After measuring and marking Joiner uses sawing tools to cut wood into pieces. These joinery tools are different types which are design to suit different purpose. They are classified by considering of their blade length, and the size, shape and number of teeth. The wood needs to be cut in different style and angles which can be depend on the shape, size and set of the teeth and blade. The wood sawing tools can be divided into following two groups:
- Bench saw and
- Curve cutting saw.
Bench wood sawing tools
We can classify the bench saw into two groups like traditional hand saws and back saws.
- Traditional hand saws – such as rip saw, cross cut,
panel saw, Pit saw. Normally which are used for larger timber work. - back saws – such as tenon, dovetail and bead saw; these sawing tools have supporting metal along the back side.
Traditional hand saws
Rip saw
Rip Saws are usually 650-700 mm long. It contains 3-5 teeth per 25 mm. The shape of the teeth are square faced or chisel like which are set at 90° across the blade. It cut the wood along the grain. When starting to cut, it would be 60° angles with the wood for more efficiently.
Cross cut saw
The length of the cross cut saws is usually 600-650 mm. It contains 6-8 teeth per 25 mm. The teeth are bevel type. They are ideal for cutting across the grain in thick wood of a small project. For more efficient result, the cutting edge should be 45° angle with the work. The teeth of this saw are set such a way that the cutting edge can be cut wider than blade thickness and push out the saw dust easily. As a result the blade can move freely during working time.
Panel saw
The size of the panel saw is about 450-550 mm. It contains 7-10 teeth per 25 mm. Generally they are used for cutting sheet materials like plywood and particle board.
Pit saw
Pit sawing tools also known as two handled saw or jac saw. Normally it is 4 feet to 6.5 feet long and 5 inches to 12 inches wide. Therefore it needs two people during sawing works. The blade is rigid and made of steel spring. These saws contain long teeth which are bent to back side. Every 25 mm contains 1 teeth. It is used for cross sawing large wood.
Miter box saw
The miter box saws are used to cut the wood at a specific angle. Generally it is used to make picture frame or similar work.
Back saws
The back saws can be used to cut more accurately straight lines. It features solid metals strip on the back side to provide the blade construction as rigid form. The following three sawing tools are the most common back saws.
- tenon saw
- dovetail saw
- gent’s saw.
Tenon saw
The construction of the Tenon saw blade is very thin. Therefore it includes a metals strip on the back side to keep the saw rigid. It is used for cutting joints of fine cabinet work. The teeth of these saws are designs as like cross cut saw. It is 25 to 40 cm length. It includes 12-24 teeth per 25 mm.
Dovetail saw
Dovetail sawing tools are looking as like Tenon saws but smaller size of them. It is 20 to 25 cm long. The number of teethes are 18 to 20 per 25 mm. These tools also has a metals strip on the back side of the blade. It is fine work saw for small notches, moldings, beads or any smaller cuts.
Gent’s saw
Among the back saws the gent’s saw are the smallest. The length of this tool is 4 inches to 20 inches. It includes up to 32 teeth per 25 mm.
Bead saw
Bead saws are looking as like a “Dovetail saw” but the blade is not as wide as them. Normally it is 4 inches to 12 inches long and contains 16-25 teeth per 25 mm. It is used for small and fine work or used as tenon saw.
Veneer saw
This saw is used for veneer sawing work purpose. It is 6 inches long and the blade is fixed on a wood piece with a screw. The teeth are parallel.
Curve cutting wood sawing tools
The curve cutting saws are less wide. Therefore the wood can saw as curve. The following saws are included in this class:
Bow or turning saw
It is a special type of saw which is clasp at a frame with two arms. The blade contain one side of the arms whereas a narrow cord is contains in another side. Moreover the arms hold a beam in the middle with a liver. The blade is tensioned with the cord. It is used for cutting circular or curved work. The length of the blade is about 8 inches to 16 inches. The numbers of teeth are about 15 which are small and cross cut saw pattern.
Compass saw
The compass saw contains a narrow, longer and stronger blade which is continually tapered to the end. The blade is 12 inches to 18 inches long and contains 10 to 12 teeth per 25 mm. The blade is fixed with a open type of wooden handle. It is used for radius cutting or narrow work.
Knife or key hole saw
The key hole saw also known as pad saw. It is design for cutting key holes in door which is the reason for the name. It is also used for electrical sockets, light fittings etc. work. Moreover, a joiner also use it where the coping or fret saw cannot reach. As like the compass saw this blade is also fixed with an open type of wooden handle. Therefore it is changeable. This saw is narrow than compass saw. It is 11 inches to 16 inches long.
Coping saw
The coping saw is constructed by a frame and a very narrow blade. The blade is attached with the frame by helping with a screw. The blade is up to 6 inches long. It contains about 14 teeth per inch which are very small and rip saw pattern. It is used for curve cutting in internal or external side of wood. For example it is used for making toys, template with the plywood.
Fret saw
Fret saws are looking as like the coping saw. It has a very long body, about 12 inches to 20 inches. The length of the blade can be five inches. It has a tension screw to create a tension on blade. It contains up to 32 teeth per 25 mm. They are used for cutting curve on different designs.