Crosscut saw
Some crosscut saws use special teeth, called rakers, designed to clean out the cut strips of wood from the kerf.
A bucking saw generally has a straighter back and less of a pronounced curve on its cutting surface.
As the raker pares the bottom of the kerf, a strip of wood is lifted upward, and curled forward into the gullet.
As the saw is drawn out of the kerf, the wood that has accumulated in the gullets is allowed to fall out onto the ground.
[2] The sharp bevelled cutting edges sever the wood fibers perpendicular to the grain, reducing the amount of bending within the work-piece.
A chainsaw kit includes fuel, oil, a few tools, and more personal protective equipment.
The primary maintenance carried out on crosscut saws is sharpening, which requires a shop and a highly skilled filer.
They also allow the sawyer to stand several feet farther away from the log, which is safer particularly when finishing cuts.
Crosscut saw use does not require hearing protection, which makes communication between team members possible, and also allows the sawyer to listen to the noises made by the log as stresses change.
Traditionally over the past 250 years the use of crosscut saws in the many forests of the United States lacked the use of safety clothing and equipment.
However, safety training in contemporary usage in the United States dictates the mandatory use of gloves, eye protectors, chainsaw boots with hard tops and high-top ankle protectors, Kevlar chaps, and long sleeved shirts.
Crosscut saws are used within Designated Wildernesses where chainsaws are banned due to the prohibited use of motorized or mechanized tools and equipment, requiring that crosscut training also include the proper use of non-petroleum based lubricants as well as training in techniques which leave a minimal impact both ecologically as well as visually after trails are cleared of downed trees.
Safe and effective crosscut and chainsaw use on federally administered public lands within the United States has been codified since July 19, 2016 in the publication of the Final Directive for National Saw Program[6] issued by the United States Forest Service, USDA which specifies the training, testing, and certification process for employees as well as for unpaid volunteers who operate chainsaws within public lands.
The new directive specifies Forest Service Manual (FSM) 2358 (PDF) which covers classification of sawyers, their Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and numerous other aspects of required safety training and behavior when operating chainsaws or crosscut saws on federally administered public lands.
