plain saw

English

Alternative forms

• plain-saw

Verb

plain saw (third-person singular simple present plain saws, present participle plain sawing, simple past plain sawed, past participle plain sawn)

1. (transitive) To cut into boards using parallel cuts that are tangential to the growth rings.
   • 1921, Furniture Manufacturer and Artisan - Volume 83, Issue 22, page 178:

     Note the difference in dimension due to the Figure 2 shrinkage of the semi-dry piece, also the difference in "cut" of the boards; the shrunken board being quarter sawn, while the adjacent boards are plain sawn.

   • 1999, Peter Oxenham, Integrated Science and Technology: Materials and Processes, →ISBN, page 36:

     The problem with plain sawing is that the outer planks tend to warp.

   • 2014, P. F. Lye, Woodwork Theory - Book 3, →ISBN, page 9:

     The majority of softwoods and hardwoods, with the possible exception of oak, are plain sawn.

Noun

plain saw (plural plain saws)

1. A saw in which the blade has teeth with no pitch.
   • 1930, Herman Hjorth, Principles of Woodworking, page 83:

     Either a dado head or plain saws may be used on the circular saw for this purpose.

   • 1974, Evgeniĭ Ryss, Search Behind the Lines, page 26:

     There were two plain saws, a bow saw, a wood-chopper, two axes, three scythes, whetstones for sharpening scythes, files for sharpening the saws, tool kits, and a fairly good supply of nails.