Lines

[Toolman56]

Hi, okay as you know i'm fairly new here , so my quistion is how do you get those perfect straight lines, in pattern's cut so straight and true, every time i try it , it's goes off the line one way or anthor.

[Jediscroller]

I find that sitting slightly right of the line of the blade helps immensely (as opposed to sitting dead-straight on). Also, gentle, even pressure from both hands as you feed the wood is very important for getting a nice straight line.

[GrayBeard Phil]

this helped me out a lot:

Keep your wrist(s) off the saw table. Forearms and back of hands should be in line. Think about you have one of those 10-pin bowling gloves on. As Kevin wrote, both hands, but push from the arms, finger tips only for holding on the the wood.

Several videos around on the Internet, and several books--check out the no wrist on saw table on all of them.

Phil

[Pajaro]

Relax and don't force the blade. Just follow the line. Use a good sharp blade at all times. (they don't cost that much). I have killed a lot of good work using dull blades. Hrs wasted. Enjoy it. )

[Mick Walker]

Toolman, it takes practice to stay on a line whether it be a straight line or curved. Like driving a car look a little bit ahead rather than right at the blade. When you start to go off the line come back to it slowly rather than abruptly as you will most likely go off on the opposite side. Practice, practice, practice. Then when you don't use the saw for a couple weeks you haver to get back into the groove again and as Pajaro says, relax when you saw. Tight shoulders, arms, wrists and fingers make crooked lines. The more you saw the easier it gets.

[Fremmed]

Like the other guys said practice, practice, practice. Don't over compensate when you go off line.
Agree with Mick. Look ahead of you cut and plan where you're going next.
It's easy to see the problems with your cuts while looking at the pattern on the wood. After the pattern is removed, most of those problems are not even noticeable.

[Ramjet]

One other thing you should consider is the blade tension . I found if the blabe gets slack it has a tendency to wonder . I am always adjusting the tension especially when cutting angled corners where there is extra pressure put on the blade .
Cheers . Roger

[greatdane2]

I find that having the line in red makes a big diff for me. I scan everything I do and print it in red. The red colour shows up better and I can see if I am starting to wander.
I also bought a magnifying glass/light unit on a swing arm base. I had a cheapy one that was useless. the one I have now is a 3 power glass and works much better. I got it at Staples Office Supply for around $90.00.
Then as said above practice.
Alan.

[Big_red_S]

I'm new to this stuff as well and I found that the one thing that really helped me get straight lines is to ... go faster.

You have to play around and find out what's the best speed for you (1200 for me on most types of wood).

[minowevie]

I never had much luck trying to cut straight. I tryed to cut with the line squir with the blade, and that just didn't work for me. I find, Like Kevin said. set alittle to the right of the blade. I like to feed my wood into the blade with the line just off center. to where the blade is cutting. on my saw. I look into the blade cutting, but my wood is comeing into it off center, on my saw, from my right going into the left. you have to figure out how much on your saw. but not just straight in. don't know why. maybe it is the burr on the right , as I am faceing my saw. but it works for me. your friend Evie