7 Saw Types Every DIYer Must Know

If you're planning to construct an old-fashioned bench, trim molding or plumb an entire sink, the chances are you'll have to cut some material to size--and there's a saw out there waiting to help you to do that. The seven saws listed below provide a variety of DIY projects, from wood to steel. You will be able to tackle any project you want when you know the distinct features of each.

It's All About the Teeth

You'll see that most saw blades are rated in teeth per inch (TPI) as you put them in your toolbox or workstation. These numbers can range between 2 and 32. Blades with lower TPI ratings can cut faster, but they will produce rougher cuts. The higher TPI ratings result in smoother cuts in wood and other similar materials.

Traditional Handsaw

A woodworker's workshop is not complete without a traditional handsaw with its massive blade and strong handle. Although the handsaw is 100 percent powered by muscle, it can be used when a power-saw just will not do the job, like when you have to cut through a post that's too heavy for a circular saw blade.

Hacksaw

With thin, interchangeable blades that range from 14 to 32 TPI the C-shaped hacksaw is most often used for cutting pipes made of metal. The C-shaped hacksaw's broad range of TPI options makes it a versatile enough to cut sheet PVC, conduit, and metal. Simply swap out the 10-inch or 12-inch blades that are secured with screw nuts at the ends. The tension screw on a hacksaw permits you to make the blade taut and makes it easier to see.

Coping Saw

The coping saw that is U-shaped is designed for one specific purpose it is to coping or "back-beveled" cuts for trimming installation around the inside of corners. Although it looks and operates similar to a frame for a hacksaw but the coping saw's blade is significantly smaller and weighs less than the frame. It is typically 6-1/2 inches in length and is able to hold between 10 and 32 TPI.

Jigsaw

A versatile saw for DIYers The jigsaw is able to cut straight lines as circular saws but its real merit is its capability to cut curves. Jigsaws are considered to be to be one of the most secure power saws. It comes with a surface, also known as"shoe, "shoe," that rests on the cutting material and offers some protection.

Circular saw

Designed to cut straight lines in the dimensional lumber or plywood and rigid foam boards and even concrete, the circular saw is one of the most sought-after saws used for framing. It can be substituted on the job site for table saws. The circular saw has a enclosed blade as well as a huge base that can be set in a flat position against the object being cut. The majority of models allow users to alter the depth of cut.

Circular saw blades are labeled by the kind of material they're made to cut: Wood blades are used to cut lumber or plywood masonry blades cut joints in concrete sidewalk, and so on. Circular saws are available in range of sizes, dependent on the diameter of the blade they are using.

Miter Saw

The primary function of miter saws is to make precision crosscuts while framing, installing molding or cutting siding strips. Miter saws of today make angled cuts with the same principles similar to their manual counterparts but they also can perform more complex cuts. A miter saw's heavy steel frame can be placed on a table used in workshops to provide stability, and a steel guide along its back edge, referred to as a "fence," aligns the material to be cut.

Chainsaw

With its numerous sharp teeth, the chainsaw is able to cut entire trees or limbs. It revolves around a guide bar and includes a variety of teeth. The length of the guide bars vary from 14 inches up to 36 inches and are interchangeable with other models. A chainsaw equipped with an 18-20-inch guide bar will suffice for the majority of DIYers. A 16-inch bar could be used to cut 32 inches of tree by cutting in a systematic manner around the trunk.