Saws come in a wide range of styles and sizes and are used to make straight or curved cuts on materials ranging from wood and plastic to metal and drywall.
While most Western handsaws cut on the push stroke, Japanese handsaws cut when pulled toward you. This allows for a thinner blade and narrower kerf, resulting in a faster and smoother cut with less effort. On the downside, Japanese saws leave the rough edge of the cut on the face and deposit sawdust on top which can obscure the guideline. They’re also more flexible than their Western counterpart.
The teeth are set (bent) in an alternating pattern so the kerf (groove) cut by the saw is slightly wider than the thickness of the blade to prevent binding.
Crosscut saws are designed for making straight cuts across the grain in wood. The teeth are sharpened at an angle and beveled to a point, allowing them to cut cleanly without splintering.
Choosing the right saw, and keeping it sharp, will make the job go easier and give professional finished results.