Concluding Principles

No book can teach you all there is to know about crosscut saws and their safe use. I hope that this guide will help establish the basis for a safe learning experience.

As you practice some of these techniques and come to recognize and appreciate the timeless elegance and efficiency of a finely tuned crosscut saw, bear in mind that you are in charge of your own well–being. With that in mind:

• Never work above your skill or certification level.
  
• Never be talked into something you're not comfortable doing.
  
• Walk away from any situation that is unsafe.
  
• Select the correct saw, wedges, and other accessories for the job at hand.
  
• Have your saws professionally sharpened—never use a misery whip!

Figure 61—David Michael bucking a 44–inch–diameter Sitka spruce
on the Tongass National Forest in Alaska (1991).
Experienced sawyers will note both a dutchman and
removal of holding wood in the felling cuts. These were
done purposely to fell the tree in an exact spot. Such
techniques should only be done by highly skilled
sawyers, and then only rarely. The photo points out
how much more there is to learn beyond the basics
presented in this guide.