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Common Types of Saws

Anyone who frequently works with wood and needs to shape it will not be able to avoid sawing. But not all saws are the same. There are many types, whether manual or machine, which can be used depending on the project.
Lift saw, band saw or circular saw – all types of saws have their advantages and disadvantages. There are also various manually or mechanically operated variants, as well as practical hand-held devices or larger stand-alone devices.
What kinds of saws are there, what are they designed for and what should be taken into account when choosing a tool? Let’s try to figure it out.
different saws

Saw types at a glance: Electric saws

Electric saws, also called power saws, operate either by power or battery. The motor of many chainsaws, on the other hand, requires fuel. These electric saws are particularly popular:
 
  • Jigsaw
  • Circular saw
  • Bench Top Band Saw
  • A metal cutting band saw
  • Table circular saw
  • Miter saw
different saw

Jigsaw

A jigsaw is a compact device with which you can saw different materials such as wood, metal, and plastic. The jigsaw blade, which raises and lowers quickly, releases chips from the material with every movement, promising you precise and fast cuts. Many do-it-yourselfers turn to the saw to complete small projects or carry out renovation work. If you want flexible and convenient use, it is worth buying a battery-powered jigsaw. Craftsmen tend to use corded versions because they underestimate the power of the cordless jigsaw. Today’s power banks supply the powerful motor with energy for a long time, so you don’t have to compromise on either performance or runtime.
Metal Cutting Band Saw types

Cordless Circular Saw

Plunge saws are special hand-held circular saws that plunge into the workpiece from above. You control or push the housing with the motor and saw blade, with the baseplate resting on the workpiece. You then guide the saw over the workpiece. After the cut, it retracts the saw blade. With a plunge saw, you’ll often be sawing harder woods, So that you saw precise and clean cuts in boards and harder woods, the cordless plunge saws are equipped with fine-toothed blades. A 48-tooth saw blade is a typical equipment. Thinner saw blades are also offered for cordless plunge-cut saws. The somewhat thinner blades save the battery a bit, and you saw longer with one battery.

Bench Top Band Saw

The main feature of a band saw is that the saw blade consists of a band saw blade welded into a closed ring. This is driven by the machine so that it rotates rapidly in one direction. The sawing surface of the blade is perpendicular to the operator, and the workpiece can be pushed into it. The typical field of application of a band saw is woodworking. As a rule, band saws are used to

  • wood
  • metal
  • plastics
  • textiles
  • leather or
  • aerated concrete

The fact that the workpiece can be processed very precisely plays a major role here. Curves are no hurdle for a skilled carpenter, and sawing is faster and more precise than with a jigsaw, for example.

article types saws

Metal Cutting Band Saw

The advantage of this metal cutting band saw is its accuracy and durability, as well as a certain degree of automation. You can also use it to shorten thin pipes, such as copper pipes. Small metal workpieces that need to be installed later with a precise fit can also be cut very well with the help of a metal band saw. Angles, square tubes, or round tubes as well as any other metal profiles can be precisely cut with a metal band saw – even mitered. The latter in particular is a key advantage of the metal band saw. A metal band saw works in principle like its woodworking relatives. A ring-shaped metal band saw blade is driven by a motor, rotates, and is guided over two rollers.
This ensures an uninterrupted cut because the saw blade runs continuously in a straight line. The sawing process is not only very precise but also very easy to handle.
types saws article

Table Saw

A table circular saw, table saw or also called construction circular saw, is a machine tool, for cutting separation of workpieces. It belongs to a subcategory of circular saws and is the most important cutting tool for carpenters, joiners, craftsmen, and hobbyists. A tick circular saw can be used to cut wood, metal, plastic, building materials, or natural stone. A circular table saw has an electronic motor that usually runs between 1,200 and 3,000 watts – the heart of any circular table saw.
For safety reasons, the saw blade is protected by a blade guard, which means that the saw blade does not appear until the workpiece is inserted. Workpieces are guided laterally by an adjustable parallel or angular fence, to the saw blade. In this way, exact, straight cuts are achieved. Curved cuts, such as with a jigsaw, cannot be made with circular saws.
types saws

Miter Saw

The difference between a chop saw and a miter saw is that with a miter saw you can also cut an angle. But this function is also available on some chop saws. A miter saw always follows the same structure. Most often, a miter saw is made of metal to have a good stand. To make a picture frame or cut baseboards precisely to size, a miter saw is ideally suited. These usually work electrically, so that the cutting work can be done quickly and easily.
types saw test

Which saw do I really need?

There can be no exact answer to this question, as there are universal saws as well as many special saws and saws that are not suitable for all types of cutting due to their design. However, if you are just setting up a workshop and have not yet defined your specialty, you can easily cover the basic needs with some saws. Besides hand saws, the first saw is usually a jigsaw – and for a good reason: It is inexpensive to purchase and covers almost all areas of application. In addition, a jigsaw does not require many accessories. The narrow saw blade of the jigsaw can be used to cut contours and, depending on the quality of the saw, can also be used to make quite good and long straight cuts with the help of a fence. A jigsaw is therefore sufficient for the first DIY jobs. But also later, when further sawing follows, a jigsaw is indispensable for sawing radii and cutouts.

If the quality of long straight cuts with a jigsaw is no longer sufficient or if the time required for this is too great, in most cases the purchase of a hand-held circular saw follows. Although such a saw can only cut straight, it does so to perfection with the help of a guide rail and enables enormous progress to be made. If the hand-held circular saw also contains a plunge function, the hand-held circular saw can additionally be used to make cutouts in wood.

Need to quickly cut something to length or saw at a certain angle? Then there is a need for a chop and miter saw. To perform the cut, the saw with the saw blade must be lowered only with one hand. No saw is faster for this form of the saw cut. If long cuts are required, possibly also with high repeatability, the table saw can replace a hand-held circular saw and expand the range of functions. Due to the band run over two rollers and an additional adjustable guide, band saws can use narrow saw blades and still achieve a very straight cut pattern in thick materials. Various saw blades can be used for this purpose, which differs in particular in terms of the different tooth pitches and sets.

Different types of saws:

Max Welder

Max Welder

Hi! I'm Max Welder (toolsproper.com). I always wanted to work with my own hands, repair something, do things. Now I combine my knowledge with computers and my own knowledge in the field of mechanics in order to understand which tools I like the most. I hope to convey some knowledge and experience.

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