Do you know why the first portable power saw was invented? The inventor wanted to speed up the harvesting of sugar cane, which was traditionally cut using a machete. This was in the early 1920s, and the inventor was Edmond Michel, a French immigrant who lived in New Orleans.
Today, we have many types of electric saws used in housing construction and infrastructure development, such as roads, bridges, and buildings.
Power tool distributors may realize that they need electric saws as a part of their product range, but may need more information about different types of electric saws. Here, we provide a comprehensive guide as to what kinds of power saws to include in your inventory.
A Closer Look at the Different Types of Electric Saws and Their Uses
1. Circular Saw
A circular saw features a fast-rotating round blade disk. The blade is encased for safety and rotates in a circular motion. Circular saws use a high-speed motor that drives the circular blade. The tool is used to make fast, straight, and precise cuts.
Circular saws can be fitted with different blades for cutting wood, plastic, masonry, or metal. They have the benefit that they are portable, which makes them convenient and easy to use.
Circular saws are always part of a power tool collection because they are practical for many applications, such as home improvement projects like flooring, carpentry, constructing decks, and paneling. Fitted with the right blade, a circular saw can also cut through aluminum, steel, and other metals. If your customers need to lay a tile floor, their tool’s circular blade will cut through tiles with ease.
2. Table Saw
Table saws also feature a circular saw, but it is embedded in a stationary table. Part of the blade is exposed above the table surface.
These types of electric saws are prized for their precision and accuracy, made possible by the blade being in a fixed position and the stability of the table surface. Consumers whose projects require accurate measurements and exact alignments are looking for table saws to facilitate their work, making cabinets, furniture, and paneling.
Of all the saw types, table saws are the most versatile. They can produce many different cuts, such as cross cuts, miter cuts, bevel cuts, and rip cuts, making them ideal for all sorts of carpentry projects.
Also, table saws have powerful motors and large blades that cut through wood of many thicknesses in no time, helping to boost productivity.
Some table saws don’t have a guard to keep the blade safe, but modern table saws are equipped with various safety features, so be sure to find a wholesaler that stocks table saws with safety features like blade guards and emergency stop switches.
3. Miter Saw
As with table saws, miter saws are some of the most popular electric saw types. Professional carpenters and DIY enthusiasts use them to create precise angles when cutting wood.
Miter saws can make precise crosscuts and angled cuts in wood, plastic, and some metals at different angles. There are three kinds of miter saws:
- Standard miter saws cut 45-degree angles for framing or to join lengths of wood.
- Compound miter saws feature single-bevel and double-bevel saws. A single bevel saw makes miter and bevel cuts in one direction, and a double bevel saw makes miter cuts in both directions, without the need to flip the wood.
- Sliding compound miter saws feature a sliding rail for cutting wider pieces of wood. With these saws, the blade can move back and forth. They are ideal for more complex projects.
Miter saws are indispensable for large or complicated projects that require quick and accurate cutting.
4. Reciprocating Saw
This is an electric hand-held saw with an aggressive cutting action produced by the back-and-forth motion of the saw blade. This is not a precision tool; it is ideal for knocking down structures and ripping out windows, doors, and paneling to prepare for building work.
These types of electric saws come with numerous blade types for cutting wood, metal, plasterboard, and other building materials. However, due to the absence of a guide or base plate and the strong vibrations they create, these electric saw types don’t make clean cuts and can be difficult to control, increasing the risk of injury.
These saws are often used to cut through pipes but the result is rough edges that must be sanded.
5. Jigsaw
A jigsaw uses a reciprocating blade that moves in an up-and-down motion. These versatile electric saw types are used for precise straight and curved cuts. Woodworkers use jigsaws to cut different shapes and stencil designs into wood, metal, and plastic.
Adding to their versatility is their ability to make bevel cuts. You get jigsaws with a top handle or barrel grip. Most people use top-handle jigsaws, although barrel-grip jigsaws are more accurate.
This versatile electric hand-held saw is light and easy to handle, ideal for cutting out stenciled designs. They come with numerous blade types for sawing different materials.
6. Chainsaw
The chainsaw has become a symbol of horror in popular culture, thanks to its frequent appearances in movies. It is associated with hunks working in the timber industry, but these iconic types of electric saws originated in the medical profession in a country not famed for its timber industry. It was invented by two Scottish doctors, John Aitken and James Jeffray, in the late 18th Century.
This powerful tool has teeth attached to a rotating chain, making it possible to cut through wood, tree roots, ice, and plastic. Chainsaws are mostly used for tree felling and trimming, logging, and pruning hedges. These days, they are also used for ice sculpting.
Chainsaws are powered by gasoline, and batteries can be corded or cordless.
7. Band Saws
Band saws feature a continuous band of toothed metal that runs between two wheels to make cuts in various materials. The continuous, looped blade design enables straight and curved cuts with minimal wastage.
The two main types are vertical and horizontal band saws. With a vertical band saw, the blade moves vertically and the operator moves the workpiece through the blade. These saws are best for small workpieces that require intricate work.
Working with a horizontal band saw, the workpiece is clamped, and the blade moves through it. These saws can swivel and make miter cuts. They are used to cut hard materials like steel.
Different saw blade types allow this electric hand-held saw to cut through metal, pipes, stainless steel, hardened metals, wood, plastics, and other materials. Band saws can make straight and curved cuts. Curves are achieved by changing the position and orientation of the material as it moves along the saw.
Cordless band saws are a welcome addition to this category of electric saws. Being portable, these saws are easy to work with, boost productivity, and reduce the risk of injuries.
8. Cut-off saw (Chop saw)
A cut-off saw, also called a chop saw, is a heavy-duty power tool that professional contractors use to cut through just about any hard material, including concrete. They are powerful, lightweight, and work away at tough materials using an abrasive disc or diamond blade. These electric saw types slice through tough materials with high-speed rotation.
Cut-off saws are mostly used in the construction industry for heavy-duty tasks because they can easily cut through metal, concrete, and masonry. Cut-off saws are routinely used in construction, metal, demolition, rescue, and roadwork operations. Smaller electric cut-off saws are suitable for contractors and homeowners for more modest projects.
One thing to remember: using these types of electric saws is dangerous to use because they don’t have guards for the blades that run at very high speeds.
9. Panel Saw
A panel saw is an electric saw type designed for cutting large sheets of wood, plywood, plastic, melamine, and paneling. Panel saws are stationary machines that make it easy to cut large sheets of all manner of materials. Panel saws make precise, straight cuts, so they are widely used for cabinetry, furniture making, and signage industry.
There are two types: vertical and horizontal. With a vertical panel saw, the material is fed vertically into the blade. With a horizontal panel saw, the wood or other material lies on a flat surface with the saw moving across it.
Panel saws are primarily used in factories and cabinet-making shops that require accurate, high-volume cutting
10. Tile Saw
If you want to remodel your bathroom, you can’t do it without a tile saw. Taking down the old tiles is one thing; cutting the new tiles to fit is another thing, for which you will need a tile saw. A tile saw is designed for cutting ceramic, porcelain, glass, and stone tiles without them breaking into a thousand pieces.
Unlike standard saws, these electric saw types have a diamond-tipped blade for precision cutting. Some electric saws include water cooling systems that help prevent overheating and minimize dust.
There are three kinds of electric tile saws: hand-held and tabletop wet tile saws, and overhead tile saws.
A handheld wet tile saw is portable and ideal for small DIY projects. Buy one with a water circulation system, or the blade will overheat.
There are two types of wet tabletop tile saws: sliding and fixed. With the fixed tabletop saw, you push the tile manually through the blade. With the sliding saw, you fasten the tile on a tray, and it is moved to the blade using rollers.
With an overhead tile saw, the blade is mounted on an overhead rail system. The blade then moves over the tile, making smooth, accurate cuts. Overhead tile saws are the ideal power tools for cutting large porcelain, marble, and granite tiles precisely.
Stocking Different Types of Electric Saws – What to Look Out For
For businesses looking to stock power saws, it’s important to stay informed on the latest electric saw types to meet customer demands and maximize sales. Stocking a diverse range of electric saw types will establish your power tool business as the go-to option for professionals across different industries.
Also, consider power options. While cordless power tools are gaining popularity, it’s wise to offer corded models as well because they perform better when sustained power is needed.
As a trusted supplier of wholesale cordless tools. We supply the market with a comprehensive range of quality wholesale cordless band saws and chop saws at competitive prices, with low minimum orders and strong after-sales support for global business partners.
Conclusion
Now you know which electric saws you need as part of your power tool product range. The electric saw types featured in this article are examples of the most useful electric saws used by woodworkers and industry professionals. Between them, they accommodate applications ranging from woodworking to heavy-duty metal cutting and construction work.
If you need to expand your range of high-performance tools, we can help you today. Get in touch to discuss bulk orders, exclusive distribution opportunities, and how MaxXT can help you grow your business.
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