Saw

:The article is about the cutting tool. For other meanings of saw, see Saw (disambiguation).

Saw Terminology

• Heel: the end closest to the handle.
• Toe: the end farthest from the handle.
• Front: the side with the teeth (the "bottom edge").
• Back: opposite the front ("top edge").
• Teeth: small sharp points along the cutting side of the saw.
• Teeth per inch (Teeth per 25 mm): Measurement of the frequency of teeth on a saw blade. This is measured by setting the tip of one tooth at the zero point on a ruler, and then measuring how many teeth are contained within one inch (25mm) of length. There will always be one more tip per inch than there are teeth per inch (e.g., a saw with 14 tips per inch will have 13 teeth per inch, a saw with 10 tips per inch will have 9 teeth per inch). Some saws do not have the same number of teeth per inch throughout their entire length, but the vast majority do.
• Kerf: Width of the saw cut. On most saws the kerf is wider than the saw blade because the teeth are flared out sideways. This allows the blade to move through the cut easily without getting stuck. However, some saws are made so that the teeth have no set. This is done so that the saw can lie flat on a surface and cut along the surface without scratching it.