Having the right tool can make a job a whole lot easier.

You wouldn't use a 28-ounce framing hammer with a corrugated head to do finish work, nor a 16-ounce finish hammer with a smooth head to frame. The same holds true with saws. The saw is one of the oldest tools in human history. Engravings in Egyptian and Assyrian monuments show an ancient saw in the same shape as our modern crosscut saw.

In the early 1900s a saw was defined as "a thin plate of steel with one edge furnished with cutting, chisel-like teeth intended for cutting wood." Since then, saws have taken on additional functions.

There are saws for cutting wood, including plywood and sheets of wood used in construction. Others cut plastic, laminated material, concrete, aluminum and other metals. In addition to making the job easier, using the proper saw will make for a better finished product and often will contribute to job safety.

If you do a lot of carpentry work, building or remodeling, you will need several kinds of wood-cutting saws. To save money and to avoid collecting tools you will never use, buy the saws as you need them.

It's all in the teeth. The size and accuracy of a cut is determined by the number of teeth, their size and setting. The teeth on saws designed for cutting wood are bent slightly to the right and to the left. This is called "set". The set cuts a wide enough channel through the wood to keep the blade from binding. That channel is called the "kerf".

If you want to rough cut a piece of wood and aren't concerned with what it looks like, a saw with large, widely-spaced teeth will do the job. If, on the other hand, you are doing interior trim work like crown mold or chair rail, use a fine-toothed saw.

The crosscut saw is designed to do just what it says cut across the grain of the wood. It has equal-sided teeth with a 50 degree angle between the tips. The blade of the crosscut saw is generally 24 to 26 inches long and will have about seven to twelve teeth (or points per inch). The greater the number of points per inch the more precise the cut will be.

The ripsaw usually has about five points per inch and is designed for cutting wood lengthwise or with the grain. Additionally, the tooth design causes the saw to cut on the forward stroke only. A ripsaw should not be used to cut across the grain and a crosscut saw won't cut properly with the grain.

If you aren't an avid do-it-yourselfer and the idea of having your garage walls lined with saws doesn't appeal to you, there's an alternative the universal saw. It's a multi-purpose saw for cutting either with or against the grain. Using it may require a bit more elbow grease and the cuts may not be as precise, but it will do the job.

There are special saws for special jobs. A backsaw is used for cutting wood, plastics, laminates and aluminum. It's especially good for cutting joints where accuracy is important. This is the kind of saw most often found with a miter box. The back is reinforced with a larger piece of metal so the blade won't bend.

A keyhole saw is a narrow pointed saw with a sharp tip. The blade resembles the bill of a swordfish. It is great for making cuts in hard-to-get-to places. Since the blade is narrow, it easily can be manipulated to make small cuts like those required for pipes and electrical outlets. Drill a pilot hole to get the saw started.

Precision cuts like corner joints on baseboards, crown moldings and other types of interior trim are best performed with a coping saw. Whereas the coping saw has fine teeth for smooth and precise cuts, the blade also can be rotated and tightened to accommodate various cuts. The bow frame to which the blade is anchored is far from the blade to allow for cutting wide materials.

Plastic pipe, copper pipe, iron pipe, thin sheets of metal and metal rod are a few of the items that a hacksaw will cut. The hacksaw is the most versatile non-wood cutting saw, and should be a part of the basic tool kit.

Hacksaw blades vary. A blade with coarse teeth should be used for thick or soft metals. Hard or thin metal should be cut with a blade with finer teeth. In order for a hacksaw to cut effectively, the frame must be rigid and the blade sharp and taut.

If you like gardening, there is a variety of saws that make pruning and tree trimming easier, and reduce damage to trees. A limb saw has a long, curved, narrow blade that is rough, and works much like a crosscut saw. It often is anchored to an extension pole that makes getting to tall branches easier.

The grandsaw is great for trimming trees and bushes with large or thick limbs. It resembles a hacksaw, although it is larger and has a bigger bow to accommodate large branches.

Store all saws in a location where the blade will not be damaged by other tools. If the saw must be stored in a tool box with other tools, invest in a blade guard.

When blades are slightly dull you can do a touchup with a triangular file. However, we recommend that you take your saws to a saw-sharpening professional for a real thorough sharpening.