
Saws
Here you'll find basic definitions of each kind of saw, pulled from an online source, as well as some companies that make them that are worth checking out. Companies are not listed in any particular order and are not the only options out there. We always encourage you to do your research, but this may give you a place to start. For questions about which one is right for you, or other questions you may have, head over to our Facebook Group and ask away!
Miter Saw

A miter saw is essentially a hinge-mounted circular saw blade that can be swung down into the material to be cut. Because the hinge is fixed in place, the blade always drops down in a controlled motion, creating clean, consistent cuts. This works great for cutting flat ends, but a miter saw can also rotate left and/or right to cut at an angle. (source)
Miter Saw companies worth checking out:
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Bosch
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Grizzly
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Metabo
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Delta
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Bauer
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Craftsman
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SKIL
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Ryobi
Band Saw

A band saw is a saw with a long blade that consists of a continuous band of metal with saw teeth, stretched between two or more wheels. The blade is more of a ribbon, as it is constantly rotating along the wheels, similar to a cassette tape. While the blade is continuously moving, only a small part of it is exposed in the cutting area. The blade comes up through the flat surface of the table, which is where the workpiece is moved into the saw to create cuts. The small size of the blade allows for detailed, intricate cuts. Band saws are mainly used in woodworking but are also very useful in metalworking. The saw’s main advantages include highly uniform cutting action from an evenly distributed tooth load, and the ability to cut irregular or curved shapes like you can work with a jigsaw, in a more controlled way. (source)
Band Saw companies worth checking out:
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Grizzly
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Wen
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Laguna
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Maksiwa
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Laguna
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Jet
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Rikon
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Ryobi
Scroll Saw

The scroll saw is more of a specialty tool. But when making intricate cuts in small, delicate parts, especially fully enclosed cutting, it’s indispensable.
Scroll saws enable you to either drill a starting hole and make cuts inside of a piece of wood or cut from the outside and work your way inward. Unlike a band saw, the blade is short, very thin and simply reciprocates up and down. Blades are available in various sizes and tooth patterns for use with different materials. While mainly used for wood, you can cut plastic, metal, and even glass with the proper blade. (source)
Scroll Saw companies worth checking out:
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Rikon
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Jet
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Dewalt
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Central Machinery
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Wen
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Grizzly
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Hegner
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Delta
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Rockwell
Panel Saw

A panel saw is used for making long, accurate cuts in large pieces of sheet material, such as plywood, particle board, and melamine. It is an important tool for cabinetmakers, woodworkers, and others who work with sheet goods. A panel saw typically consists of a base with a sliding table on top. The table has a fence that runs along one edge, and the saw blade is mounted on a rail that runs along the other edge. The table can be moved back and forth, and the fence can be adjusted to make different size cuts. (source)
Panel Saw companies worth checking out:
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Powermatic
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Saw Trax
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Safety Speed
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Milwaukee
Table Saw

A table saw consists of a circular saw blade, mounted on an arbor, that is driven by an electric motor (directly, by belt, by cable, or by gears). The drive mechanism is mounted below a table that provides support for the material, usually wood, being cut, with the blade protruding up through the table into the material. In most modern table saws, the table is fixed and the blade position can be adjusted. Moving the blade up or down affects the depth of the cut by controlling how much of the blade is protruding above the table surface. Many saws also have an adjustable angle, where the blade can be tilted relative to the table. (source)
Table Saw companies worth checking out:
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SawStop
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Dewalt
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Ridgid
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Delta
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Maksiwa
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Laguna
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Hercules
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Powermatic
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Grizzly
Jigsaw

A jigsaw is a versatile and easy-to-use power tool that allows DIYers and professionals alike to make straight or intricate curved cuts for craft projects or other woodworking tasks. Jigsaws can make detailed cuts on a wide range of materials including wood, metal, laminate and tile. The parts of a jigsaw contribute to its versatility. The up-and-down motion of a jigsaw blade is activated by pulling a trigger on the saw’s handle. Most models are variable speed, meaning that the speed of the reciprocating action depends on how much pressure is placed on the trigger. Jigsaws are best used for cutting shapes and curves in wood with its narrow blade, which is attached to the tool’s body by a spring-loaded clamp at the front. (source)
Jigsaw companies worth checking out:
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Ryobi
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Milwaukee
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Dewalt
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Black and Decker
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Bosch
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Festool
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Porter Cable
Hole Saw

A hole saw, also known as a hole cutter saw, is a handheld power tool you can use to cut precise circular-shaped voids through materials like plastic, wood, metal, and drywall. Like the holes they create, hole saw bits are perfectly round and come in a range of sizes – which correspond to the exact diameter of the hole size they make. Unlike standard drill bits, which create a small and precise hole by boring into the source material, hole sawing cuts around the circumference of the hole, leaving the inner core intact. This solid core – commonly referred to as a slug – either pops out with a little push from an ejector spring (if your drill bit is fitted with one) or it comes away when you pull your hole saw out of the hole. (source)
Scroll Saw companies worth checking out:
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Sungator
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Milwaukee
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Dewalt
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Bosch
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Ryobi
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Lenox
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Diablo
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Spyder
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Greenlee
Track Saw

A track saw is a portable power saw that is versatile and designed for making straight cuts in sheet goods such as plywood or MDF. It looks very similar to a circular saw but with a baseplate that fits nicely into an aluminum track (sometimes called a guide rail) to slide along. Because of the track, these saws are extremely accurate when it comes to cutting straight lines. Track saws have the same features as circular saws, including a depth stop and the ability to cut bevels up to 45 degrees. Additionally, because track saws are spring-loaded and can start or stop cuts anywhere along their track, they are great for making plunge cuts. Track saws offer precise, table saw-esque cuts with the ease of use of a circular saw. They are particularly useful when working with large wood sheets that are too unwieldy for other saws or when a full-size table saw is unavailable. (source)
Track Saw companies worth checking out:
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Festool
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Kreg
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Dewalt
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Evolution
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Milwaukee
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Wen
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Makita
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Bosch
Circular Saw

A circular saw is any power saw that utilizes a toothed or abrasive disc/blade that is able to cut by using a rotary motion that spins around an arbor. Circular saws can be used for cutting numerous materials, including wood, masonry, plastic, or metals. When using the term “circular saw” in regard to woodworking, it refers to the hand-held type although table saw and chop saws are still common forms you’ll encounter. The name “Skil saw” has now become a generic term for any conventional hand-held circular saws. (source)
Circular Saw companies worth checking out:
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SKIL
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Makita
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Dewalt
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Craftsman
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Ryobi
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Milwaukee
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Flex
Reciprocating Saw

A reciprocating saw is a multi-purpose power tool, but it is typically used when demolishing or remodeling. They are also great at tearing through timber joists, plasterboard, and nails to get a partition or timber extension down quicker than using hand tools. They are ideal for cutting all types of wooden boards (when precise cutting isn't as necessary) and wooden frames for the placement of windows and doors. Outside of demolition and remodeling, a reciprocating saw can be used for sawing through nails, metal sheeting, and pipes. (source)
Reciprocating Saw companies worth checking out:
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Milwaukee
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Makita
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Dewalt
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Kobalt
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Bosch
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Bauer
Oscillating Saw

An oscillating saw is used for cutting and shaping materials such as wood, plastic, metal and tile. It works by vibrating its blade back and forth at high speeds while being pressed against the material. The vibration creates small cuts in the material which are then accumulated to create larger, more intricate shapes or cuts. They are useful for a variety of tasks such as trimming door frames, making curved cuts in furniture and removing grout from tiles. It works by using a blade with teeth on the end that moves back and forth at high speeds, allowing it to make precise cuts. Oscillating saws are great for making detailed cuts like plunge cuts, straight line cuts, beveled edges and more. (source)
Oscillating Saw companies worth checking out:
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Dewalt
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Dremel
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Rockwell
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Avid
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Galax
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Milwaukee
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Makita
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Skil