Online Encyclopedia
Saw
- For the 2004 movie, see Saw (movie).
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.
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Saw Terminology
The heel of the saw is the end closest to the handle. The toe of the saw is the end farthest from the handle. The front of the saw is the side with the teeth, and the back of the saw is opposite the front.
The teeth on a saw are the small sharp points along the cutting side of the saw. The number of teeth on a saw are measured in either teeth per inch, or tips per inch. 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 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.
The cut that the teeth make is known as the kerf.
The teeth on most saws have a set to them. This means that the teeth are flared out sideways. The flaring of the teeth allows the saw to make a kerf that is wider than the back of the saw. By making the kerf wider than the back of the saw, the saw is less likely to bind. 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
- Ripsaw—for cutting along the grain
- 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
Saw is also the name of a 2004 movie directed by James Wan .
SAW is also an acronym with several meanings.