Choosing the best saw for a particular job involves several factors: the material you cut, the accuracy of the cut, whether you cut straight or curved lines, and how fast you want to complete the job. The following is a brief overview of some of the most common types of saws.

Crosscut saws (and shorter versions called box saws) are the saws most people think of when they think of hand saws. Its main purpose is to cut wood on the grain. Split saws look similar, but have larger teeth and are used to cut textures (for example, split planks longitudinally).

The top saw is shaped like "P" and is used to cut round or irregular shapes on wood. The blades are very thin and narrow, so when the blades cut curved shapes, they will not stick between the wood. Top saws are usually used to cut wood products for installation in the corners of the room. Due to the frame of the saw, the cutting distance cannot exceed 6 inches from the edge of the wood.

If you need to make precise, straight cuts (such as those used to make fine wood joints), consider using a back saw (or miter saw). The back saw has an additional metal support on the top to keep the blade straight. They are usually used with miter gauges or boxes to guide saws for angled cuts, such as those used to make picture frames (45 degree angle).

The hacksaw has small teeth, so it does not remove a lot of material with each stroke. They are particularly suitable for cutting hard materials such as metals or pipes. The narrow blade of the hacksaw is tightened by a metal frame, and its handle is perpendicular to the blade.

For rough and quick cuts (pruning trees, cutting fallen branches, etc.), a bow saw is a good choice. The large teeth of these D-shaped saws can cut wood quickly, but they cannot make precise cuts.

Keyhole saws are used to cut small holes or curves in wood. They were originally used to cut small holes in the door so that the metal could be locked into the door. Today, people use them more frequently to make holes for electrical boxes on dry walls.

The circular saw has a circular blade driven by an electric motor. They can be equipped with many types of blades, including multi-purpose blades for making crosscuts and tearing wood.

If you are looking for an electric version of the top saw for non-straight cuts, choose a jig saw (also called a saber saw). These saws are placed on a flat metal foot with a small, narrow blade that can be moved up and down quickly to cut wood. You can also find special blades suitable for other materials. Press the foot of the puzzle on the material you are cutting, keeping the blade vertical. Because the jig saw does not have a frame like the top saw, it can be cut away from the edge of the wood.

The cutting action of a reciprocating saw is similar to that of a jig saw, but the feet of the reciprocating saw are smaller and usually more powerful. These saws cut in some fairly narrow spaces and are very suitable for rough construction projects such as house framing.

In order to cut small and precise curves, a rolling saw combines a worktable and a small blade. Rolling saws are used to cut wooden toys, exquisite decorations for shelves or cabinets, and other "rolling jobs."

Table saws are used for straight and diagonal cutting in woodworking projects. Although you can use multi-purpose blades, you can purchase blades specifically designed to tear or cut wood. When cutting along the length of the plank, the anti-cracking fence is a guide device used to keep the wood a certain distance from the blade of the table saw. Miter gauges or guides are used to fix wood at an angle or perpendicular to the blade. When the wood slides across the table, the saw blade can also be turned to cut diagonally. In addition, you can add dado blades (a series of thick blades) to cut wide grooves.

The miter saw is like a circular saw fixed by a metal arm. The blade can be tilted and rotated to cut compound miter (cutting angles on the two planes of the board)-this is a very useful feature for cutting corners of crown shapes or more complex picture frames. When using a miter saw, the wood remains stationary and the saw moves instead of moving the wood on the table above the blade. When designed for cutting metal, this same type of saw is often referred to as a cutting saw.

The design of a tile saw is similar to a table saw or a miter saw, but the blade is designed to cut tiles and is cooled by water.

The teeth of the band saw are cut into metal bands that rotate on two wheels. You can tear the boards or cut corners on the band saw. Because the belt is usually narrower than the blade, you will waste less wood. Band saws are particularly useful for re-saw cutting wood, such as cutting a 2×6 into two 1×6.

The chain saw has teeth on each link of the narrow chain, and the chain saw runs on a metal rod with a round end. They can be powered by gas engines or electric motors. Chain saws make wide, rough cuts, so they are mainly used to cut trees, make firewood, and trim large branches. Some chainsaws can be attached to a special guide rail so that they can be used as a small timber mill.

Using some PVC, fluorescent shop lights, some chains, and some other materials, you can create a low-cost growth light setup for starting seedlings indoors or growing plants throughout the year.

Understand the docile temperament of traditional American guinea pigs, understand their foraging habits, and help protect them by raising breed awareness.

Author and poultry breeder Gail Damerow shares how to protect your flock from predators large and small in your area.

In MOTHER EARTH NEWS for 50 years, we have been committed to protecting the natural resources of our planet and at the same time helping you protect your financial resources. You will find tips to cut heating bills, grow fresh natural produce at home, and more. This is why we want you to save money and trees by subscribing to our earth-friendly auto-renewing savings plan. By paying with a credit card, you can save an additional $5 and get 6 issues of "Mother Earth News" for only $12.95 (US only).

You can also use the Bill Me option and pay $17.95 for 6 installments.

Canadian subscribers-click here

International subscribers-click here

Canadian subscription: 1 year (including postage and GST)

Copyright 2021, all rights reserved | Ogden Press