Saws: what is it, types and choice

The saw is one of the most ancient hand tools, without which it is impossible to imagine cutting wood, as well as many other modern sheet materials. At the same time, today such a device, due to a significant increase in the variety of materials available for processing, has become so diverse that you do not always recognize a saw in an unknown unit.

A hand tool, whose blade was originally made of flint, first appeared in the 7th millennium BC. With the development of metal smelting, that version of the hand saw appeared, which everyone has probably seen - it does not need an introduction. However, today there are quite a few varieties of this tool with a specific structure, and they are united only by the fact that, unlike a knife and most other cutting devices, they usually do not have a solid point, but consist of numerous teeth or cutters of a different type. Usually their shape resembles an elongated classic saw, but the same circular pattern assumes their circular arrangement on a special replaceable disc.

True, there are also toothless models that use diamond sputtering on a standard "knife" point.

In addition to the familiar carpentry manual hacksaw, there are a lot of other types of sawing tools that differ in appearance, principle of operation and purpose, and most of them are electric. Let's consider at least the most basic ones.

The saber saw is one of the most popular today, because it is universal, allowing you to perform different types of sawing. Its working part, as the name implies, looks like an ordinary saber, and an electric motor makes it move back and forth at a significant speed. This type of tool is suitable for both home use and industrial use.

A circular, or circular, saw is used mainly for cutting wood, but there are special models with the ability to cut thin sheet metal, tiles and some other materials. Sawing is performed by a replaceable round nozzle in the form of a disk, which is selected each time in accordance with the material to be cut. The cutting disc is covered with teeth on all sides at regular intervals, cutting is carried out thanks to the rapid rotation of such a nozzle, and therefore the tool does not require energy during the reverse stroke of the saw - the latter is simply not there.

The chain saw can be powered both by an electric motor, which is still relatively rare, and by a gasoline engine. The name of the tool explains the principle of its operation - here sawing is performed not by a toothed blade, but by a metal chain, which rotates at high speed around an elongated body, somewhat imitating a mechanical hand saw.It is this version of the unit that is most convenient for coarse cutting of thick wood, therefore, trees are often felling with the help of chainsaws. An additional plus is that this tool in many cases runs on gasoline, that is, it is independent of the outlet, which allows it to be used in a forest, far from civilization.

A frame saw is a tool that can be used only on a professional sawmill, but such an enterprise certainly will not do without it. As the name suggests, such a device requires a frame, while the frame saw itself resembles a jigsaw file, only multiplied in size. Such a blade is fixed in a vertical position, and its dimensions allow you to saw an array of wood of almost any thickness - it is usually used for cutting whole trunks.

A radial arm saw can be considered a type of circular saw, since a saw blade is also used as a replaceable cutting attachment, but it is much more multifunctional. In fact, this is not even a tool, but a small machine, since the unit is either installed on the table, or is initially completed with it, although if necessary it can even be fixed on the wall. A key feature of the fixture is its ability to rotate the saw blade, which allows cutting at different angles, providing a combined result when sawing wood.

Vibrating saws are not found in their pure form today - more precisely, manufacturers do not call them that, preferring to focus on the multifunctionality of the device in question. Such a unit is often called an electric chisel, since it knows how to perform the functions of its manual counterpart, but in a good design. Such a unit is more often used as a simultaneous alternative to a grinder, grinder and jigsaw. The advantage of this tool is precisely its versatility, since it, being able to perform different functions, simply cannot be limited to any one material - with its help they cut both wood and metal, replacing nozzles in a timely manner.

A miter saw with a broach is often also called an angle cutter, which largely explains the scope of application of such a tool. The use of the unit is possible only for very specific tasks, consisting in cutting off the material at a strictly specified angle without the slightest deviation. Interchangeable attachments make the choice of material for cutting almost unlimited - such a device cuts wood and plastic, aluminum and polyurethane, laminate and hardboard. A feature of crosscutting is its ability to make a very precise and accurate cut, and therefore it is used even for processing very thin parts like slats or skirting boards.

In terms of the set of tasks performed, a precision saw is very similar to the above-described miter saw, however, it assumes a slightly different scheme for performing the task. The exact angle in this case is usually set using the built-in aluminum miter box. The unit allows the possibility of an oblique cut both in the vertical and in the horizontal plane. The additional rigidity required for the stable position of the clamped workpiece is provided by the robust frame design of the body.

Stone saws are usually classified as a separate category., since it is this material for cutting that is the hardest, and therefore the bulk of the sawing tool is not suitable for solving such tasks.

In many cases, a novice consumer who does not have much experience with saws from different manufacturers prefers to navigate the market by familiar names of manufacturers. Since saws are judged solely on their own performance and quality, without any additional characteristics, focusing on brands proven by millions makes sense - professionals cannot be wrong about why they buy such a tool.

If the consumer understands that good quality is not worth sparing money, then pay attention first of all to products manufactured in the Western world - for example, by brands such as Bosch, Makita, DeWalt. In their case, the cost, which really turns out to be quite high, is due to the good build quality and reliable materials. Large world-famous manufacturers have been working on their own reputation for decades, so they simply cannot afford to destroy it by releasing low-quality products.

Domestic brands have similar advantages in terms of proximity to service centers - for example, Zubr or Interskol. Moreover, due to the relatively low exports, the products of domestic companies are focused mainly on the domestic consumer, therefore service centers are much more common. Due to the proximity of the manufacturer and the relatively low salaries in Russian production, such equipment is usually cheaper, and even more, it can be adapted to our conditions - for example, it is easier to endure severe frosts. At the same time, one should not forget that Russian saws, although they are quite good, never reach the level of products of world brands, and in the case of little-known companies, they may even turn out to be a waste of money.

As for the saws of Chinese production, which have flooded the world market in recent decades, then everything is completely ambiguous here. Our consumer is accustomed to the fact that Chinese goods usually do not shine with high quality, but they also cost a penny, which makes the buyer still not pass by.

At the same time, it must be admitted that In recent years, the Chinese have learned to produce good products, especially since the production of many famous brands is still located in China. The problem is that famous saws, even those made in China, are priced like Western ones, and local brands are often short-lived and do not really care about the recognition of their trademark, which makes it difficult to choose an inexpensive but good saw.

Separately, it should be noted that specific industrial types of saws can be produced by special companies, whose names will not say anything to a common man in general. This is due to the fact that these firms are not engaged in the production of anything else, but due to the small market size, they may have virtually no competitors.

The choice of a specific type of saw, as seen above, depends on what tasks need to be solved with its help, since different categories of such a tool are far from always interchangeable. For this reason, we will focus on some other criteria.

When choosing an electric saw, pay attention to the power source. Let's make a reservation right away that saws that do not use electricity are rare today, and we are talking either about a low-power hand tool, or about a gasoline one - with high power, but a characteristic smell and a deafening roar. As for electrical units, they are usually powered either from the mains or from a battery. Networked desktop models always deliver more power, in the conditions of daily work in the workshop, they will be the priority. Cordless saws are somewhat limited in range, they are designed with an eye to mobility, therefore they cannot be large. Their use is most convenient outside the workshop - directly on site.

When choosing a rechargeable model, please note that there are different types of batteries. Previously, nickel-cadmium batteries were actively used, which were resistant to low temperatures, but today their use has declined due to the fact that they are heavy and require regular full discharges before charging, without which they quickly reduce the maximum charge volume. Nickel-metal hydride batteries are an improved version of nickel-cadmium, all the disadvantages of their predecessor are somewhat reduced, and yet they are all more or less pronounced, and the cost has become higher. Modern lithium-ion batteries can be charged at any time, they are relatively light and less harmful to the environment, but the problem is their increased cost, as well as an accelerated discharge process in the cold.

Considering all of the above, many manufacturers complete their cordless saws with two different types of batteries at once.

A saw is a potentially traumatic tool, therefore its operation should always be carried out in strict accordance with the instructions. The latter must be read carefully and completely before starting the device for the first time. Particular attention should be paid to safety issues - the recommendations given should be heeded with utmost care.

To avoid premature failure of the device, it is necessary to understand how it is adjusted.

For each individual case, you need to specifically set the settings if the model assumes multifunctionality. The adjustment is always carried out with the engine off; it is strictly forbidden to make any changes to the work directly during its execution.

Most manufacturers are categorically opposed to "amateur" repairs, and they are right - inept intervention can harm even more. Even if you know how, remember that opening the cover yourself will void the factory warranty for the unit.

Each saw has its own peculiarities of work, therefore it is not always possible to immediately and accurately determine why the tool is junk. However, let's consider a few of the main problems when working with such units.

Many owners are confused by the fact that the tool heats up during operation. It is impossible to completely avoid this - the working surface heats up from friction first of all, and if the unit works for a long time, then the heating can spread to the engine. Expensive instruments have a cooling system that partially compensates for the problem, while cheap ones simply need to be turned off periodically to avoid overheating as a normal phenomenon.

Chainsaws often stall when you press the gas and do not start, but this problem is not so easy to solve - there can be quite a lot of potential reasons. In some cases, the problem is solved by simply replacing gasoline with a better one - this is usually the place where it is advised to start diagnostics. Oil is also important (it is advisable to use what the manufacturer recommended), in addition, both liquids should not be stored for too long before use.

Sometimes the mixture fills a candle during operation - it is quite easy to check this, and if the suspicion is confirmed, the latter must be dried in the fresh air for about half an hour, after draining excess fuel. If even this did not help, then the reason may lie in the absence of a spark - then either the candle does not contact the wire, or the electronic ignition unit has broken.

The breakdown may also consist in the clogging of the air filter, due to which the fuel-air mixture is not formed correctly.

In fact, the problem is so global that theoretically it could be caused by the failure of absolutely any part of the motor. Numerous reviews show that inept attempts to disassemble the engine and repair it without appropriate knowledge only make it worse, therefore, if possible, contact the service center, and do not repair the unit yourself.

For an overview of one of the saw models, see the following video.