I picked a bone saw over a band saw for my first shop in 2010

Back when I started, my budget was tight, maybe $800 for a big tool. It was between a basic band saw or a heavy duty hand bone saw. I went with the hand saw because it was cheaper and I learned the feel of the bone joints better. It was slower, but after a year, my cuts were cleaner than some guys with machines. Anyone else start with just hand tools and feel it made you better?

3 comments

3 Comments

rubysingh1mo ago

That's a pretty hardcore way to learn. I guess it worked for you, but most people just need a cut made.

brown.spencer1mo ago

Starting with hand tools builds a different kind of muscle memory. You learn to read the material's resistance instead of just feeding it into a blade. That intuition stays with you even when you upgrade to power tools later. It's not about being a purist, it's about understanding the cut on a deeper level.

rileym961mo ago

The real benefit is learning patience. A machine lets you rush, but a slow hand cut forces you to plan every move. That careful mindset is what actually makes your later work better, not just the muscle memory.