I teach intermediate level, 1 or 2 day workshops, and find what holds students back from being able to do the project efficiently and well, is their inability to saw.
There is not time to teach you to saw, I'm there to share other skills with you.
(My definition of "intermediate" is ability to saw and being comfortable with a torch)
I hear lots of " I hate to saw" & " I can't saw". Well, you don't have to be great at sawing; you need to be adequate at sawing. I am not a great at it, but I have learned to be sufficient. Some people love to saw and it comes natural for them. I am not one of those, but I can do what I need to relatively quickly and efficiently. It takes practice but saves you time in the long run with minimal clean up and less waste.
Take a class in sawing to learn the best techniques if you can.
Watch videos, if a live class is not possible.
..... But then you have to actually saw out shapes. Trust me you get better and better at it, and perhaps even enjoy it.
I also hear a lot of whining and blaming online that you don't have a good high tech saw frame; Your saw isn't good enough.
(I can never blame my traditional inexpensive German saw frame for my inability to saw a shape accurately, nope, it's all MY inadequacy or impatience). If the saw will hold a blade securely & taut the rest is up to the driver.
Decent quality saw blades do often make it easier, but usually its about choosing the correct size for your metal thickness and not allowing them to be pinched or torqued and snapped .
The third variable is the bench pin and light: Think Flat, sturdy and under your nose height ; so you don't have to stoop over and you can see well. Add a task light and saw away.
Just do it.
Now.
for yourself
and you will thank yourself later.
There is not time to teach you to saw, I'm there to share other skills with you.
(My definition of "intermediate" is ability to saw and being comfortable with a torch)
I hear lots of " I hate to saw" & " I can't saw". Well, you don't have to be great at sawing; you need to be adequate at sawing. I am not a great at it, but I have learned to be sufficient. Some people love to saw and it comes natural for them. I am not one of those, but I can do what I need to relatively quickly and efficiently. It takes practice but saves you time in the long run with minimal clean up and less waste.
Take a class in sawing to learn the best techniques if you can.
Watch videos, if a live class is not possible.
..... But then you have to actually saw out shapes. Trust me you get better and better at it, and perhaps even enjoy it.
I also hear a lot of whining and blaming online that you don't have a good high tech saw frame; Your saw isn't good enough.
(I can never blame my traditional inexpensive German saw frame for my inability to saw a shape accurately, nope, it's all MY inadequacy or impatience). If the saw will hold a blade securely & taut the rest is up to the driver.
Decent quality saw blades do often make it easier, but usually its about choosing the correct size for your metal thickness and not allowing them to be pinched or torqued and snapped .
The third variable is the bench pin and light: Think Flat, sturdy and under your nose height ; so you don't have to stoop over and you can see well. Add a task light and saw away.
Just do it.
Now.
for yourself
and you will thank yourself later.
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