Wookworking table saw blades

UNIVERSAL BLADE

CROSS-CUT BLADE

↘
      Slot allows
      blade to
      expand
      when heated
    

RIP BLADE

 ←Table-saw blades
A range of blades is
available for use with
the table saw and you
should always use the
correct blade for each
type of cut

Woodworking table saw

Consisting of a flat table through which a rotary saw blade protrudes, the table saw is the workhorse of the workshop. Mainly used for cutting solid timbers and flat boards, the size of the machine is defined by the size of the blade. A typical has a diameter of 10-17 11/16in (250-450mm); the larger the blade, the deeper the cut it can make. A basic modern table saw has a side fence for guiding the workpiece and a blade that can be raised, lowered, or tilted. Most models have a sliding table which, combined with a tiltable blade, enable the woodworker to cut compound angles.

 ←Table saw
Designed to make straight
cuts in large pieces of
wood and manufactured
boards, it is advisable to
use a push stick to feed
the workpiece toward the
blade. The saw should also
be connected to an efficient
dust-extraction system.

Woodworking jigsaw

                                                          Jigsaws→     Slower than other handheld power saws, jigsaws are best suited for cutting boards and thin sections of timber. Due to the narrow sizes of the blades used, jigsaws can be used to cut curves as well as to make straight cuts. The blades of basic machines move straight up and down. However, jigsaws with an orbital or pendulum action cut into the work on the upstroke and away from it on the downstroke. This back-and-forth swinging action aids in chip removal.You can adjust the extent of the pendulum action to get the desired result.

Woodworking circular saw

Three types of saws are available: circular saws, jigsaws, and reciprocating saws, although the latter is more suited to DIY tasks than woodwork. Circular saws and jigsaws can perform most of the jobs that do not require more heavy-duty machine saws, such as table saw (see opposite) and band saws. Both are ideal for carpentry work and cutting timber and manufactured boards to a rough size prior to machining or trimming with a plane or router. Power saws can be either corded or battered-powered.

← Circular saws
There are two types of circular saw. The first type has a sole plate that is set to the desired depth and fixed before use; this type of saw is fed into the the work from the edge. The second type has an adjustable sole plate. As the saw is lowered, the base plate stops moving once the blade reaches the preset depth. This type of saw perform plunging cuts as well as standard cuts.

Woodworking saw teeth

Saw teeth are designed to enable the saw to perform certain tasks. Panel-saw teeth have an edge that is square to the blade, which acts like a chisel to chop the grain and prevent clogging. The teeth of cross-cut saws are sharpened to a point, helping them to slice the grain. The three exposed sides of Japanese saw teeth are all sharp and produce a neat, slicing cut. All saw teeth have a certain amount of "set" (the amount by which the teeth are bent). Teeth along a blade are measured in points per inch (PPI)-the larger the PPI, the finer the cut, but the longer it will take.

JAPANESE CROSS-CUT SAW TEETH

CROSS-CUT SAW TEETH

Woodworking coping saw

When performing tricky tasks, such as cutting curves or removing waste from joints. such as dovetails. A coping saw is indispensable. The blade is thin and narrow, which is similar to a coping saw but has a finer blade, for intricate fretwork in thin board or veneer.

 ←Fitting the blade
 The blade of a coping
saw must be fitted in the
frame so that the teeth cut
on the pull stroke. If fitted
with the teeth pointing the
                                                      wrong way, it might break.
               

Woodworking japanese saw

The blades of Japanese saws are designed to cut on the pull stroke, and are much thinner than their Western counterparts. The blades are kept steady by the pulling action, unlike those of Western saws. which depend on their their thickness to prevent bending. The teeth of Japanese saws are sharp on all sides, which results in a clean, slicing cut.

                                                Blade stiffened
                                                with steel spine
                                                ↓

←Small Japanese back saw
Similar to the dovetail saw, the Japanese back saw produces very accurate cuts for fine joinery.

Woodworking back saw

Back saws are used primarily for cutting tenons, the back saw gets its name from the piece of folded, or cast, metal that runs along its back edge, supporting the blade. This heavy metal spine keeps the saw steady when cutting through wood, but limits the depth of your cut. Back saws have smaller teeth than panel saws, which results in a finer cut but at a slower pace. There are two types of back saw: the tenon saw and the dovetail saw.

Large tenon saw↑
The large tenon saw has a long blade that cuts deep joints with ease. It has around 11 points, or teeth, per inch (or 4 per centimeter). Its larger size makes it slightly harder to handle than a small tenon saw.

Dovetail saw↑
Similar appearance to a tenon saw, the dovetail saw is smaller with more teeth approximately 18 per inch (7 per centimeter). These produce the fine cuts useful for cutting joints.


 

Woodworking panel saw

Panel saws are among the most commonly used of all saws. They have a long. flexible blade and are ideal for cutting boards and panels, as well as for ripping or cross-cutting solid timber (see below). Good-quality panel saws have blades that are ground to a taper to ease sawing.

Panel saws teeth are angled and the blade is thin and flexible. A typical panel saw has a large handle and a blade deep enough to allow repeated re-sharpening.