Definition & Meaning of "rip saw"

Rip saw

a type of hand saw with a long, toothed blade specifically designed for cutting wood along the grain, making it efficient for ripping or cutting boards lengthwise with the grain for tasks like rough dimensioning or creating parallel edges

What is a "rip saw"?

A rip saw is a type of hand saw designed for cutting along the grain of wood. It has a long, flat blade with teeth that are shaped to cut in the direction of the wood fibers, allowing for faster and more efficient cuts. The saw is used by gripping the handle and moving it back and forth, letting the teeth slice through the wood along its length. Rip saws are commonly used in woodworking and construction for making straight cuts parallel to the wood's grain.

rip saw