Table saws are used for straight sawing. Depending on the blade, they cut either across (crosscut) or with (ripsaw) the grain of the wood.

With the hand-fed table saws, the operator adjusts the height and angle of the blade.

Circular table saws must have a hood over the portion of the saw above the table, so mounted that the hood will automatically adjust itself to the thickness of and remain in contact with the material being cut.

Free standing, moveable table saw.

Several examples of table saws. If saws are used for ripping (cuts made in line with the natural grain of the material), non-kickback fingers or dogs must be in place.

Table saws can be used for cross cutting or ripping wood, plastic and other such materials.

Gang Ripsaws are used for cutting a piece of stock into several smaller (usually equal) strips. The stock can be hand fed but it may also be fed automatically.

Hand fed ripsaw.

Gang ripsaw.

A cutoff saw is a circular blade machine used for cutting across the stock from above.

The blade of a cutoff saw is directly mounted to the motor, which is contained in the movable ram. The stroke may be manual or powered.

The cutoff saw blade generally rotates at 3600 RPM. Stock can be fed in front of the machine on a feed table with rolls and guides. Source: Health and Safety Guide for Wooden Furniture Manufacturing, NIOSH

Swing cutoff saws require a hood that will completely enclose the upper half of the saw, the arbor end, and the point of operation at all positions of the saw.

The protective hood must be constructed of such material as to protect the operator from flying splinters and broken saw teeth.

Band saws use thin, flexible, continuous steel strips with cutting teeth on one edge. They are used primarily for cutting curves in stock.

The band saw blade runs on two pulleys, driver and idler, and through a work table where stock is manually fed. Automatic feeds can be used for production cutting; however, this machine is usually considered a manual feed tool.

A band saw can also be mounted horizontally, making it possible to perform vertical cuts in stock material.

Metal cutting band saw.

Contact with the cutting blade is the most common injury for band saw operators. For this reason, blades must be covered by a guard (unguarded blade shown above).

Radial saws are circular saws that cut downward, either with or against the wood grain (rip or crosscut).

Radial saws have features that make them more versatile than table saws. The saw arm can be raised and lowered and swung from side to side to adjust the depth and horizontal angle of the cut.

The blade of a radial saw may also be replaced with shaping cutters, disk, or drum sanders, and other accessories.

Other examples of radial saws.

Scroll saws are useful for precision-cutting intricate curves and patterns on thin stock. They have thin blades that move rapidly up and down through the opening in the saw table. Source: Concepts and Techniques of Machine Safeguarding. OSHA

A chop saw is essentially a lightweight circular saw mounted on a spring- loaded pivoting arm supported by a metal base. They are commonly called compound miter saws and may be used for very precise cutting.

Chop saws can also be made for hand held applications.

A miter saw is a power saw consisting of a circular blade mounted on a frame designed to make accurate angle cuts. The miter saw is sometimes referred to as a chop box.

The saw blade and motor are mounted on an arm that hinges on an elbow fixed at the rear of the saw. When the blade is lowered in a chopping motion, the blade cuts through the work piece, passing through a slot in the base.

A hand-held saw is portable and requires only the hands to operate it. Hand-held saws can be powered or manual. Powered hand-held saws are potentially more dangerous because the operator can lose control of the machine.

Manual hand held saws are among the most common for daily household use.