Tool & technique
Hand saw
Cut a board or rod to the shape your project needs.
Get to know it
Choose a saw suited to the stock: a small crosscut saw suits many boards; a coping saw can follow curves in thinner material. Mark the waste side of the line and leave room to finish the edge.
Clamp the work with the cut clear of the bench. Support the offcut without putting a hand in the blade path. Let the teeth cut instead of pushing harder when the saw binds. New users need someone familiar with that particular tool beside them.