Are you looking for the perfect saw for dad for Father’s Day?  Read on to find out exactly what type he might need!

You might be surprised by how many varieties of saws there are. Wikipedia lists 24 types of hand saws, seven types of backsaws, nine varieties of frame saws, nine kinds of mechanically powered saws, seven types of reciprocating saws, two types of chainsaws, along with a continuous band saw. That’s a large number of saws to get your head around. The average DIY enthusiast, however, needs just a small selection of these for most tasks they are likely to encounter from laying bamboo flooring to felling a tree. Here we will look at the seven most popular saws and what their uses.

Traditional Handsaw

A traditional handsaw is an essential item in every DIYer’s toolbox. Different jobs require different types of handsaws:

• Rip saws are used to cut wood lengthwise along the grain. They have large angled teeth, typically five teeth per inch (TPI).
• Crosscut handsaws are used for cutting across the grain and have smaller teeth, typically 10 to 12 TPI.
• Dual-cut saws can do both jobs and typically have 6 to 8 TPI.

Making a perfect cut with a handsaw takes some practice.

Hacksaw

Used mainly for cutting metal, hacksaws use thin interchangeable blades with up to 32 TPI. While a hacksaw can cut sheet metal and pipes, it is also useful for cutting PVC and other plastics. The blades are attached to the saw by positioning their holes over the studs on the saw body and tightening a tensioning nut until the blade is held rigidly.

Various blade forms are available:

• In standard blades for cutting metal and plastics alternative teeth face in opposite directions
• Blades for cutting thin metal have a wave pattern
• Ideal for cutting pipes, raker blades have three sets of teeth with spaces in-between

Coping Saw

A coping saw is a lightweight U-shaped saw for cutting intricate shapes. It uses thin blades with the teeth pointing towards the handle, the opposite of a hacksaw. Blades are typically 10 to 32 TPI.

As the blade is thin, it is easy to cut bends and corners.

Jigsaw

A jigsaw is a power-tool with an electric motor and reciprocating saw blade. An essential item in every DIYer’s artillery, it is excellent for cutting straight edges and curves. The shoe of the tool sits on the surface of the material to be cut and usually can be angled relative to the blade for cutting miters and other angled sections.

Many kinds of blades are available for cutting metal, wood, laminate, and other materials. Different woods require different kinds of blades, for instance, bamboo flooring requires very strong saw blades.

Some options are:

• Blade material – high carbon steel for general purpose cutting; high-speed steel for hardwoods and metal; bi-metal which combine the properties of the first two; and tungsten carbide which are tough, heat resistant and ideal for cutting steel and ceramics.
• TPI – low TPI for fast rough cutting of wood, high TPI for smooth creating a finish.

Circular Saw

A power-tool with an electric motor and partially enclosed circular blade used to cut straight edges in wood, metal, and many other materials. It may be hand-held or mounted on a workbench. Usually, the depth of cut can be varied. It takes a little practice to get used to, so here are some tips to help.

Many different sizes are available typically from 4 to 12 inches. While most saw blades use teeth on the edge of the metal blade for cutting, some abrade the material to be cut. Abrasive blades are made from hard materials, have a hard coating, or are impregnated with hard materials such as diamond.

Miter Saw

A miter (or mitre) saw is used for making precision angled cuts such as mitered joints. The saw, which may be a handheld or circular saw, is mounted on a pivoting arm and the material to be cut is accurately positioned and firmly held below.

There are several various kinds of miter saws. One variant is the compound miter which can also tilt to produce slanted as well as angled cuts.  

Chain Saw

Ideal for cutting trees and branches, the chainsaw is a portable saw with teeth attached to a rotating chain. Powered by either an electric motor or two-stroke engine, the saw is powerful and dangerous for the untrained user. It is important to understand how to use a chainsaw safely, for instance, it is recommended that you always wear protective clothing when using one.