Western saws

There are two main groups to distinguish among European saws: tensioned saws and untensioned saws. Hand saws are usually set. This means the teeth are bent alternately apart, making the cut wider than the blade, thus preventing the saw from binding.

For special purposes – essentially as a subcategory of untensioned saws – there are various unset saws, such as veneer saws and dowel saws. Dowel saws must not be set because they need to be suitable for cutting dowels or wooden pegs flush with the surface without damaging it.