Depending on the type of work you want to do there are a multitude of sawing tools available, and they fall into two categories, hand saws and power saws—including versatile cutting tools like reciprocating saws that can handle both demolition and DIY tasks.
We look at both groups and find the different types of saws that fall into each category and what they are used for.
Read more about 7 Types Of Saws Every DIYer Should Get To Know
Hand saws are operated manually by force rather than being powered by electricity, gas or a battery. They are some of the most useful and common among many trades. Let’s take a look at some of them and what they are used for.
This saw is used mostly for cutting metal or plastic. It has a thin blade with quite fine teeth which is tensioned on a C frame.
The blade will typically have between 18 and 32 teeth. Hack saws are part of most DIY kits in the home but also used by many trades.
Coping saws are used to make curved cuts in wood and are small and easy to use. The blade has fine teeth and is quite narrow to allow for fine cuts and curves. Coping saws are held under tension in its frame.
Bow saws are a type of crosscut saw and are used to cut wood across its grain. The bow shape makes it ideal for cutting through thick sections of wood, hence its name. It is typically used outdoors for trimming trees or to cut wood logs.
Crosscut saws can be used by two people, one on either end. It can be used for cutting logs or planks.
The large beveled teeth and relatively thick blade are designed to score the wood and allow the sawdust to fall out as the blade passes through. Two person crosscut saws often have a very thick blade and cutting depth.
A back saw has fine teeth and is recognizable by the length of brass or steel on the top edge of the blade. It has a narrow cutting blade, and is used to make precision cuts such as for dovetail joints.
A fret saw evolved from a lattice making saw from which it derives its name. Freter is the French word for ‘to lattice’. It is used for delicate and intricate cutting.
Keyhole saws look like a dagger with a handle. It is used to make a hole with its sharp point in materials such as drywall and saw through. They are perfect for cutting in awkward spaces as they have a thin blade for making small holes.
A rip-cut saw is one of the commonly used in woodworking and is designed to cut parallel to the grain. It has a multitude of uses. Rip cut saws also have large, sharp teeth than something like a back saw.
These saws are extremely useful in the garden for pruning trees and bushes. Their long curved blades make it easy to reach higher branches. They have more teeth per inch than some other saws, and are great for rough cuts.
A veneer saw is specifically designed for cutting through laminate. It is a very small, double sided saw that is typically used in conjunction with a straight edge for creating joints.
This saw is designed like the keyhole saw to cut through drywall. Unlike the keyhole saw however it has a shorter and wider blade. They sometimes have teeth on the top and bottom of the blade.
Bone saws do exactly what the name implies, they cut through bone. They are used by hunters for butchering game such as deer. Typically made from stainless steel they are less likely to corrode from contact with blood.
Japanese saws are designed to cut on the pull motion as opposed to the push motion like most saws. It is shaped like a cleaver and offers precision and control for woodworking.
A useful tool while camping this saw comes in a variety of designs and is typically used for cutting firewood or moving branches. Most are folding saws.
Power saws are either electric power saws, gas or battery powered saws. While hand saws are cheaper and potentially easier to operate, a power saw is quick, powerful and efficient—especially if you understand how to cut straight with a reciprocating saw for clean, accurate results. Let’s take a look at some of them.
A circular saw gets its name from the circular saw blade which spins at high speeds. They are portable, can cut curves and can be used to cut a range of materials.
Miter saws are used to cut angles into wood for seamless joints. It is operated by pulling the saw down onto the wood. Like the previous saw, the blade is circular, and is mostly used for precise cuts.
A compound miter saw is a step up from a miter saw. It can make more complex cuts with greater precision and efficiency. A compound miter is also good for making bevel cuts.
Band saws can be stationary or portable. A stationary band saw has a band of continuous blade which spins around 2 or 3 wheels to create cuts. Portable band saws have a looped blade and is used by welders, plumbers and metalworkers.
A jigsaw has a downward facing blade which is guided through cuts by the upper handle. It can make precision cuts in different materials and is easy and lightweight to use.
Chop saws have toothless blades which instead are abrasive for cutting through metal or masonry. Sometimes they are linked to a water line to reduce dust produced from cutting.
Table saws feature a blade which emerges from a table to cut materials which are pushed onto the blade. The depth of the blade can be adjusted for different cutting needs.
Chainsaws are either battery or gas powered and used mainly for felling trees or cutting lumber. A chain with specifically designed teeth rotates around a steel body.
This saw oscillates back and forth rather than spinning around. It is ideal for small jobs or awkward to reach sites. They can be used with different attachments for grinding or removing grout.
A flooring saw looks similar to a chop saw but is used to cut different types of flooring such as laminate, hardwood or bamboo.
This saw operates like a table saw, but you can feed material into it vertically as well as horizontally. Often used where large panels need to be cut, and has a fixed blade.
As the name suggests this saw cuts intricate scroll work, patterns or spirals. The blade either oscillates or is attached to a band.
A radial arm saw has a rotating circular blade which is attached to an arm. This can be used at different angles to achieve straight, miter or compound cuts.
Reciprocating saws are extremely versatile and portable. They operate with a reciprocating blade by moving the blade back and forth rapidly and can be used to cut through metal or wood—just make sure to lubricate the blade properly after each use to maximize lifespan and cutting efficiency.
Read more about Sawzall vs Reciprocating Saw
A pole saw is a great gardening tool and can be used to reach high branches that you cannot reach with a regular chain saw. A smaller chainsaw is attached to the end of the pole for cutting or pruning branches.
We hope that this guide to hand and power saws has been helpful and that you can now choose the right saw for the job that you need to do.
Learn more about 7 Types Of Saws Every DIYer Should Get To Know
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