So, what are the different types of power saws available, and which ones should you invest in? The best saws for your workshop are determined by the projects you’re working on.
In most circumstances, you may increase a saw’s versatility by selecting blades designed to cut through a variety of materials.
You may swap out the edges to tackle various cutting tasks. There is no universal saw that is capable of completing all tasks.
It can be challenging to sort through all of the variety and comprehend the purpose of each instrument. You need to know what saw options are available and how they’re used to select which saws are ideal for your work types.
The following are some of the most common saws:
1. Band Saw
A band saw is a floor-standing saw that functions similarly to a jigsaw but with the added convenience of a fixed table.
The blade, made up of a long, thin band of toothed metal, can be oriented vertically or horizontally and is driven by a pulley system.
Band saws can be used to cut wood, metal, or both. A band saw can cut through various materials, including PVC, in addition to wood and metal.
Furthermore, Cutting circles, curves, and irregular forms with these saws is a breeze.
Depending on the length of the band saw blade, you may be able to cut many boards at once, piled on top of each other, to generate matching curved pieces more quickly.
The edge of a vertical band saw cuts straight down, reducing the quantity of sawdust or other particles on top of the material being cut.
When you need to see a line you’ve drawn on the material to guide your cut, this feature can be helpful.
2. Chainsaw
You’re probably familiar with a chainsaw if you’ve ever had to cut down a tree. A chainsaw is a band saw that gets its name from the rotating chain of sharp teeth that runs through it.
You can use a chainsaw to trim and shape hedges in addition to cutting down trees. Wood carving is even done using chainsaws by some artisans.
There are also gas-powered chainsaws on the market and electric chainsaws. A gas-powered chainsaw has more power than an electric chainsaw and can cut through larger trees with longer bars.
They are, however, louder and heavier than electric alternatives due to the motor. Electric chainsaws are less powerful than gas chainsaws, but they are quieter and maybe more practical if you don’t have gas on hand.
3. Circular Saw
It is one of the most widely used different types of all-power hand saws. This is a powerful and productive tool built for significant amounts of work.
The gadget is an electric motor, saw blade, base plate, and protective enclosure.
Circular saws can be used for residential and industrial building and maintenance tasks. The ability to change blades depending on the materials adds to the versatility of these machines.
Furthermore, Circular tools work well with wood, laminates, and metal. Artisans use them to make oblique, longitudinal, straight cuts requiring extreme precision.
4. Track Saw
A subtype of the circular device is the so-called track (plunge) saw. They are similar in appearance, but the latter includes a unique attachment in the shape of a metal rail or track.
This little yet useful add-on makes the user’s job much more manageable. It produces smoother cuts, which is critical when working with colossal wood or metal sheets.
You can use a track to measure the necessary distance from the edge and cut it evenly. True, you can construct a DIY guide yourself if you have an excellent circular saw.
5. Jig Saw
This is one of the different types of power saws consisting of a reciprocating saw blade and an electric motor.
It includes a soleplate with a beveling feature for cutting angles up to 45 degrees to create miter joins. It can cut a variety of materials in a variety of cutting shapes.
There are two sorts of jigsaws: corded and cordless. It can be cut in various methods, including curved lines, straight cuts, plunge cuts, and bevel cuts.
Cutting curves and intricate shapes in wood using a jigsaw is a great alternative. It’s also known for making shortboard crosscuts.
6. Reciprocating Saw
This is one of the different types of power saws that is a motorized machine that uses a blade to cut the workpiece using a push and pull motion.
It features more giant blades and is built like a jigsaw puzzle. It is frequently employed in the construction, remodeling, and demolition of buildings.
A variable-speed motor powers it. Even if the nails are entrenched in the wood, they can cut through it.
Steel, aluminum, copper, and cast iron are among the metals that the saw can cut. To obtain the proper finish cut, you’ll need the right saw attachment.
Window installers, construction workers, and emergency rescue services use it the most.
7. Chop Saw
A chop saw, also known as a cut-off saw or abrasive saw is a portable saw with a circular blade that drops down, designed to cut straight lines rather than curved lines.
A chop saw can cut through a wide range of materials. Chop saw blades aren’t soothed. Instead, they use abrasives to cut through different materials.
Some blades are designed specifically for metalwork, while others are designed for masonry work. Cut-off saws, concrete saws, and abrasive saws are all names for chop saws.
Furthermore, a chop saw is massive and robust, no matter what you’re cutting. It’s one of the giant circular saws available in a portable format.
Chop saws and mitre saws are frequently compared. However, mitre saws are preferable for fine precision work. Heavy-duty applications are best suited to chop saws.
8. Mitre Saw
A compound mitre saw is a simplified variant of a mitre saw. Straight and mitre cuts are possible, but compound cuts are not. This is sufficient for many purposes, particularly for flooring projects.
A regular mitre saw like a compound mitre saw, is not portable. Instead, it’s meant to be placed on a tabletop.
A mitre saw is similar to a chop saw, but it is considered superior for clean, accurate cuts. Sliding mitre saws are a type of mitre saw. You can pull the arm forward while cutting on these models to saw through thicker materials.
Mitre saws are relatively safe and straightforward to use, regardless of your chosen model.
9. Compound Mitre saw
This is one of the different types power saws that is a more labor-intensive variation of the traditional mitre saw. Although a compound mitre saw is not a handsaw, it is portable enough to transport from job site to job site.
The circular blade is coupled to a mounted arm that may be adjusted.
This saw can make three cuts: straight, mitre, and compound. A crosscut on a board is a frequent example of a straight cut you might create using a compound mitre saw.
Angled cuts are known as mitre cuts. A typical application is bringing two parts together to make a 90-degree angle, such as baseboards or molding.
10. Tile Saw
It’s also referred to as a masonry saw. Ceramic tiles, glass tiles, granite, stones, marbles, porcelain, and clay tiles are all cut with this tool.
It can cut tiles to the desired size and form. They’re made to utilize the device in conjunction with water to keep the diamond blade cold. For angled and square cuts, the saw incorporates an adjustable fence.
For several amounts of the same size, the barrier comes to a halt. Wet tile saws and dry-cutting saws are used for different cuts. The advantage of utilizing a wet tile saw is that the blade and workpiece will not overheat, resulting in a clean cut.
11. Flooring Saw
It’s a portable tool for cutting through floor coverings. It’s a specialist tool that can replace various devices, including a jigsaw, a table saw, and other floor-laying instruments.
It stands out from other laminate flooring cutting machines because of its small size and portability. In addition, you can carry it to the room where you want to put the floor down and cut the wood there.
12. Wall Chaser
This is one of the different types of power saws that is another narrowly professional sort of saw that is utilized in the electrical and plumbing trades.
Unlike circular saws, this device’s protective case allows two discs to move simultaneously.
It lets you rapidly create a gutter in a concrete or brick wall or floor of the specified width. Because a similar technique can be conducted with other instruments if necessary, wall chasers are primarily utilized by professionals.
