Cutting a blank

[Walker]

I am determined to make a gun with just hand tools.I have the profile laid out and I have begun to cut a maple blank with a hand saw.My God that wood is hard.
Does anyone have any tips for any easier way of cutting a maple blank by hand, short of much effort and muscle? Will a rip saw make any difference for cutting lengthwise with the grain? Any advice would be appreciated before my arm expires.

 

[bingo1952]

Yes a rip saw will help but as you have already stated Maple is hard.

 

[streetsniper]

You may want to try a japanese saw. They have a cross cut and a rip side. They cut on the pull so they can use thinner steel than a standard saw. Less mass to blade, less friction. A little oil on the blade to lube it may help. If you are ripping with a cross cut your making more work for yourself as it has more teeth and they're set differently. Just my opinion for what it's worth. BTW they invented power tools for a reason. My next build will be without power tools as well.But I'm equipped with plenty of woodworking tools. Good luck, Billy

 

[Roy]

Grandpa used to cut all his stocks out with a frame saw... well thats before he bought his band saw. :haha: Any way they are not that hard to make and you can use a section of bandsaw blade. I have been meaning to make one for some time now.

 

[44-henry]

I agree, a bow saw would be the way to go.

 

[fitter]

Try the Jap pull saw, they work great and you can slab your fore stock with it too.I used one for a long time before I got another band saw. Home Depot sells them, so does Sears.About $20.
A good rip saw is $100+
Use a coping saw for the curved sections

 

[rich pierce]

I have done it with a frame saw twice now and it is hard work keeping things straight. I mark topside and bottomside and ask my wife to make sure I am keeping on track. Make sure your saw is sharp and has enough set, but not too much.

 

[Stophel]

Frame saw. I need to make myself a good one. I made one years ago. Just slapped it togethers out of scrap stuff. It works fine, but the frame is twisted, so it cuts crooked... I made the blade from a band saw blade. Other than cutting crooked, it actually cuts very quickly.

 

[Walker]

Many thanks to all who came up with suggestions. I bought a Japanese pull saw today and it is a REALLY big improvement over what I was using. I will start to put things together to build a frame saw or keep an eye out for one. Like probably everyone else, I used to see them all the time at garage sales for years and never bought one.