Saws Complete Guide: Hand Saws, Power Saws & Cutting Solutions for Every Material

Saws cut materials efficiently and accurately across all trades. At Rock Bottom Northampton, we stock over 3,200 saws and cutting tools from leading manufacturers including DeWALT, Bahco, Makita, Starrett, and Faithfull. Based in Northampton NN4 7BF, we supply professional tradespeople with comprehensive cutting solutions for every material and application.

This guide examines hand saws, power saws, and cutting techniques that deliver clean, accurate cuts. With DeWALT providing 518 power saws, Bahco offering 336 hand saws, and Makita contributing 286 cutting products, you'll find the right saw for applications from delicate joinery to heavy structural cutting.

Hand Saws for Precision Cutting

Hand saws remain essential for detailed work where power saws prove impractical or where their precision and control cannot be matched. Understanding different hand saw types ensures you select appropriate tools for specific cutting tasks.

Panel Saws and Rip Saws

Panel saws handle general crosscutting in sheet materials and dimensional timber. Their teeth angle and size determine cutting speed and finish quality. Rip saws feature aggressive teeth designed to cut along grain efficiently, removing material quickly when dimensioning timber or cutting boards to width. Cross-cut saws use finer teeth angled to slice cleanly across grain without tearing fibers.

Tenon Saws and Back Saws

Tenon saws combine fine teeth with rigid backs, delivering accurate cuts for joinery work. The reinforced back prevents blade flexing, maintaining straight cuts through thick material. Essential for cutting tenons, dovetails, and other precision joinery. Depths range from shallow for fine work to deep for cutting thick timber. Bahco specializes in professional hand saws, with 336 products covering all cutting applications.

Japanese Pull Saws

Japanese saws cut on the pull stroke rather than push stroke, using thinner blades that resist buckling through tension rather than rigidity. This allows finer teeth cutting more accurately with less effort. Dozuki saws serve general crosscutting, ryoba saws provide rip and crosscut teeth on opposite edges, and azebiki saws cut flush to surfaces for trimming joints.

Coping Saws and Fret Saws

Coping saws handle curved cuts in thin materials, with narrow blades tensioned in C-shaped frames. Blade rotation allows cutting in any direction relative to the frame. Essential for cutting scribing joints in trim work and creating curves in thin boards. Fret saws use even finer blades for intricate scrollwork in thin materials.

Hacksaws for Metal and Plastic

Hacksaws cut metal, plastic, and other hard materials using replaceable blades with various tooth counts. High tooth counts (32 TPI) suit thin materials and provide smooth finishes. Coarse teeth (18-24 TPI) cut faster in thick materials. Junior hacksaws access tight spaces where full-size frames cannot fit.

Circular Saws and Track Saws

Circular saws represent the workhorse power saw for construction and carpentry, delivering fast, straight cuts in timber, sheet materials, and some metals.

Corded and Cordless Circular Saws

Cordless circular saws now rival corded performance while providing mobility without trailing cables or generator requirements. Modern 18V systems handle all general cutting tasks, with brushless motors delivering extended runtime and power. Corded saws still provide unlimited runtime for sustained cutting or stationary workshop use. DeWALT leads our circular saw range with over 500 products covering all power levels and applications.

Blade diameter determines maximum cutting depth. Compact 165mm saws suit general work with depths around 55mm. Standard 190mm saws cut approximately 70mm deep, handling most dimensional timber. Large 235mm models cut 85mm+ depths for structural work and heavy materials.

Track Saws for Precision Cutting

Track saws combine circular saw power with guided straightedge systems, delivering table saw accuracy in portable packages. The saw runs on aluminum tracks, maintaining perfect alignment while anti-splinter strips create tear-free cuts. Ideal for breaking down sheet materials, cutting kitchen worktops, and any application requiring ultra-accurate straight cuts. Makita provides 286 saw products including professional track saw systems.

Worm Drive Saws

Worm drive circular saws position motors behind blades rather than alongside them, creating more compact tools for working between joists or in confined spaces. The gear reduction provides high torque at lower speeds, valuable for cutting thick or difficult materials. Popular with framers and timber frame construction workers.

Reciprocating Saws for Demolition

Reciprocating saws excel at demolition, cutting in confined spaces, and working with mixed materials where blade changes allow rapid switching between wood, metal, and specialist applications.

Powerful motors drive blades in reciprocating motion, cutting through virtually any material with appropriate blade selection. Adjustable shoes position blades for optimal cutting angle and depth. Tool-free blade changes speed switching between applications. Variable speed control matches cutting speed to material—slower speeds suit metal cutting, higher speeds tackle wood demolition.

Cordless reciprocating saws provide mobility for overhead work, cutting in awkward positions, and site work without power access. Corded models deliver sustained power for heavy demolition or production cutting. Orbital action options add cutting aggression for faster wood cutting while straight reciprocation suits metal and controlled cutting.

Jigsaws for Curves and Cutouts

Jigsaws cut curves, internal cutouts, and detailed shapes impossible for other power saws. Narrow blades reciprocate vertically, following curves while the saw base maintains surface contact.

Orbital action swings blades forward on upstrokes, increasing cutting speed in wood. Straight action delivers smoother cuts in metal and plastics. Variable speed allows matching saw performance to material—slower speeds for metal, higher speeds for wood. Scrolling bases rotate to follow tight curves without turning the entire saw body.

Blade changes vary from tool-required systems to tool-free mechanisms. Tool-free systems speed blade changes but may not grip as securely as bolted systems. Dust blowers keep cutting lines visible by clearing sawdust. LED lights illuminate dark cutting areas improving accuracy and safety.

Mitre Saws for Angle Cutting

Mitre saws create precise crosscuts and angle cuts for trim work, picture framing, and joinery. Blades pivot on arms allowing angled cuts from 0 to 45 degrees (typically) in both directions.

Compound mitre saws tilt blades for compound angles needed in crown molding installation and complex joinery. Sliding mitre saws extend cutting capacity for wider boards while maintaining portability superior to table saws. Laser guides project cutting lines onto workpieces improving accuracy, though they require periodic alignment checking.

Blade diameter affects cutting capacity—210mm saws suit trim work, 250mm models handle larger mouldings, and 305mm saws cut thick structural timber. Depth stops allow repeat cuts to consistent depths. Fences ensure square cuts and can be adjusted for bevel cutting.

Specialist Saws and Cutting Tools

Tile Saws

Tile saws use diamond blades and water cooling for clean cuts in ceramic, porcelain, and stone tiles. Wet cutting prevents dust while cooling blades. Table saws keep tiles stationary while blades move, ideal for straight cuts. Bridge saws move over stationary tiles, better for large format tiles. Handheld tile cutters with diamond blades tackle site cutting and notching.

Masonry Saws

Masonry saws tackle brick, block, and stone with abrasive or diamond blades. Petrol-powered saws provide site mobility for cutting paving, kerbs, and structural masonry. Electric models suit workshop cutting or areas with power access. Proper blade selection matches material—abrasive blades suit general masonry, diamond blades handle hard materials and deliver longer life.

Band Saws

Band saws use continuous loop blades running on wheels, ideal for resawing thick timber, cutting curves in heavy materials, and dimensioning operations. Throat depth determines maximum cutting width. Blade guides above and below work maintain accuracy. Variable speed allows matching blade speed to material and blade width.

Table Saws

Table saws provide ultimate accuracy for sheet material cutting and ripping operations. Workpieces feed across stationary blades with fences ensuring parallel cuts and mitre gauges guiding crosscuts. Site saws balance portability with capacity. Cabinet saws deliver workshop accuracy with heavy construction. Contractor saws compromise between portability and capability.

Saw Blades and Cutting Performance

Blade quality affects cutting performance as much as saw quality. TCT (tungsten carbide tipped) blades maintain sharpness far longer than standard steel blades, justifying higher initial costs through extended life and better cuts. Starrett provides 320 professional blades in our range covering all cutting applications.

Tooth count determines cut quality and speed. Fewer teeth (24-40 for circular saws) cut faster but rougher, suitable for structural work and rough cutting. More teeth (60-80+) deliver smooth finishes for visible edges and fine joinery. Tooth configuration affects cutting characteristics—alternate top bevel (ATB) teeth slice cleanly across grain, triple chip grinds (TCG) handle abrasive materials, and flat top grinds (FTG) rip efficiently along grain.

Blade diameter must match saw specifications—oversized blades create safety hazards and may not fit guards, undersized blades reduce cutting depth and may run at incorrect speeds. Arbor size (shaft diameter) must match saw spindles. Kerf (blade thickness) affects power requirements—thin kerf blades demand less power but provide less rigidity.

Reciprocating Saw Blades

Reciprocating saw blade selection determines what materials can be cut. Wood blades feature aggressive teeth for fast cutting in construction lumber and demolition work. Metal blades use fine teeth for controlled cutting in steel, aluminum, and other metals. Bi-metal blades combine flexible bodies with hard teeth, resisting breakage while maintaining sharpness.

Blade length matches cutting depth requirements—longer blades reach deeper but flex more. TPI (teeth per inch) follows similar rules to other saws—coarse for fast wood cutting, fine for smooth metal cuts. Specialized blades handle masonry, plastics, and composite materials requiring specific tooth geometries or abrasive coatings.

Cutting Techniques and Safety

Proper technique ensures safe, accurate cutting regardless of saw type. Support work pieces properly preventing binding or kickback. Circular saws require supporting both sides of cuts in sheet materials. Offcuts must be able to fall away freely without pinching blades.

Mark cutting lines clearly and position saws accurately before starting cuts. For circular saws, sight along blade slots in base plates or use edge guides for straight cuts. Track saws eliminate guesswork through guided systems. Allow blades to reach full speed before contacting material—starting cuts under load strains motors and can cause kickback.

Personal protective equipment includes safety glasses preventing eye injuries from chips and sawdust. Hearing protection reduces noise exposure from power saws. Dust masks prevent inhalation of wood dust and other particles. Appropriate clothing avoids loose material catching in moving parts.

Why Buy Saws from Rock Bottom Northampton

We stock over 3,200 saws and cutting tools from leading manufacturers including DeWALT (518 power saws), Bahco (336 hand saws), Starrett (320 professional blades), Makita (286 saws), Faithfull (282 cutting products), and IRWIN (235 saw products). This comprehensive range covers all cutting requirements for professional trades and serious DIY work.

Our competitive pricing makes quality cutting tools accessible without compromising performance or safety. Trade professionals benefit from bulk purchase options on consumable items like saw blades. Free click and collect service provides immediate availability when projects cannot wait for delivery.

Expert advice helps you select appropriate saws and blades for specific applications. Our staff understand cutting techniques, blade selection, and proper equipment use. We can recommend suitable products and explain proper techniques ensuring successful cutting results.

Shop Saws at Rock Bottom Northampton

Visit our Queensbridge showroom in Northampton NN4 7BF to see our saw range and discuss your requirements with knowledgeable staff. We can advise on saw selection, blade types, and accessories appropriate for your specific applications.

For construction firms and joinery workshops requiring regular saw supplies, contact us about trade pricing and account options. We supply cutting tools and consumables to professionals across Northampton and surrounding areas.

Contact Rock Bottom Northampton

Rock Bottom Northampton Ltd
Artisans' House
7 Queensbridge
Northampton
NN4 7BF

Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 9:00am – 5:00pm
Saturday: 9:00am – 1:00pm
Sunday & Bank Holidays: Closed

Phone: 01604 720272
Email: sales@rockbottomnorthampton.co.uk
Web: www.rockbottomnorthampton.co.uk

From hand saws to professional power saws, Rock Bottom Northampton provides the cutting tools that deliver clean, accurate cuts in all materials. Quality products at competitive prices, with expert advice supporting successful cutting operations.