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The crosscut saw is made for cutting across the grain of the
wood. Its teeth are little knives set parallel, far apart enough to hold back
the saw from binding. The crosscut saw does 25 per cent of its cutting on the
upstroke and 75 per cent on the down stroke.
A saw with coarse teeth cuts quicker than one with close teeth, and it
is particularly suited for thick boards, since it doesn't clog as easily. A blade having 7 to 8 points to the inch is
acceptable for most home work. But if fine work or joinery must be done, 10
points an inch would do a finer job. The number of points is normally stamped
on the heel of the blade. Small, fine-tooth crosscut saws, called panel saws,
are used for exceedingly fine work. Blade lengths range from 20 to 28 inches,
but for home carpentry a 26-inch blade would be the most satisfactory, unless a
major project is to be attempted.