"Greg O" wrote in message
m
"Greg Neill" wrote in message
m...


No, the torque is applied at your wrist. You rotate your
wrist to rotate the 2x4, supplying the downward force on the
saw which is at the end of the 2x4.

Look at it the other way around. If, for whatever reason,
the saw wants to jump up, it has the mechanical advantage
due to the length of the 2x4 to twist your wrist about
its pivot point at the end of your arm.

Have a friend come over. Take a 6" long stick in your hand and have
your buddy try lever it back and forth in your hand. Now take a 4
foot long stick, hold the end of it, and your buddy on the other end,
and have him lever it back and forth, then get back with us on which
one takes less effort for you buddy! (in this example your buddy
equals the saw!)
Greg

I think we're arguing the same side of the argument
here, only differing in ascribing where the torque
happens and where the resultant force occurs.

Torque occurs about a center of rotation. Torque
varies directly with the length of the lever arm.
A saw on a stick is asking for trouble.