Cutting Tools

5 min read

Handsaws

Handsaws are manual cutting tools that use a toothed blade and physical effort to cut wood, metal, or other materials without a power source.

Tool	Used for
Crosscut saw	Cutting boards and lumber to length. Designed to cut across the grain of wood with alternating teeth.
Rip saw	Ripping boards into narrower pieces during woodworking. Designed to cut parallel to the wood grain.
Coping saw	Cutting intricate shapes in wood, plastic, and soft metals. Designed for detailed curved cuts.
Miter box and backsaw	Cutting trim, molding, and other materials at accurate angles. The miter box guides the backsaw to make precise angled cuts.
Hacksaw	Cutting metal pipes, rods, bolts, and tubing. Designed specifically for cutting metal.

Power saws use a motor to drive the blade, allowing for faster and more efficient cuts than a handsaw.

Tool	Used for
Miter saw	Cutting trim, framing lumber, and boards to precise lengths and angles. Designed to make fast, accurate crosscuts and angled cuts.
Circular saw	Cutting plywood, dimensional lumber, and other building materials. Designed to be handheld, with a rotating circular blade for straight cuts.
Band saw	Cutting curves, irregular shapes, and resawing wood or metal. Designed to be stationary, with a continuous loop blade for smooth, controlled cuts.
Reciprocating saw	Demolition, remodeling, and cutting through wood, metal, or piping. Designed to be handheld, with a blade that moves back and forth.
Jigsaw	Cutting curves, circles, and intricate shapes in wood, plastic, and thin metal. Designed to be handheld, with a narrow reciprocating blade for detailed work.

Accessories like jigs don’t cut on their own — they guide a blade or tool along a fixed path for more accurate, repeatable cuts.

Tool	Used for
Jigs	Provides guidance for a blade or tool to follow a specific cutting path.

Not every cutting job calls for a saw — these tools use shearing, chopping, or leverage to cut wire, bolts, chains, and wood.

Tool	Used for
Bolt cutters	Specialized heavy-duty cutters designed for cutting metal bolts, chains, and rods.
Wire cutters and strippers	Specialized tools used to cut wire and remove insulation from electrical wires.
Axes	Chopping, splitting wood, and demolition work.

Sidenote

Leverage

Longer handles provide greater leverage, making it easier to cut tough materials.

Handsaws are manual cutting tools that use a toothed blade and physical effort to cut wood, metal, or other materials without a power source.

Tool	Used for
Crosscut saw	Cutting boards and lumber to length. Designed to cut across the grain of wood with alternating teeth.
Rip saw	Ripping boards into narrower pieces during woodworking. Designed to cut parallel to the wood grain.
Coping saw	Cutting intricate shapes in wood, plastic, and soft metals. Designed for detailed curved cuts.
Miter box and backsaw	Cutting trim, molding, and other materials at accurate angles. The miter box guides the backsaw to make precise angled cuts.
Hacksaw	Cutting metal pipes, rods, bolts, and tubing. Designed specifically for cutting metal.

Power saws use a motor to drive the blade, allowing for faster and more efficient cuts than a handsaw.

Tool	Used for
Miter saw	Cutting trim, framing lumber, and boards to precise lengths and angles. Designed to make fast, accurate crosscuts and angled cuts.
Circular saw	Cutting plywood, dimensional lumber, and other building materials. Designed to be handheld, with a rotating circular blade for straight cuts.
Band saw	Cutting curves, irregular shapes, and resawing wood or metal. Designed to be stationary, with a continuous loop blade for smooth, controlled cuts.
Reciprocating saw	Demolition, remodeling, and cutting through wood, metal, or piping. Designed to be handheld, with a blade that moves back and forth.
Jigsaw	Cutting curves, circles, and intricate shapes in wood, plastic, and thin metal. Designed to be handheld, with a narrow reciprocating blade for detailed work.

Accessories like jigs don’t cut on their own — they guide a blade or tool along a fixed path for more accurate, repeatable cuts.

Tool	Used for
Jigs	Provides guidance for a blade or tool to follow a specific cutting path.

Not every cutting job calls for a saw — these tools use shearing, chopping, or leverage to cut wire, bolts, chains, and wood.

Tool	Used for
Bolt cutters	Specialized heavy-duty cutters designed for cutting metal bolts, chains, and rods.
Wire cutters and strippers	Specialized tools used to cut wire and remove insulation from electrical wires.
Axes	Chopping, splitting wood, and demolition work.

Sidenote

Leverage

Longer handles provide greater leverage, making it easier to cut tough materials.

Handsaws are manual cutting tools that use a toothed blade and physical effort to cut wood, metal, or other materials without a power source.

Tool	Used for
Crosscut saw	Cutting boards and lumber to length. Designed to cut across the grain of wood with alternating teeth.
Rip saw	Ripping boards into narrower pieces during woodworking. Designed to cut parallel to the wood grain.
Coping saw	Cutting intricate shapes in wood, plastic, and soft metals. Designed for detailed curved cuts.
Miter box and backsaw	Cutting trim, molding, and other materials at accurate angles. The miter box guides the backsaw to make precise angled cuts.
Hacksaw	Cutting metal pipes, rods, bolts, and tubing. Designed specifically for cutting metal.

Power saws use a motor to drive the blade, allowing for faster and more efficient cuts than a handsaw.

Tool	Used for
Miter saw	Cutting trim, framing lumber, and boards to precise lengths and angles. Designed to make fast, accurate crosscuts and angled cuts.
Circular saw	Cutting plywood, dimensional lumber, and other building materials. Designed to be handheld, with a rotating circular blade for straight cuts.
Band saw	Cutting curves, irregular shapes, and resawing wood or metal. Designed to be stationary, with a continuous loop blade for smooth, controlled cuts.
Reciprocating saw	Demolition, remodeling, and cutting through wood, metal, or piping. Designed to be handheld, with a blade that moves back and forth.
Jigsaw	Cutting curves, circles, and intricate shapes in wood, plastic, and thin metal. Designed to be handheld, with a narrow reciprocating blade for detailed work.

Accessories like jigs don’t cut on their own — they guide a blade or tool along a fixed path for more accurate, repeatable cuts.

Tool	Used for
Jigs	Provides guidance for a blade or tool to follow a specific cutting path.

Not every cutting job calls for a saw — these tools use shearing, chopping, or leverage to cut wire, bolts, chains, and wood.

Tool	Used for
Bolt cutters	Specialized heavy-duty cutters designed for cutting metal bolts, chains, and rods.
Wire cutters and strippers	Specialized tools used to cut wire and remove insulation from electrical wires.
Axes	Chopping, splitting wood, and demolition work.

Sidenote

Leverage

Longer handles provide greater leverage, making it easier to cut tough materials.