The type of saw you will need will depend on, what you are planning to cut. There are almost as many different sort of saws as there are materials to cut. following is a brief article concerning the different types of saws that are most common and what you are most likely to use them for.

Basically, saws break down into 2 main types, handsaws and mechanical saws (power tools). Inside these 2 types of saw, there are several different kind, each specialized to both the material and pattern they will be used to cut through.

Handsaws have about a dozen different types. Of these the two most common types are the rip saw and the cross cut saw. They are both used for cutting wood, but the rip saw is designed to cut along the grain, while the cross cut saw is designed to cut across it. A panel or box saw is a smaller version of the cross cut saw. These saws have handles at the heel, or back of the saw. A bow saw can be used to cut wood in either direction and has a bowed handle that attaches at both ends of the blade. Coping saws have very fine blades and are used for those detailed woodworking jobs. Back and pull saws are used for molding and similar wood cutting projects, while dovetail saws are used for cutting joints. To cut circles or curves in wood, you will use either a keyhole or compass saw, both of which have very narrow blades. There are drywall saws for cutting drywall and similar materials and hacksaws for cutting through metal. Enough about handsaws lets turn our attention to power saws.

Power or mechanical saws break down into three primary types depending on the way they move the blade into the material. There are circular blade saws, reciprocating saws, and continuous band saws. If someone refers to just a circular saw, they are probably talking about a hand held circular saw used to cut logs or beams. These are one of the most common power tools you will find. Table saws have circular blades that come up through a slot in a table. This is a stationary tool. Radial arm saws are used for cross cutting. Additionally, you will find mechanical miter saws. In reciprocating blade saws, there are jigsaws, which usually are handheld, and are often used in woodworking to cut out shapes. Reciprocating saws can usually be fitted with blades for either wood or metal. They are more powerful than jigsaws. Scroll saws are used for fine detail woodworking. The most familiar continuous band saw is the chain saw, often used to cut trees and their limbs. Be sure to visit our store with 100s of different saws to purchase at the lowest prices.