Types of Saws
The main types of saws for woodworking are power saws, circular, table, miter, track, jigsaw, band, reciprocating and scroll saws, and hand saws, from the crosscut saw and the Japanese pull saw to the coping saw and the hacksaw. Each is built for one kind of cut: straight cuts across a board, long rips along it, angles, curves or rough demolition. For furniture made from sheet goods, a track or circular saw and a table saw do most of the work.
Power saws
| Saw | Cut | Best for | Sheet goods? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circular saw | Straight cuts, hand-held | Breaking down sheets, framing lumber | Yes, with a straightedge guide |
| Track saw | Straight cuts on a rail | Full sheets, splinter-free edges | The best |
| Table saw | Straight rips and crosscuts | Ripping to width, repeat parts, dadoes | Yes, after the sheet is broken down |
| Miter saw (chop saw) | Crosscuts and angles | Trim, frames, cutting boards to length | Only narrow strips |
| Jigsaw | Curves and cut-outs | Sink holes, rounded corners, notches | For curves, not long straight cuts |
| Band saw | Curves and resawing | Thick curved parts, resawing boards | No |
| Scroll saw | Tight, fine curves | Fretwork, toys, puzzles | Thin plywood only |
| Reciprocating saw | Rough cuts | Demolition, pruning, cutting nails | No |
| Panel saw (vertical) | Straight cuts in a frame | Shops cutting many sheets | Yes |
| Oscillating multi-tool | Plunge and flush cuts | Trimming in place, door casings | No |
Hand saws
| Saw | Cut | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Crosscut hand saw | Across the grain | General cutting of boards to length |
| Rip saw | Along the grain | Ripping boards by hand |
| Japanese pull saw (ryoba, dozuki) | Thin cut on the pull stroke | Fine joinery, flush cuts, accurate work |
| Back saw (tenon, dovetail) | Straight, shallow, precise | Joinery |
| Coping saw | Tight curves in thin wood | Coped joints in trim, cut-outs |
| Flush-cut saw | Flush with a surface | Trimming dowels and plugs |
| Keyhole or drywall saw | Plunge cut-outs | Holes in drywall and thin panels |
| Hacksaw | Metal | Bolts, pipe, aluminium |
| Bow saw | Fast, rough | Branches and firewood |
Saws for cutting plywood and MDF
Sheet goods are big and heavy, so bring the saw to the sheet: lay it on a sheet of foam insulation on the floor or on sawhorses and cut it into manageable parts with a track saw or a circular saw run along a clamped straightedge. Then cut the parts to final size on a table saw. Use a fine blade: 40–60 teeth for plywood and MDF, 60–80 teeth (triple-chip grind) for melamine. See how to cut plywood with a circular saw.
Every saw removes a strip of wood as wide as its blade, the kerf: about 1/8 in (3 mm) for a table or circular saw, 1/16 in for a thin-kerf or Japanese saw. Plan it in the cut list, or the last part from a sheet comes out short.
Which saws to buy first
- A circular saw with a 40-tooth blade and a straight guide: it cuts sheets and boards and costs little.
- A jigsaw for curves, cut-outs and notches.
- A miter saw if you cut a lot of boards and trim, or a table saw if you build cabinets and furniture from sheets.
- A track saw when you cut sheets every week: it replaces the circular saw and makes splinter-free cuts.
- A Japanese pull saw for small, precise cuts by hand.
Saw safety
- Wear eye and ear protection, and a dust mask when cutting MDF.
- Support both sides of the cut so the offcut cannot pinch the blade and kick back.
- Keep hands out of the blade's path, use push sticks on a table saw, and never reach over a running blade.
- Unplug the saw to change the blade.
Plan the cuts before you start: the cut list optimizer gives the order of cuts for each sheet, so you can break it down safely.
Frequently asked questions
What are the different types of saws?
Power saws: circular, table, miter, track, jigsaw, band, reciprocating and scroll saws. Hand saws: crosscut and rip saws, Japanese pull saws, back saws, coping saws and hacksaws.
What is the best saw for cutting plywood?
A track saw, or a circular saw run along a straightedge, for full sheets; a table saw for accurate rips once the sheet is broken down. Use a 40–60 tooth blade, or 80 teeth for melamine.
What saw should a beginner buy first?
A circular saw with a good blade and a straightedge guide, then a jigsaw for curves. A miter saw or a table saw comes next, depending on whether you cut more boards or more sheets.
What is the difference between a miter saw and a table saw?
A miter saw drops a blade onto a board for fast, accurate crosscuts and angles. A table saw has the blade fixed and you push the wood past it, which is better for long rips and cutting sheets to width.