What is a ripsaw?
A ripsaw (Dutch: schulpzaag) is a saw made specifically for cutting timber lengthways, along the grain (ripping). The teeth are chisel-shaped: like tiny chisels, they cut the fibres loose and carry the chips away. This distinguishes a ripsaw from a crosscut saw, whose teeth are sharpened more like knives to cut across the fibres.
Originally the ripsaw was a large handsaw or frame saw, sometimes worked by two people, for sawing logs and beams into boards. Today the term usually means one of two things:
- a handsaw for cutting along the grain with coarse, chisel-shaped teeth;
- a rip blade for a circular saw, a saw blade optimised for cutting along the grain.
Features of a rip blade (circular saw):
- relatively few teeth for its diameter;
- large gullets (the space between the teeth) to remove plenty of sawdust;
- usually a flat tooth grind and a positive hook angle, so that the blade pulls aggressively through the grain.
A crosscut blade, by contrast, has many teeth and an alternating tooth grind for a clean cut across the grain. A combination blade sits in between.
| Rip blade | Relatively few teeth for its diameter, large gullets, usually a flat tooth grind and a positive hook angle; pulls aggressively along the grain. |
|---|---|
| Crosscut blade | Many teeth and an alternating tooth grind for a clean cut across the grain. |
| Combination blade | Sits in between a rip blade and a crosscut blade. |
Application
A ripsaw is used to saw boards to width, make battens, halve timber in thickness and convert logs or beams.
Tips for choosing and using one:
- Look at the number of teeth: fewer teeth means faster ripping but a rougher cut. For visible work, plane the edge afterwards.
- Check diameter, bore and speed: a saw blade must fit the machine and be suitable for its maximum speed.
- Keep the blade sharp: a blunt blade burns the timber and increases the risk of kickback. Have carbide-tipped blades sharpened by a sharpening service.
- Safety: when ripping on a table saw, always use a riving knife and a push stick.
- Sheet material should not be cut with a rip blade: it causes tear-out. Use a fine blade for that.
Related Terms
- Circular saw
- Crosscut saw
- Jigsaw
- Quarter-sawn
- Flat-sawn
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