World sawing championships

**Simplicity** · 25th July 2017, 09:54 PM

Are you in can you cut it !!!

Who would be interested in competing in a world first(ive done know back ground checking on this fact and intent to do none)
To find out who amongst us is the best sawyer among us ever.

Sally and myself were thinking of a another GTG activity.

Sally suggested a hand sawing competition.

So what we come up with so far is a nominated day and venue yet to be decided.
Weekend, local park or something all to be confirmed.
Possibly around 6 months time ?
To give you time to practice if you need it or to acquire or make that perfect hand saw.

We will supply a piece of prepared timber say 90/150(90 short 150 long)mm timber choice yet to be decided but I'm leaning towards a pine of sorts knot free of course.
A straight grain would be best to make it fair to everyone involved.
I will hand plane one long side flat and true before every attempt.
We will provide some sort of bench holding device. And try to accommodate different heights of participants.

You are then to rip cut as fine as possible a strip(sheet) of the planned side.

That must be at least 80% of the total side as judge by the judge (probable Sally)

Using what ever hand saw you think will give you the best result.
It may be any hand saw you think will be give the best result.
It may be any hand saw you like big or small any tooth configuration you desire extra flem no set special never seen before teeth design.
Custom build by one of the boutique saw makers.
Sharpened from the due from a lotus flower.

As long has it is hand powered not motorised in any form what so ever.
ie one you have hand crafted.
A cheap and nasty one you found on the side of road.
One you brought from a buddiest monk in Lao
The one you realise now you payed far to much money for
The latest trendiest from Lee Vally
Yep you get, any hand saw your heart desires to use.
Must kind of look like a hand saw.
And not look like a hand plane just in case any body has any weird ideas.
I think each participant should get three attempts at this.
Planned before each attempt.
And under taken with in 15min
In total including me hand planning a new face each time.
You then will give Sally what you consider your best thinnest piece.
She will then place them planned sided down on my small surface plate.
And take five measurements using a dial gauge on a stand.
One roughly centre and one from each corner.
We are of course open to suggestions here.
I did think about using measuring scales but do not see us being able to get one easily at the require accuracy we would perceive to be needed.
We can then take an average measurement from there.
Winner of course being the one who can take the finest cut on the day.
And of course this whole idea could be run state to state even country to country of course.
I personally see my self in with an exceptional chance I know Sally quite well lol.

My thoughts for a rip cut over cross cut
Being basically a rip strip will stay together.
We're has a cross cut strip at the micro level we're aiming for will just fall apart due to the nature of the cut.

Winner to be crowned worlds thinnest sawer
Possible with a small price

Cheers Matt

**ian** · 25th July 2017, 10:59 PM

Yep you get, any hand saw your heart desires to use.
Must kind of look like a hand saw.
And not look like a hand plane just in case any body has any weird ideas.

would a stair saw be allowed, or would it look too much like a plane?

I think you should also go with a cross cut competition -- contestant has to take a slice -- too thin a slice is, as you say just saw dust -- but a really thin slice is possible, think end grain shavings

need divisions for Japanese saws vs western saws

I think hardwood rather than Pinus crapiata

**Sturdee** · 26th July 2017, 12:27 AM

Sorry Matt but I'm not in this, as that sounds like my worst nightmare coming true.

I still get shivers up my spine when I think back to my form 1 woodworking class using handsaws and planes all those years ago.

Peter.

**Simplicity** · 26th July 2017, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by ian

[/COLOR]would a stair saw be allowed, or would it look too much like a plane?

I think you should also go with a cross cut competition -- contestant has to take a slice -- too thin a slice is, as you say just saw dust -- but a really thin slice is possible, think end grain shavings

need divisions for Japanese saws vs western saws

I think hardwood rather than Pinus crapiata

You may have a point Ian regarding the stair saw.
I think we should see what input this generates but you have pointed out a possible advantage using stair saw.
Again maybe let the masses decide if they want to run a cross cut competition as well.
Na a Japanese saw is just a western saw in reverse.

I don't mind Pinus crapiata

Cheers Matt

**Simplicity** · 26th July 2017, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by Sturdee

Sorry Matt but I'm not in this, as that sounds like my worst nightmare coming true.

I still get shivers up my spine when I think back to my form 1 woodworking class using handsaws and planes all those years ago.

Peter.

Peter.
Can we get you some Dutch courage mate.
You could use the competition as some sort of therapy session or class surrounded by your peers.
Or we could(Sally)
Use a man of numbers to help out with the judging.

Cheers Matt

**cava** · 26th July 2017, 11:43 AM

Are we allowed to bribe the judge?

**Simplicity** · 26th July 2017, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by cava

Are we allowed to bribe the judge?

I would full indorse that kind of behaviour
And which you luck.

Cheers Matt

**code4pay** · 26th July 2017, 01:55 PM

Rather than the thinnest cut being the winner maybe the combined width of your best two might be a better indicator of skill?

**code4pay** · 26th July 2017, 01:56 PM

Great idea

**code4pay** · 26th July 2017, 01:57 PM

Would you be able to scribe a line?

**Simplicity** · 26th July 2017, 01:59 PM

Originally Posted by code4pay

Rather than the thinnest cut being the winner maybe the combined width of your best two might be a better indicator of skill?

Now that could be an idea[emoji106][emoji106]

**ian** · 26th July 2017, 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by code4pay

Would you be able to scribe a line?

my view is no

**ian** · 26th July 2017, 06:07 PM

Originally Posted by code4pay

Rather than the thinnest cut being the winner maybe the combined width of your best two might be a better indicator of skill?

not sure how this would work.

John Economaki, of Bridge City Tools, can cut a sliver with an average width of 0.6 mm. A Sawing Contest (And Other Odd Stories) - Page 2 of 2 - Popular Woodworking Magazine

My own view is that precise saw cuts fall into two categories
1. cross cuts for tenon shoulders and the like
2. rip cuts for tenon cheeks

A lot of us should be able to cross-cut a slice thinner than 2 mm.

and most of us should be able to rip a near vertical line

the real challenge will be the types of saw allowed
I would suggest a division for BYO saws, and another based on using a saw supplied by Matt. The latter would be the real challenge -- pickup an unfamiliar saw and use it.

**code4pay** · 27th July 2017, 07:01 PM

Originally Posted by ian

not sure how this would work.

John Economaki, of Bridge City Tools, can cut a sliver with an average width of 0.6 mm. A Sawing Contest (And Other Odd Stories) - Page 2 of 2 - Popular Woodworking Magazine

My own view is that precise saw cuts fall into two categories
1. cross cuts for tenon shoulders and the like
2. rip cuts for tenon cheeks

A lot of us should be able to cross-cut a slice thinner than 2 mm.

and most of us should be able to rip a near vertical line

the real challenge will be the types of saw allowed
I would suggest a division for BYO saws, and another based on using a saw supplied by Matt. The latter would be the real challenge -- pickup an unfamiliar saw and use it.

You would measure the best two cuts put forward add them together and that would be the score. The idea is it weeds out flukes and accidental cock-ups giving a fairer representation of peoples skill level.

**DaveTTC** · 27th July 2017, 08:57 PM

Thats a long read ... have you read it?

I'll be back after kid's movie. This needs concentration

DaveTTC
The Turning Cowboy
Turning Wood Into Art

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