+1 on what Aymodeler has to say about sharp blades. Blades are cheap and a sharp one will always cut easier. I also go to the lumberyard and pick up a box of single edged razor blades. I'm not sure of what sort of saw you are using but a hand held coping saw is really inexpensive and you can get very fine toothed blades for it. Finer teeth are less likely to splinter wood. You can make sanding blocks out of all sorts of things that are laying around according to what shape you are sanding. A lot of older kits in particular have parts that are sand to shape. I built a number of airplanes without any power tools but when that time comes a Dremel is a good choice for a first power tool.