Electric saw guide
By Tom Drake | 2nd July 2026 | 6 min read
Key points:
- Circular saws are ideal for making straight cuts in sheet materials such as plywood and OSB board.
- Jigsaws are ideal for cutting curves and irregular shapes.
- Mitre saws are designed to make accurate straight, angled, and mitre cuts in a range of materials depending on the blade fitted.
Types of electric saw
Circular saws
Circular saws feature a rotating circular blade and are used to make straight cuts in a range of materials. They're particularly useful for making long, straight cuts in sheet materials such as plywood and OSB board.
They can be used freehand or alongside a guide track to help achieve straight, accurate cuts. Different blade sizes are available, with larger blades offering a greater cutting depth for thicker materials. The cutting depth can also be adjusted, along with the bevel angle, allowing you to make angled cuts when required.
Ideal for:
- Cutting long sheets of plywood, MDF, and other sheet materials
- Trimming doors, shelves, and panels to size
- Cutting the ends of installed materials, such as decking boards
- Making long, straight cuts quickly and accurately
Jigsaws
Jigsaws feature a narrow, straight blade that moves up and down rapidly to cut through different materials. They are used to cut curves, shapes, and intricate designs that other saw types can't cut.
Their compact blade allows for greater manoeuvrability, making them ideal for detailed cutting tasks and projects that require a high level of control. With the correct blade fitted, jigsaws can cut wood, laminate, plastic, and metal, making them a versatile addition to any toolkit.
Although they can be used for straight cuts, achieving a perfectly straight finish is often more difficult than with a circular saw.
Ideal for:
- Cutting around obstacles
- Cutting worktops around sinks
- Shaping wood
- Cutting shapes in laminate flooring using special blades
Mitre saws
Mitre saws are designed to make accurate straight, angled, and mitre cuts in wood and other materials. They feature a circular blade mounted on a pivoting arm that's lowered through the material to deliver a precise, clean cut.
Standard mitre saws feature a blade that rotates from side to side, allowing you to make cross cuts and mitre cuts. Compound mitre saws offer the same functionality but can also tilt to create bevel cuts, making them a versatile option for more complex projects.
Ideal for:
- Cutting skirting and architrave
- Cutting timber for stud walls
- Making precise mitred and angled cuts
Chop saws
A chop saw is a powerful cutting tool designed primarily for cutting metal quickly and efficiently. It uses a downward pivoting arm to make straight cuts through materials such as steel, aluminium, and pipework.
Most chop saws cut at a 90-degree angle, although some models allow limited angle adjustment. Unlike mitre saws, they prioritise speed and durability over fine finishing and angled precision.
Ideal for:
- Cutting metal pipes, rods and bars
- Making lots of straight cuts
Table saws
Table saws feature a circular blade mounted beneath a flat work surface. Rather than moving the saw across the material, the material is guided across the table and through the blade.
Table saws are ideal for making straight, accurate cuts in a range of materials. They can be less intuitive for DIYers who are new to using them and are less portable than a circular saw. However, if you need to make repeated straight cuts in a workshop environment, they offer excellent accuracy, consistency, and control.
Ideal for:
- Cutting sheet materials
- Furniture making
- Joinery
- Repetitive cutting tasks
Reciprocating saws
Reciprocating saws feature a long, straight blade that moves backwards and forwards in a push-and-pull action, allowing them to cut through materials quickly.
They are ideal when speed is more important than precision, which is why they're often used for demolition work and rougher cutting tasks. The longer blade of a reciprocating saw also allows it to reach areas that other saws might struggle to access.
Since they don't require a base plate or work surface, as a circular saw or jigsaw does, they can be used to cut materials in place without removing them first.
Ideal for:
- Demolition work
- Removing old fixtures and fittings
- Pruning branches in the garden
- Dismantling sheds and fences
Wall chasers
Wall chasers create neat, precise channels in brick, plaster, or concrete. They feature two cutting discs that cut two parallel lines in a wall. Once you've cut the lines in the wall, the material in between can be removed with a hammer and chisel, leaving a channel ready for laying cables and pipework.
The distance between the discs and the depth of the cut can be adjusted, which helps ensure the channel is the right width and depth for each installation.
Wall chasers are specialist tools that won't be required for many DIYers, but are useful if you're regularly installing new electrical cables or pipework, particularly during renovation or rewiring projects.
Ideal for:
- Creating space for running pipes and cables into walls
- Not a necessity for most DIYers but a must have for plumbers and electricians
Electric saw considerations
Cordless or corded saw?
When choosing your electric saw, you'll need to decide whether you want a corded or cordless model.
Corded
Corded saws offer continuous power, which is ideal for longer jobs. With no batteries, you don't need to worry about keeping them charged, which is useful if you won't be using your saw very often.
Corded models are a good choice if you often work close to a socket, but they offer less flexibility if you're moving between different locations. You'll also need to pay attention to the cable to ensure it doesn't get in your way.
Cordless
As they have no cable, cordless saws offer freedom of movement and make it easier to cut materials outdoors or at different work sites. They are quick and easy to set up and are ideal if you already have other battery-powered tools.
However, you'll need to remember to keep the batteries charged, and your usage time will be limited by battery runtime and the number of spare batteries you have.
Existing tools
If you're purchasing a cordless electric saw, it's worth considering which tool brands you already own. If you already have batteries from a tool system, choosing a power saw from the same brand may allow you to buy the tool ‘bare’ and use your existing batteries.
Type of projects you’ll be completing
When choosing your electric saw, consider the types of projects you’ll be undertaking and how often you’ll be doing them. Some tools, such as wall chasers, reciprocating saws, and chop saws, are more specialised and less versatile. Whereas mitre saws, jigsaws, and circular saws are likely to have a wider range of uses for a DIYer.
Erbauer saw range
Powerful cutting solutions built for precision, performance and demanding applications. Whether you're making long straight cuts, intricate curves or heavy-duty demolition cuts, the Erbauer saw range is engineered to deliver reliable performance across wood, metal, masonry and more.
Corded or cordless: Choose the continuous power of corded tools or the flexibility of the Erbauer EXT cordless platform.
Electric saw FAQs
What is the best electric saw for DIY projects?
Should I choose a corded or cordless saw?