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Types of Saws: Which Saw Should You Use for Which Job?
For straight cuts in boards and sheet material, choose a circular saw. For square and angled cuts in battens and beams, use a mitre saw. For curves and cut-outs, reach for a jigsaw, and for demolition and pruning work, a reciprocating saw. The blade then determines which material you can cut: wood, metal or plastic.
Knowing the main types of saws saves you buying the wrong tool. For small jobs where you have no power to hand, a good handsaw is often all you need.
What types of power saw are there?
| Saw | What it does well | Less suited to |
|---|---|---|
| Mitre saw | Cutting battens, beams, skirting boards and profiles square or at an angle | Ripping wide sheets along their length |
| Circular saw | Long straight cuts in boards and sheet material | Curves |
| Mini circular saw | Thin sheets, laminate, small jobs | Thick timber |
| Table saw | Ripping boards and sheets, cutting strips to width | Taking to the job |
| Jigsaw | Curves, rounded corners, cut-outs, scroll work | Long straight cuts |
| Reciprocating saw | Demolition, pruning, pipes, awkward spots | Neat, precise cuts |
| Multi-tool | Plunge cuts, trimming door linings and skirting, small corrections | Large or long cuts |
Mitre saw: square and angled cuts
A mitre saw cuts battens, beams, skirting boards and profiles to length quickly. You set the angle for mitre cuts, such as 45 degrees for the corner of a skirting board. A sliding mitre saw has a rail-mounted head, so you can also crosscut wider boards. Batavia makes a sliding mitre saw on the Maxxpack 18V battery platform. With the right blade you can cut certain plastics and non-ferrous metals as well as wood. The manual tells you exactly which materials are allowed.
Circular saw: long straight cuts
A circular saw is made for straight cuts in boards, beams and large sheets such as plywood, MDF and chipboard. With a guide rail or a clamped straight edge, your cuts will be as straight as on a table saw. A cordless circular saw from the Maxxpack 18V range is handy when you are working on site. For small jobs and thin sheet material there is the mini circular saw, which is lighter and more compact.
Table saw: ripping boards
On a table saw you push the workpiece along a fixed fence and over the blade. That is the easiest way to rip boards along their length and to cut strips of exactly the same width. A table saw does take up space and needs extra care: always use the blade guard and a push stick.
Jigsaw: curves and cut-outs
A jigsaw has a narrow blade that moves up and down. You use it for curves, shapes and cut-outs, for example the opening for a sink in a worktop. With the right blade it cuts through wood, plastic and thin metal.
Reciprocating saw: demolition and pruning
A reciprocating saw has a long blade that moves back and forth. It cuts through timber with nails in it, plastic pipe, metal pipe and branches. It is powerful and reaches awkward spots, but the cut is rougher.
Combination saws and the multi-tool
If you are unsure, consider a combination saw or a multi-tool. A multi-tool with saw blades makes plunge cuts and trims door frames, skirting boards and door linings, for example when you lay a new floor. For large cutting jobs it is too slow.
Cordless or corded saw?
A cordless saw gives you freedom to move: no extension lead and no socket needed, which helps in the loft, in the garden or up a ladder. With one battery platform, such as Maxxpack 18V, the same battery fits several tools. A corded saw delivers unlimited run time for long cutting sessions. For most DIY jobs a cordless saw is a good choice, as long as you keep a spare battery to hand.
What types of handsaw are there?
Not every job calls for a power saw. A few handsaws in your toolbox are useful for quick cuts.
- Panel saw or hardpoint saw: for boards and battens. A hardpoint saw has hardened teeth, cuts fast and stays sharp for a long time.
- Japanese pull saw: cuts on the pull stroke with a thin blade, for fine, precise work.
- Tenon saw with a mitre box: for skirting boards and mouldings at 45 or 90 degrees.
- Hacksaw: for metal tube, profiles and plastic pipe.
- Drywall saw (pad saw): for cut-outs in plasterboard.
- Pruning saw: for branches in the garden.
Which saw blade for which material?
Jigsaw and reciprocating saw blades carry a code for the type of steel. It tells you a lot about what the blade is good at.
| Code | Meaning | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| HCS | High carbon steel | Softwood, chipboard, plastic, green wood when pruning |
| HSS | High speed steel | Metal, aluminium, non-ferrous metals |
| BIM | Bi-metal (HCS and HSS) | Wood with nails, metal, demolition, longer life |
| HM / TC | Tungsten carbide | Hard and abrasive materials such as laminate, HPL and fibre cement |
For circular saws and mitre saws, a blade with carbide-tipped teeth is the standard. Here the rule is:
- Few teeth: fast, rough cutting, for example ripping construction timber.
- Many teeth: slower but finer, for sheet material, finished timber and mouldings.
- A dedicated non-ferrous blade: for aluminium profiles.
The same goes for jigsaw blades: coarse teeth for fast cuts in softwood, fine teeth for a clean cut and thin material. For thin metal, choose the finest teeth you can get.
Which saw should a beginner choose?
If you are just starting out with DIY, two saws cover most jobs: a circular saw for straight cuts and a jigsaw for curves and small jobs. If you have a lot of skirting boards, mouldings and battens coming up, a mitre saw is the logical next step. If you do a lot in the garden or are planning a renovation, a reciprocating saw adds plenty.
Working safely with a saw
- Wear safety glasses, ear defenders and, when there is dust, a dust mask.
- Clamp the workpiece and keep your hands out of the line of the cut.
- Remove the battery or unplug the saw before you change a blade.
- Check that the blade is sharp, undamaged and the right one for the machine.
- Do not cut into material that might hide nails, screws, cables or pipes without checking first.
Frequently asked questions about types of saws
What is the difference between a circular saw and a jigsaw?
A circular saw cuts fast and straight with a round blade and is made for long cuts in boards and sheets. A jigsaw has a narrow blade that moves up and down, which lets you cut curves and cut-outs.
Which saw is the most versatile?
For most people it is the jigsaw, because with the right blade it cuts wood, plastic and thin metal, and it handles both straight lines and curves. For long straight cuts, a circular saw is still the better tool.
What does BIM mean on a saw blade?
BIM stands for bi-metal: a blade with a flexible body and high speed steel teeth. It lasts longer and can cut through wood with nails in it as well as metal.
Do I need a table saw?
Only if you often rip boards along their length or need lots of strips of the same width. With a circular saw and a guide rail you can make most of those cuts too.
In short: types of saws
Choose a circular saw for straight cuts in sheets, a mitre saw for battens and mitres, a jigsaw for curves and a reciprocating saw for demolition and pruning. The blade decides the material: HCS for wood and plastic, HSS for metal, BIM for mixed work and tungsten carbide for hard boards.
