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Hand Saws - there are three main types, all looking like the one above. They have a long flexible blade a wooden handle and teeth of varying sizes. If you are cutting down the grain (ripping) the teeth are large and it is called a rip saw. If you are cutting across planks the teeth are smaller (less splintering) and it is called a cross-cut saw. If you are cutting panels and cannot afford any splintering you use one with even smaller teeth called a panel saw. Remember they all look alike but the teeth are different sizes.

Two other types of saw which look similar are the tenon saw and the dovetail saw. They both have a  stiff back (usually brass) and are used for cutting tenon joints or dovetail joints. Once again the size of teeth are

different, the dovetail saw being finer because the joints generally need to be more accurately cut. These saws cannot cut timber to a greater depth than about 100mm because the stiff back is thicker than the blade.

If you want to cut curves you need a coping saw. This has a thin blade which can be replaced, and a thin frame to allow a depth of cut up to about 150mm. The blade can be rotated to put the frame in an easier position and the thin blade allows you to cut round corners. To cut a shape in the middle of a piece of wood you first drill a hole and pass the blade through it.

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