Subscribe to our RSS Feed
This advice targets handy persons who choose not to find a joiner for a hobby project. Despite the proliferation of power tools, many craftspeople still believe in hand-held manual saws. This is because they remain more in control of a 
tool that is literally an extension of their hands, and are thereby able to produce results closer to what they have in their creative mind. There are four main types of hand-held saws. Each one has its own unique intended purpose.
A Rip Saw is the most common saw in use for cutting wood, and is what most people call to mind when thinking of a saw. It cuts along the grain of a piece of wood quickly and without too much trouble either. Rip Saws with smaller teeth make a cleaner cut, and shorter ones are better if you are cutting through smaller piece. A long saw with large teeth cuts the quickest, although the result may be weak and a little wavy. 
Be careful with a Rip Saw – if it slips, it can rip your hand badly too.
A Crosscut Saw cuts across the grain. Its knifepoint teeth produce a much finer job if you have the time. A mitre box is necessary as this saw may stray off course despite the brace along the blade. This is a true craftsperson’s tool – when in a hurry try to remember that a joint created along a grain will not hold as well as one across it.
A Coping Saw (or Fret Saw) is for cutting intricate shapes through 
thin sheets of wood, to create scrolling and other patterns. This is an artist’s tool, and definitely not to be hurried. If you are in a lovingly creative mood and wish to produce that perfect work of art, then use this mini-masterpiece at your leisure. If you are in a hurry, rather buy a power tool and force the wood to do your pleasure.
A Hack Saw is a crude tool used to cut through metal and through thin strips of wood or plastic too if a precise cut is not required. 
The thin blade wanders easily through a longer cut, especially if the blade is not tightly set. Note that the saw teeth are directional and must face in the direction of the forward cut, and that the saw will only penetrate your work on thast stroke.
For a larger project around the house, it may be better to get carpenter quotes. Joiners in London especially use experts, because of the price of wood in the City.