A crosscut saw features teeth filed with alternating bevels that act like a series of tiny knife blades. These sharp edges sever the wood fibers cleanly when cutting perpendicular to the grain, preventing the tear-out that would happen with a rip saw. The tooth count usually ranges from 8 to 12 points per inch for general carpentry.
Heard on the job
Grab the crosscut saw to trim these floorboards to length.
Do not mix it up with
- Ripsaw: A crosscut saw severs fibers across the grain, while a ripsaw acts like tiny chisels to cut parallel to the grain.