Saws

Hand saws are and have been an integral part of woodworking and carpentry for thousands of years. For as long as humans have worked with wood, saws of some description have been used to cut and shape the material that is so important to our history. Handsaws in the form that we are familiar with feature a metal blade with many sharpened teeth that sever the fibres of the timber as it is drawn or pushed through the cut. In joinery applications, many different types of handsaws are available to suit a variety of specific applications. In both modern and traditional site carpentry, handsaws play an important role in general cutting and shaping of lengths of timber. Although modern electric saws have made both the joinery and site carpentry processes quicker and more efficient than ever before, hand saws will always have their place in a craftsperson's arsenal. Here is a selection on all of the most commonly used saws, both in joinery, site carpentry, and general construction.  

Panel saw

Panel saws are the primary type of handsaw that are used in modern construction and site carpentry. These saws feature a comfortable pistol grip handle with a long blade and fairly aggressive teeth. Modern panel saws feature composite plastic handles with hardened alloy teeth. When blunted, these teeth cannot be effectively sharpened, and the saw is thrown away. Blunted saws are still useful for cutting plastic and plasterboard. Traditional panel saws feature wooden handles with softer metal teeth that are able to be sharpened when blunted. We will look at sharpening saw teeth later in the sharpening section. Panel saws can be purchased in a variety of teeth configurations to suit different cutting styles. Some tooth configurations are better for cutting across the grain, known as cross-cut saws. Other styles are more suited to cutting with the grain and ripping down boards - these are known as rip-cut saws. Manufacturers of disposal panel saws sell saws with specific tasks in mind, with a certain set of teeth to match. First fix saws are intended for cutting larger materials and sheet goods, and as such their teeth are fairly aggressive. Second fix saws are more suited to making fine cuts in MDF and internal wood materials, with a less aggressive cut and finer kerf to match. Some varieties are sold specifically with the intention of cutting uPVC and other composite materials.  

Tenon saw

Tenon saws are a commonly used stiff backed, western style saw used in site carpentry and workshop procedures alike. As the name suggests they are intended for cutting tenons, with a tooth set suitable for effectively ripping and cutting across the grain of a piece of timber. The back of the saw is ridged with a thick spine, traditionally made from brass, though a handful of materials are used in modern times. The spine of the saw stiffens the blade and prevents it from flexing, allowing for a thinner blade – thus reducing the width of the kerf. Due to the spine protruding on their side of the blade, the depth of cut is limited, though this generally doesn’t cause an issue. The blade is attached to a pistol grip style handle and is light and manoeuvrable in the hand. Whilst this type of saw sees most of its use in the workshop, having one at hand when performing second fix operations can help to improve the quality of the work. For the majority of the second fix operations we carry out, finer toothed second fix saws perform exceptionally. However, when performing very fine tasks, such as cutting intricate moulding or smaller battens, the fine set of the second fix panel saws is still too aggressive, tending to split the back of the cut out just at the last second. As such, very fine tenon saws make an excellent addition to the toolbox in order to provide quality services. 

Coping saw

Coping saws are a fine type of tension saw that are intended for cutting tight radii and small components. The saws use replaceable blades that are very thin, slotting into each end of the body, with the handle of the saw being twisted tight to provide tension to the blade. The blades are available in a variety of tooth configurations, suited for cutting a range of materials. The thin blade leaves a fine kerf, and is able to turn sharply during a cut, making it a great choice of saw for cutting irregular small objects. In site carpentry, coping saws are commonly used to undercut the moulding on skirting when installing internal corner scribes. Modern electric jigsaws and even flap disk sanders are used in place of the coping saw in modern practices, though they serve no advantage other than reducing the physical work of not having to perform a small sawing motion. In the workshop they can be used to remove the majority of waste from finer joinery such as when cutting dovetails.  

Fret saw

Fret saws are very similar in their concept and construction to the coping saw, with a more specific intended application. The main difference between the two is the deeper hook of the tensioning mechanism present on the fret saw. This deep hook allows for the saw to cut much further into a material than a shallower coping saw. These saws see most of their use in finer joinery and woodworking and see little to no use in modern site carpentry.  

Frame saw

Frame saws are a traditional style of tension saw that utilise a saw blade in conjunction with a wooden frame. A saw blade is attached within a wooden frame and tensioned by some type of wedging or tightening method. In the drawn example, we see a common frame saw style, with the blade being tensioned by a twisted string at the top of the frame. The tension of the frame provides stability and rigidity to the blade, allowing for effective sawing. Due to the lack of a spine, and plethora of saw blade lengths, this style of saw is suitable for many different carpentry applications, especially in ripping wider lengths of timber. Whilst not particularly heavy, and fairly well balanced, these saws are quite large and can be too cumbersome for smaller applications. Whilst still used in the workshop today, they are not typically used on site.  

Bow saw

Bow saws are an aggressive toothed type of saw that are intended for use in forestry and tree cutting related procedures. The saw features a removable blade, tensioned on a frame in a similar fashion to a coping, fret, or frame saw. The frame, typically made from metal, is heavy duty and capable of withstanding the rough treatment associated with forestry. The aggressive set of the teeth are well suited to pruning and cutting the softer greenwood of recently felled trees. The deep hook of the frame allows for the blade to pass through larger branches without binding. Whilst these tools are very practical for rough tree felling work, they see little to no use in site carpentry.  

Compass saws

Compass saws are a unique saw featuring a thin, tapered blade. The design of the saw is intended for making curved cuts in larger material as well as making cuts in tight spaces. The overall design of the saw is similar to the appearance of a pad or jab saw used for cutting plasterboard, though the teeth of the compass saw are more suited for cutting timber materials. Whilst these saws do occasionally see use in the workshop, generally speaking they have fallen out of widespread use in favour of modern powered alternatives. The thin nature of the blade allows it to curve over a fairly sharp radius in a cut, whilst possessing more thickness and more aggressive teeth than the smaller coping or fret saw. Modern varieties of this saw exist, though the applications are typically not that common. 

Flush cut saws

Flush cut saws are a style of saw that are designed with a set of teeth intended for making flush cuts against the surface of a material. The tooth set on most conventional types of saws sees the teeth spreading to either side of the blade in an alternating pattern. This type of set creates the kerf of the saw cut and allows each tooth to actively engage with the material during the cut without binding. For most applications this is a desirable feature, though creates a small issue when flush cuts are required to be made. By this, it is meant that a component such as a dowel sticking out proud of a newel post can't be cut off flush to the surface with a regular saw, as the offset teeth would scratch against the surface of the newel post as the cut was made. There are workarounds to this problem, such as cutting it just proud of the surface of the workpiece and using a chisel to pare down to the rest. However, some saws feature a tooth set with little to no sideways set, meaning the teeth are perfectly in line with the blade of the saw. This enables the saw to be placed on the surface of the workpiece and used to cut components flush with the surface. These saws come in many different shapes and sizes to fit a variety of different applications, though typically they feature a short and very thin blade. The blade is thin enough to be bent onto the surface of the workpiece, allowing adequate clearance of the handle and hand when operating the saw. Even though the tool is designed to cut flush to the surface of a material, care should be taken on very fine finished surfaces by buffering the cut with a piece of paper or card.

Folding saws

Folding saws are another broad category of saws that can feature a multitude of blade styles. The basic premise of these saws’ stems from modern practical design in both safety and compact storage. Any number of blade configurations, especially saws like pad saws or flush cut saws, can be fitted onto a special handle in which the blade folds into. Another common type of saw of this type would be a folding pruning saw for use in camping or gardening. The primary advantage of this type of saw is the convenience of transporting it.  

Eastern style saws

Japanese saws are another category of saw that can’t be totally ignored in modern tool culture. Without delving deep into this broad array of styles, the general premise of these saws in comparison to western saws is their physical applications. The set of these teeth are oriented in the reverse direction to western saws, meaning they cut on the pull stroke as opposed to the push stroke. As such, the blade of the saw is under constant tension during the cutting process, allowing for thinner blades and thinner saw kerfs. This feature also removes the necessity for a spine as is present in some western saw styles. The presentation of the saw to the workpiece as well as the stance that the operative must take whilst cutting is also a little different from a regular western saw. There is great debate within the tool community about the pros and cons of each style, and which is better. At the end of the day, both groups have been used to great effect for hundreds of years, and the style you should choose is the one that will produce positive results in one's work. 

Pad saw

Pad saws are a small, aggressive type of saw that are intended for cutting plasterboard/sheetrock. The saw features an ergonomic handle with a short, pointed blade that protrudes out of the front. The pointed end of the saw can be easily twisted into a sheet of plasterboard. The blade tapers steadily in width from the point to the handle, with this feature being used to quickly form even holes in boards for cables of pipes to be pulled through. Modern blades often feature many holes drilled in the blade to prevent the large amount of plasterboard dust clogging the blade during use. Traditionally, compass saws intended for use with wood would have been used in place of this more modern tool. This modern variety of saw is unsuitable for cutting wood products, as the teeth are too aggressive and wide. Additionally, modern pad saws can be purchased in a folding configuration, with the blade folding into the handle. Some varieties like this also feature a rasp or surform folded into the handle that can be used to shape plasterboard.  

Dovetail saw

The dovetail saw is a style of back saw that is intended for cutting dovetails and fine joinery on the end of a board. A spine stiffens the thin blade to allow for accurate and fine cuts to be made. The set of the teeth is typically very fine to create the smallest kerf possible when cutting the joinery. The depth of the blade from the teeth to the spine is relatively short, as the intended depth of cut is never that great with these saws.  

Gent’s saw

The gent’s saw is the name given to a group of saws that are similar in application to dovetail and tenon saws, though differ slightly. The gent’s saw is a back saw also, featuring a stiff spine that stabilises the blade. Traditionally, the gents saw was much smaller, both in terms of teeth set and cut depth, intended for small tasks such as cutting beading. Over time, different sizes of gent’s saw were created for different applications, shifting them towards a more general-purpose joinery saw. The distinguishing feature of a gent’s saw is the straight handle that follows the line of the spine, as opposed to the traditional pistol grip style of the other back saws.  

Floorboard saw

Floorboard saws are a type of wood cutting saw that are used for cutting installed floorboards. When carrying out repairs and renovations, it’s common for traditional style floorboards to be lifted to allow access to the space between the joists. Often it is more sensible to cut the desired floorboard halfway on a joist either side and removing the offcut, as opposed to lifting and de-nailing the entire length. In modern times, the fastest and most effective method of cutting the floorboard in situ is with an oscillating multi-tool. In the past however, before the introduction of these tools, floorboard saws were used instead. The shape of the blade of the saw allows for the teeth to effectively engage with the floorboards. As such, the floorboards can be cut through cleanly with just a handsaw.  

Masonry saw

Masonry saws are a modern type of hand saw, similar in appearance to a panel saw, though often much larger. The tooth set is very aggressive, with hardened tooth caps welded to the point of each tooth, and very pronounced valleys in between to allow for the effective clearing of waste. These saws are intended for cutting masonry related products such a lightweight concrete blocks and set mortar.