Hand saw - Everything you should know.

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The Hand Saw

Crown 190 24-Inch Rip Saw with 4.5 TPI

​This is a normal hand saw at 24" to 30" long.


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Stanley 15-087 20-Inch, 8-Point Contractor Grade Short Cut Handsaw

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​This is a 'Panel Saw', a smaller hand saw  (generally 20" or less).

Both have a thin, flexible saw plate (Blade) without a rigid back.

Available with a rip cut, cross cut or combination (SASH) tooth pattern. 


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PPI - Points Per Inch is the number of teeth. or 'points per inch' along the saw plate.

Measured from GULLET to GULLET (the inside dip between the teeth). 

More teeth will give you a slow, clean and fine cut. 

Fewer teeth will give you a faster, aggressive, less refined cut. 
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Great Neck N26S 26-Inch 8 TPI Rip Cut Hand Saw- Hardwood Handle

This is a 'Rip Cut Hand saw' - Used to cut along the grain (ripping cut). 

Not considered a precision tool but handy for breaking down material. 

They have 4 to 7 points per inch (PPI) and they're easier to sharpen than a crosscut tooth pattern. You'll see the number of teeth/points per inch stamped on the plate (Blade). 

A rip tooth comes to a simple point with a sharp edge. It doesn't have a bevel cut on the FACE (front of the tooth) or FLANK (back of the tooth). 
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GreatNeck N2610 - 26 Inch 10 TPI Cross Cut Hand Saw - Hardwood Handle

This is a 'Cross Cut Hand saw' - Used to Cut across the wood fibers rather than with them.

Teeth have a beveled face and flank to slice through wood fibers for a clean cut.

As a result, they are more complex to hand sharpen but not difficult.

Expect 7 to 12 points per inch (PPI).

Then there's a 'Sash Hand saw' ​- Generally considered the jack of all trades, master of none.

A Sash tooth pattern is a combination of ripping teeth and cross cutting teeth.

If you could only buy one hand saw, choose a rip saw.

It'll rip well but crosscutting won't be as refined as a crosscut tooth pattern.

Trying to rip with a crosscut handsaw isn't advisable. ​

The Back Saw

​A back saw will have the same features but with one distinction.

It will have a rigid spine (the BACK) made of brass or steel to strengthen the thin metal saw plate (blade).

Designed for precision with fine teeth and more PPI than their larger cousins (hand saws). Available with rip or crosscut teeth patterns.

​The different Back Saw's
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SUIZAN Japanese Hand Saw 9-1/2 inch Dozuki (Dovetail) Pull Saw for Woodworking

Dozuki saw- Actually, a Japanese saw style.

Unrelated to the back saw but it shares many of the same characteristics.

Considered to be the most precise saw available.

They have a very thin blade with around 26 PPI, making them perfect for extra fine cuts. They leave very little trace of saw marks. 
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Two Cherries 520-6020 10-Inch Brass Back Dovetail Saw

Dovetail Saw - This is a precise back saw for cutting fine dovetail joinery.

It will have a high PPI count (15 to 20) and small, fine teeth.

Available in rip or crosscut versions with a narrow Kerf to leave a very clean cut. 
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Crown FLINN2 187P 8-Inch 20-TPI Pax Gents Saw

Gent's saw (gentleman's saw) - This is a small dovetail saw with a turned handle rather than a vertical grip.

During Victorian times, Gentlemen woodworkers used them to make models and musical instruments.

Considered the ideal design of back saw for such delicate and precise work. 
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Gyros 83-16008 Brass Back Razor Saw with Wood Handle; Top Rated Straight Steel Blade for Fine Cuts; Made in USA

Razor saw - A tiny version of a Gents saw, used in model making today.

Teeth are fine with a very high PPI so blades are replaceable.

They cut on the pull stroke with next to no tear out even with soft wood like balsa. 
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GreatNeck MM14 14 Inch Miter Back Saw

Miter Saw - A larger back saw used in conjunction with a Miter Box to cut miters. 
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Crown 195 12-Inch Tenon Saw with Full Handle

Sash Saw - A smaller tenon saw for cutting window sashes. These days the term is interchangeable with Tenon Saw. 

Tenon Saw - A medium sized back saw designed to cut tenons for mortise and tenon joinery. Fine teeth reduce tear out (13 to 15 PPI is typical for a tenon saw). 

Hand saw components

Handle - 

GRIP (part you hold on to).

Lower and upper HORNS (The handle curves over the top and bottom of your hand so you won't slip during a cut).

SAW NUTS to secure the handle to the saw plate (blade).

MEDALLION is an enlarged saw nut used as a decorative brand name maker stamp on the handle. Sometimes this will say 'Warranted Superior' to denote a generic branded saw. 

Saw Plate (blade) -  

The BACK is the straight, top, non cutting edge of the plate. Often used as a straight edge. A back saw has an added spine or stiffener (still called the back).

The ETCHING is the maker's mark etched into the plate.

A NIB is a decorative nipple towards the front (TOE) of the saw plate. Using a piece of twine or string, it can secure a blade guard to the saw.

The TOE is the leading edge of the SAW PLATE (Blade).

The SAW TEETH pointing forwards to cut on the push stroke.

A TOOTH SIZE STAMP is found towards the back (HEEL) of the plate. It tells you the number of points per inch.

​​The HEEL is the back of the saw plate (blade).

Frame Saws

Ulmia "Crosscut Saw" Frame Saw 9 tpi 600mm (23 9/16")

FRAME SAW - ​A frame saw has a thin blade, mounted to a H shaped frame. 

There are two arms (Cheeks) pivoted against a main bar in the middle of the frame (The Stretcher).

They pull together at one end of the saw, racking (pulling apart) the blade at the other. 

With a much thinner blade under tension, you don't have to worry about the blade buckling during a cut. 

There are 2 ways to tension the blade on a Frame saw.

A Turnbuckle (hemp string) twisted with a Toggle. The Toggle is then wedged behind the Stretcher to stop it unwinding.

Today you're more likely to find a long, thin metal rod with a wing nut at one or both ends. 

A frame saw is as good at cross cutting as it is rip cutting.  

One other notable advantage is its ability to start a cut in the middle of a workpiece.

Remove the blade at one end, push it through a drilled hole and re attached it to the saw. You're ready to make a cut without having to enter from the edge of the board. 
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Bahco® Bow Saw 9 All Purpose – 3/4" x 36" blade

BOW SAW - These days, a bow saw is a large metal frame with a coarse, wide blade under tension between it.

Also known as a Buck saw, it's main use is in rough work.

You'll often see a Bow saw used to cut fallen branches after a windy day. 

Not as capable as some of it's smaller cousins, the Bow Saw can make curved cuts.

They can cut upto 6 inches or so before the blade touches the wood.

The Hacksaw is a small cousin of the Bow saw.

Identical for the most part but the Hacksaw is a metal cutting saw 
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Robert Larson 540-2000 Coping Saw

COPING SAW - A smaller bow saw, used for intricate, detail work.

It is ideal for dovetail joinery, intricate curves and fretwork. Blades are less than 1/4" from tooth point to back and designed to cut on the pull stroke, under tension.

A coping saw has a turned handle rather than a grip for cutting around corners. 
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Olson Saw SF63507 Fret Saw Fret Saw, Flat Wire Frame

FRET SAW - Very much the same as a Coping Saw although the frame of a Fret saw is bigger (as much as 20").

A Fret saw will cut a much tighter radius than a coping saw.

It also has a deeper reach into the workpiece.

Blades are finer and thinner than a coping saw so a Fret saw is much more capable of fine and intricate work.

Capable of cutting metal and plastic, the Fret saw still has a place in a modern workshop.

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