a hand saw backwards and sawing away from them.
> Example, to cut across a 4 foot wide sheet of plywood (plywood on the
> ground standing on edge) they would start at the bottom (slightly raising
> the plywood on their toes) and cut up towards the top. If making the same
> cut on saw horses, again they would start at the near edge and cut away
> from themselves.
>
> Now, not only did this look awkward, but, the saw handles weren't
> designed to be held upside down. Must have hurt!
>
> When I asked the workers why they were sawing backwards, they replied that
> it is standard and the way the British taught them. I got the same reply
> from other workers (east Indian) and foremen.
>
> Question:
> Do the British really cut 'away' instead of 'towards'????
Not usually, but it is known as 'overhand sawing'.
I think I've seen an illustration of this in one of Charles Hayward's books.
In some situations it can be useful to be able to do this.
Jeff
--
Jeff Gorman, West Yorkshire, UK
email : Username is amgron
ISP is clara.co.uk
www.amgron.clara.net
On Nov 19, 1:50 pm, seph... <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Mon, 19 Nov 2007 02:30:58 GMT, "Ivan Vegvary" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>
>
> >While on a job in Africa (Ghana) some years back I noticed people (workers
> >from India) holding a hand saw backwards and sawing away from them.
> >Example, to cut across a 4 foot wide sheet of plywood (plywood on the ground
> >standing on edge) they would start at the bottom (slightly raising the
> >plywood on their toes) and cut up towards the top. If making the same cut
> >on saw horses, again they would start at the near edge and cut away from
> >themselves.
>
> >Now, not only did this look awkward, but, the saw handles weren't designed
> >to be held upside down. Must have hurt!
>
> >When I asked the workers why they were sawing backwards, they replied that
> >it is standard and the way the British taught them. I got the same reply
> >from other workers (east Indian) and foremen.
>
> >Question:
> >Do the British really cut 'away' instead of 'towards'???? Do they have saws
> >with reversed handles?
> >BTW, this was an American construction job with workers from all around the
> >world.
>
> >All replies appreciated.
>
> >Ivan Vegvary
>
> You might enjoy seeing this - 5th picture down on the page...
>
> http://www.sydnassloot.com/bbuckner/saws.htm
>
Those saws, and the Disston D-8 ripsaw may be gripped with the fingers
of
one hand around the tote and the tumb of the other through the tote
with
the fingers of that other hand wrapped over the top of the tote.
That still has the sawyer cutting toward his body, not away from it.
It is a two handed grip, but not the 'backwards' grip described
by OP.
I've used the two-handed grip but still cut towards my body (down)
rather than away from it (up).
--
FF
"Ivan Vegvary" <[email protected]> writes:
> When I asked the workers why they were sawing backwards, they replied that
> it is standard and the way the British taught them. I got the same reply
> from other workers (east Indian) and foremen.
Would make sense if (a) they meant hacksaws, or (b) they used Japanese saws.
"Ivan Vegvary" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> When I asked the workers why they were sawing backwards, they replied that
> it is standard and the way the British taught them. I got the same reply
> from other workers (east Indian) and foremen.
>
> Question:
> Do the British really cut 'away' instead of 'towards'???? Do they have
> saws with reversed handles?
> BTW, this was an American construction job with workers from all around
> the world.
Just don't let the Brits teach them what side of the road to drive on.
"Ivan Vegvary" wrote
> Do the British really cut 'away' instead of 'towards'???? Do they have
> saws with reversed handles?
> BTW, this was an American construction job with workers from all around
> the world.
Saw my grandfather rip boards like that by standing to the side of the board
and saw when cutting, with both hands on the handle. I tried to emulate him
a few times but by the time I was tall enough for it to work, along came
power tools.
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 11/16/07
KarlC@ (the obvious)
On Nov 18, 9:30 pm, "Ivan Vegvary" <[email protected]> wrote:
> While on a job in Africa (Ghana) some years back I noticed people (workers
> from India) holding a hand saw backwards and sawing away from them.
> Example, to cut across a 4 foot wide sheet of plywood (plywood on the ground
> standing on edge) they would start at the bottom (slightly raising the
> plywood on their toes) and cut up towards the top. If making the same cut
> on saw horses, again they would start at the near edge and cut away from
> themselves.
>
> Now, not only did this look awkward, but, the saw handles weren't designed
> to be held upside down. Must have hurt!
>
> When I asked the workers why they were sawing backwards, they replied that
> it is standard and the way the British taught them. I got the same reply
> from other workers (east Indian) and foremen.
>
> Question:
> Do the British really cut 'away' instead of 'towards'???? Do they have saws
> with reversed handles?
> BTW, this was an American construction job with workers from all around the
> world.
>
I recall reading a description of Thais ripping timbers that way while
sitting
straddling the timbers. The hooked their thumbs through the tote and
cut
away from their groin. Kept the family jewels intact I suppose.
--
FF
On Nov 18, 7:30 pm, "Ivan Vegvary" <[email protected]> wrote:
> While on a job in Africa (Ghana) some years back I noticed people (workers
> from India) holding a hand saw backwards and sawing away from them.
> Example, to cut across a 4 foot wide sheet of plywood (plywood on the ground
> standing on edge) they would start at the bottom (slightly raising the
> plywood on their toes) and cut up towards the top. If making the same cut
> on saw horses, again they would start at the near edge and cut away from
> themselves.
>
> Now, not only did this look awkward, but, the saw handles weren't designed
> to be held upside down. Must have hurt!
>
> When I asked the workers why they were sawing backwards, they replied that
> it is standard and the way the British taught them. I got the same reply
> from other workers (east Indian) and foremen.
>
> Question:
> Do the British really cut 'away' instead of 'towards'???? Do they have saws
> with reversed handles?
> BTW, this was an American construction job with workers from all around the
> world.
>
> All replies appreciated.
>
> Ivan Vegvary
I learned it both ways in the southwest USA and have always used both
grips.
Ivan Vegvary explained :
> While on a job in Africa (Ghana) some years back I noticed people (workers
> from India) holding a hand saw backwards and sawing away from them. Example,
> to cut across a 4 foot wide sheet of plywood (plywood on the ground standing
> on edge) they would start at the bottom (slightly raising the plywood on
> their toes) and cut up towards the top. If making the same cut on saw
> horses, again they would start at the near edge and cut away from themselves.
>
> Now, not only did this look awkward, but, the saw handles weren't designed
> to be held upside down. Must have hurt!
>
> When I asked the workers why they were sawing backwards, they replied that it
> is standard and the way the British taught them. I got the same reply from
> other workers (east Indian) and foremen.
>
> Question:
> Do the British really cut 'away' instead of 'towards'???? Do they have saws
> with reversed handles?
> BTW, this was an American construction job with workers from all around the
> world.
>
Take a look here:
http://www.thebestthings.com/saws.htm
Second from the bottom, the Watson.
Mekon
On Mon, 19 Nov 2007 02:30:58 GMT, "Ivan Vegvary" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>While on a job in Africa (Ghana) some years back I noticed people (workers
>from India) holding a hand saw backwards and sawing away from them.
>Example, to cut across a 4 foot wide sheet of plywood (plywood on the ground
>standing on edge) they would start at the bottom (slightly raising the
>plywood on their toes) and cut up towards the top. If making the same cut
>on saw horses, again they would start at the near edge and cut away from
>themselves.
>
>Now, not only did this look awkward, but, the saw handles weren't designed
>to be held upside down. Must have hurt!
>
>When I asked the workers why they were sawing backwards, they replied that
>it is standard and the way the British taught them. I got the same reply
>from other workers (east Indian) and foremen.
>
>Question:
>Do the British really cut 'away' instead of 'towards'???? Do they have saws
>with reversed handles?
>BTW, this was an American construction job with workers from all around the
>world.
>
>
>All replies appreciated.
>
>Ivan Vegvary
>
You might enjoy seeing this - 5th picture down on the page...
http://www.sydnassloot.com/bbuckner/saws.htm
seph