12 ELEMENTARY WOODWORKING 



That this tool will not cut so readily across the grain 

 may easily be proved by again resorting to the narrow 

 chisel and attempting to repeat the first experiment. 

 The wood will act as shown in Fig. 10 at 6, splitting 

 along the grain in both directions. It is quite evident, 

 then, that a tool for cutting across the grain must be 

 constructed in some other way. 



Continuing this experiment, let us cut the fibers with 

 a knife point in two parallel lines across the grain, 



FIG. 11. The Saw 



close together, as at c. It will be found that the wood 

 between these lines may now be easily removed with the 

 narrow chisel. This fact is made the basis on which 

 we construct the crosscut saw. Every tooth is sharp- 

 ened to a point, one on the right side, the next on 

 the left, giving two parallel lines of sharp points 

 designed to cut the fibers, as was done in our experi- 

 ment with the knife. Fig. 12 shows the end view of the 

 crosscut teeth enlarged. Observe that not only are 

 the alternate teeth sharpened on opposite sides, but 



