Introduction to the Handsaw – What you need to know

When you want to make cuts, especially in wood, you should make use of the saw. It is a tool that has a toothed and trapezoidal blade and is handled with a wooden or plastic handle that is located at the widest end of the edge and has the proper shape for proper handling.

The traditional shape of the handle is that of a ring, which is easily molded by hand. The cutting blade is wide in the grip, and as it advances, it becomes thinner, with the same size of teeth from beginning to end.

Parts of a Handsaw

  • Cutting edge: It is the part where the teeth are observed in the form of tips with different measures and inclinations depending on the type of saw used. The edges of the teeth are sharpened appropriately for cutting.
  • Channels: This is the name given to the empty space generated by the distance between teeth. Its primary function is to let out the sawdust produced in the cutting task.
  • Notch: This is the mark or cutting line that the blade makes when the cut is formed in the wood.
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    Pistol: This is the name given to the traditional wooden handle.
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    Closed Wooden Handle: Helps to have better resistance, thanks to its shape. It also provides better handling of the cut.
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    Closed Plastic Handle: In addition to the above advantages, they are more economical, and some are designed in a particular way that they can be used, together with the blade, as heel squares.
Different types of saws

Types of Handsaws

  • Universal Saw: It is made up of a long, flexible, toothed metal blade and a handle to be able to grasp it firmly. Although the blade is flexible, because it is full, it is used primarily for straight cuts. There are specialized saws for cutting logs, cutting solid wood or cutting manufactured boards. The latter has a finer serration for a clean cut.
  • Point or Needle Saw: it is known for its narrow blade and is indicated for curved and straight cuts, and also to be able to make internal cuts. This means that if you want to make a cut inside a board, this saw is the right one.
  • Rib Saw: with this saw precision cuts are made since its blade is thinner compared to the previous types. So that it is not so flexible, it is endowed with a superior reinforcement so that the cut will be perfectly straight.

Uses of the Handsaw

The primary purpose is the cutting of wood and in some cases other materials. The higher the number of teeth per centimeter, the more delicate the cut will be, although it will take longer to make it. The choice of these characteristics will be according to the type of cut to be made.

Each type of saw has a specific use, depending on the depth and variety of cut desired. For example, the rib saw cannot make cuts as deep as the other two types.

Last Updated on March 18, 2021 by Nelson

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