Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva walks through the various types of hand saws and gives tips on how to utilize them.
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Cost: Varies

Skill Level:
Moderate

Tools:
Hack Saw
Jab Saw
Flush-cutting Saw
Pull Saw
Coping Saw
Miter Saw and Box
Hand Saw

Steps:

1. For cutting through metal, use either a hack saw, which can accept a 10” or 12” blade, or a mini-hack saw, designed for cutting in tight areas. Tom shows off a hack saw to cut through all kinds of metal.
2. To change the blade on a hack saw, loosen the wing nut at the base and extending the bow to your desired length. Insert the new blade and tighten the wing nut. Be sure to put the teeth facing away from the handle.
3. When cutting through drywall, use a jab saw. Place the piercing tip on the drywall and then hit the handle with the palm of your hand to drive it into the drywall. Once the saw is in the material, you can use it to cut.
4. A flush cut saw can cut screws or dowels flush to the material and the handles are often reversible.
5. A double edge pull saw has a flexible blade that can sit flat on material and is can be used to cut trim or casing when patching flooring. Use the flooring as a height gauge. Cut the trim to allow the flooring to slide underneath.
6. A miter saw and miter box can be used for straight cuts and to cut angles.
7. A traditional a hand saw can be used for rip cuts and cross cuts. The more teeth on a blade, the finer the cut will be. Finer blades are used for cross-cutting, coarser blade is used for ripping wood.
8. For the most control, it’s important to hold your body in front of the blade when cutting and line up your shoulder and hand should line up.

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Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.

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How to Choose Hand Saws | Ask This Old House
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