Definition

Noun: A saw set is a specialized hand tool used in carpentry and woodworking. Its primary function is to adjust the teeth of a hand saw by bending each alternate tooth slightly outward to the left and right. This process, called "setting" the saw, creates a kerf (the groove cut by the saw) that is wider than the saw blade's thickness, which prevents the blade from binding or getting stuck in the wood during cutting.

Usage Examples

• Before sharpening the old handsaw, the carpenter used a saw set to adjust the teeth.
• A proper saw set is essential for maintaining the performance of a crosscut saw.
• The teeth were too tight, so he reached for his saw set to give them the correct amount of bend.

Advanced Usage

• "To set a saw": This is the verb phrase describing the action performed a saw set.
  • An experienced woodworker knows how to set a saw for optimal performance.

Variants and Related Words

• Saw-setting pliers: Another name for a saw set, emphasizing its plier-like design.
• Saw tooth setter: A synonymous term for the tool.
• Saw file (n): A different tool used in conjunction with a saw set; the file is used to sharpen the teeth after they have been set.

Synonyms

• Saw tooth setter
• Saw-setting tool

Related Phrases

• Saw set anvil: Refers to the part of the tool against which the saw tooth is pressed to be bent.
  • He aligned the tooth with the saw set anvil before squeezing the handle.

Noun

1. a tool used to bend each alternate sawtooth at a slight angle outward