Few tools come in as many different shapes and sizes as the humble saw. To the uninitiated, two saws may look the same, and one may even think that any saw can fulfill the duty of another. Trust me, little could be further from the truth. If you have a chance to take a gander at any saw manufacturer’s product line, you will see a dizzying array of saws.
To help with organizing this article, I will split saws in two categories: Those that are used for land maintenance (think felling trees), and those that are used in the shop and for wood working (think carpentry). In an effort to make this article a reasonable length, the only powered saw I will include is the chainsaw. So without further ado, let’s get to know the different types of saws and their uses.
Land Maintenance Saws
One-Man Crosscut Saw
Generally 3 to 4 feet long, these saws are made for both cutting down trees and bucking them into smaller sections. The teeth on these saws are large with deep gullets spaced every so often between teeth. That spacing allows for quick and efficient removal of the wood as it is cut. Many times, these saws will have an auxiliary handle that attaches to the saw body in one or two places. If attached on the far end of the saw, it transforms the one-man saw into a (somewhat short) two-man saw. If attached near the handle, it allows the user to put more oomph in their strokes.
Two-Man Crosscut Saw
Back in the day, these were the tried-and-true tools of real lumberjacks. With this tool, men of old felled some of the largest trees in America. To take on those trees, they used two-man saws that were between 12 and 16 feet long. And to fell the true giants, they would sometimes join two blades together end-to-end to make a saw with a thick blade of truly huge proportions. Nowadays, these saws are around 4 to 6 feet long, but even that size is enough to cut down most of the trees in America (as almost all the old-growth forests with their huge trees are gone). Once you and your sawing partner get in the rhythm of using a two-man saw, it becomes somewhat meditative and is certainly less taxing than a one-man saw.
Pruning Saw
A smaller one-handed saw with a slightly curved blade, the teeth are aggressive to enable a user to make quick, clean cuts through small branches. You can get some with pretty fine saw teeth, however, if you are pruning a tree that you really care about and want the smoothest (and therefore fastest-healing) cut. If the latter is your aim, look for a Japanese pruning saw.
Pole Saw
The pole saw is a pruning saw that has been put on the end of a long handle. Originally constructed using a wooden pole; now more often constructed of aluminum, fiberglass, or plastic. They are hollow in construction to both lessen weight and allow for the ability to extend the pole. Their pole and long blade make them handy for trimming tree branches that are too tall to reach from the ground, or are in a place where you don’t want to lug a ladder (which is most places when you live on any amount of land).
Bow Saw
A bow saw is the best choice for cutting up small-to-medium diameter wood. Interestingly, only a few saws on this whole list use replaceable blades and tension. This design makes for a saw that cuts well and you never have to worry about sharpening. Once it’s dull, release the tension and replace the blades of these saws with a fresh new one. The teeth on a bow saw are aggressive and allow you to make short work of most branches and small logs.
Chainsaw
I could hardly have a list of saws without mentioning the chainsaw. Sure, the good ol’ hand-powered crosscut saw was a step up from an axe (as far as ease of cutting trees is concerned), but the chainsaw was a giant leap. It took a physically-demanding job and made it so easy that pretty much anyone could do it. But that ease comes at somewhat of a cost – it is by far the most dangerous heavy-duty tool on this whole list. It is a tool that can cause irreparable damage in the blink of an eye. Exercise due caution when using this tool (a general rule I recommend is always wear a pair of chainsaw chaps, steel-toe boots, and a face guard).
Wood Working and Shop Saws
Crosscut Saw
A crosscut saw is made for cutting across the grain of wood. All of the previously-mentioned land maintenance saws are actually crosscut saws because they are all designed to cut across a trunk or branch. However, not all wood-working saws are crosscut saws as there are many applications where you won’t be cutting across the grain. A crosscut saw is used when you are cutting lumber to length, say an 8-foot two-by-four cut in two 4-foot pieces. The teeth of a crosscut saw, also known as crosscut teeth, are filed so that they slice through the wood fibers.
Rip Saw
The rip saw is made for cutting along the grain of wood. The teeth of the rip saw are filed differently than that of a crosscut saw. They can be looked at as little chisels that are chiseling away the wood rather than slicing it. A rip saw will be used when you have to cut along the length of the wood, like if you had a 4-foot 1 by 4, and cut it in two pieces that are still 4 feet long but half the width.
Tenon Saw
A tenon saw is used for cutting tenons. Tenons are used in a type of joinery called mortise and tenon. The mortise is a hole that the tenon fits into. When cutting tenons, you want the saw to be rigid and not flex, so a tenon saw has a reinforced back. Usually the teeth are very fine, so slow and accurate cuts are the name of the game here.
Japanese Double-Sided Pull Saw
This Japanese saw is one of my go-to saws. It just works so well. All the saws covered so far are filed so they cut on the push stroke. However, over in Japan, they do things a bit differently. Their saws are designed to cut on the pull stroke. Not only that, they put a saw edge on both sides of the saw – one coarse side and one fine side. This design makes for one versatile tool. Need a quick and dirty cut? Use the coarse side. Want a nice, smooth cut? Flip the saw over and use the fine tooth side. Beautiful!
Backsaw With Miter Box
This is quite a handy pair to have around. Any woodworking project is going to involve miter cuts. To cut miters, you will need to cut two pieces of wood at precise angles (most often, a 45-degree angle). A miter box will help you accomplish this task more perfectly. The 3-sided box has slots pre-cut into two opposite sides; when the saw (which has a reinforced back, hence the name back saw) is put in the slots, it will be oriented at just the right angle to make a perfect miter cut. A good idea is to buy a miter box that already comes with a saw.
Keyhole/Jab/Drywall Saw
Not just for cutting keyholes anymore, this sort of saw is used most commonly for cutting holes in drywall, but it can be used for making curved cuts in the center of a piece of wood, too. The tip is pointy and can be pushed into drywall without first having to make a hole with a drill. Note that with wood, you will want to cut a hole first and then insert the saw for cutting.
Coping Saw
The coping saw is the perfect manual tool for making intricate curved cuts in woodworking. It has a super thin and narrow replaceable blade held in place by a U-shaped frame. This is the saw that made coping work possible – that is, cutting the end of a piece of wood (usually molding) so that it fits snugly against (another piece of) molding. Certain blades can be used to cut metal and plastic (like PVC).
Hacksaw
The hacksaw is one of a few saws on this whole list that uses tension and easily-replaceable blades. The teeth on these saws are too fine to sharpen, so it is nice that the blades are both cheap and easy to replace. Generally, the hacksaw is not used for cutting wood. It is typically used for cutting metal and plastic (like PVC pipe), and in this regard it is an indispensable tool.
Conclusion
So there you have it: A quick and dirty rundown on the types of manual saws you will come across. Cutting with a saw may not feel natural at first, but once you find the right saw and get the feel for it, it will be a smooth experience. Don’t get frustrated. Keep at it. As with most everything, the more you do, the better you do, so go out and get cutting!
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