Saw

The article is about the cutting tool. For other meanings of saw, see Saw (disambiguation).

A saw is a tool for cutting wood or other material, consisting of a blade with the edge dentated or toothed and worked either by hand or by steam, water, electric or other power.

According to Greek mythology, the saw was invented by Perdix, the nephew of Daedalos.

Saw Terminology

• Heel: the end closest to the handle.
• Toe: the end farthest from the handle.
• Front: the side with the teeth (the "bottom edge").
• Back: opposite the front ("top edge").
• Teeth: small sharp points along the cutting side of the saw.
• Teeth per inch (Teeth per 25mm): Measurement of the frequency of teeth on a saw blade. This is measured by setting the tip of one tooth at the zero point on a ruler, and then measuring how many teeth are contained within one inch (25mm) of length. There will always be one more tip per inch than there are teeth per inch (e.g., a saw with 14 tips per inch will have 13 teeth per inch, a saw with 10 tips per inch will have 9 teeth per inch). Some saws do not have the same number of teeth per inch throughout their entire length, but the vast majority do.
• Kerf: Width of the saw cut. On most saws the kerf is wider than the saw blade because the teeth are flared out sideways. This allows the blade to move through the cut easily without getting stuck. However, some saws are made so that the teeth have no set. This is done so that the saw can lay flat on a surface and cut along the surface without scratching it.

Types of Saws

• Band saw—with motor-driven continuous band
• Bow saw—thin blade pulled taut by a twisted cord
• Bucksaw or log saw—for fast, rough cutting
• Chainsaw—motor-driven, for felling trees
• Circular saw—machine-driven for industrial sawing of log and beams
• Coping saw—thin blade tensioned by a metal frame
• Floorboard saw—with curved blade
• Hacksaw—for cutting metal
• Japanese saw
• Jigsaw—narrow blade for cutting irregular shapes
• Keyhole saw or padsaw—with narrow pointed blade
• Miter saw- makes precisely angled cross cuts
• Reciprocating Saw – Action is much like a jigsaw, but much more powerful
• Ripsaw—for cutting along the grain
• Rotary saw—for making accurate cuts in wallboard, plywood, and other thin materials
• Scroll Saw -cousin of the band saw
• Tenon saw—with blade stiffened for accurate cuts
• Two-man saw—for cutting large logs

Types of Saw Blades and the Cuts They Make

• Crosscut — In woodworking, a cut made at (or near) a right angle to the direction of the grain of the workpiece. A crosscut saw is used to make this type of cut.
• Rip cut — In woodworking, a cut made parallel to the direction of the grain of the workpiece. A rip saw is used for to make this type of cut.

See Also

• Tools
• lumber
• timber
• sawmill