8 Kinds of Hand Saws for Woodworking

Hand saws have been around for hundreds of years. They not only survived the invention of the router but the improved quality and variety of saws have meant today’s woodworker can’t stop at just one.

There is an array of hand saws to choose from and if you delve into a range of different woodworking projects, you will need a few. Here we look at how they differ from each other and what they’re all designed to do.

Tenon Saw

Also known as a back saw, the tenon saw makes fine cuts needed for joinery work. At the top of the blade is a stiff spine which adds weight and keeps it straight. The added weight means you only need to guide the saw through the wood.

Mitre Saw

If you need to cut an angle or fine mouldings, the mitre saw is your go-to saw. The blade is wide and tensioned with hardened teeth to slide within a carriage. Set any angle to cut between 45 and 90 degrees.

Dovetail Saw

A small back saw which is suited to cutting joints including dovetails. With rip tooth sets, the saw is designed for cutting along the grain for delicate, precise cuts such as dovetail pins. Similar to a tenon saw with its stiff spine, the dovetail has a thinner blade and more teeth per inch than the tenon. Most dovetail saws cut on the push stroke but some will cut on both the push and pull stroke.

Gent’s Saw

Another backsaw the gent’s is shorter and smaller than others. With cross-cut or rip set teeth, the gent’s saw is suitable for the small-scale model and fine joinery work. Also known as ‘right-angled tenon saw’ they are similar to dovetail and tenon saws but have a longer blade and straight handle.

Japanese Saw

Precision cuts in both hard and soft wood, Japanese saws are pull stroke saws made of thin steel. The blade cuts faster with less sawdust. There is less effort needed than a Western-style saw, and therefore smoother, more accurate cuts are achieved. Three main types of Japanese saws are Dozuki, Fugaku and Kataba.

Veneer Saw

With teeth pointing towards the handle and a curved, narrow blade, the veneer saw is designed for cutting thin hardwood veneer. The blade has teeth on both sides and cuts on the pull stroke.

Flush Cut Saw

Similar to a veneer saw the flush cut saw is designed to cut the ends of dowel or tenon flush to the surrounding surface. The teeth have no side set so they won’t mar the surrounding surface and the blade can flex and bend to get in for the closest cut possible.

Carcass Saw

Designed to cut across the grain to cut tenon shoulders and to define the edges of a dado, the carcass saw is complementary to the dovetail saw. The handle is designed for the middle, ring and little fingers to wrap around the handle while the forefinger points along the spine for the best control. Rip and crosscut versions are available.

If you are unsure which is the best saw for your woodworking project, check out this range of high-quality hand saws.