A keyhole saw (also called a pad saw, alligator saw, jab saw or drywall saw) is a long, narrow saw used for cutting small, often awkward features in various building materials. There are typically two varieties of keyhole saw: the fixed blade type and the retractable blade type.
What can a keyhole saw cut?
A keyhole saw, or compass saw, has a small pointed blade and a wood or plastic handle. It is useful for cutting holes in softer woods or in drywall, such as cutting a hole in a wall for a new electric switch. Most keyhole saws have a single handle to which various blades can be fitted.14 mar 2007
What is the difference between a compass saw and a keyhole saw?
Compared with other saws designed for cutting curves, such as coping or fretsaws, compass saws have a larger blade and longer pitch (fewer teeth per inch). ... Keyhole saws, also called padsaws or jab saws, feature shorter, finer blades and (often) straight handles, and are suitable for cutting extremely tight curves.
Can I use a keyhole saw on wood?
Keyhole saw: Also known as jab or compass saw, a keyhole tool has a dagger-like point at the tip of the blade to poke through soft materials such as drywall and paneling. The saw can cut small shapes in traced-out drywall, plywood and wood.13 dic 2019
Can any saw cut wood?
TYPE OF SAW: Jigsaw Many jigsaws come with an adjustable shoe that tilts, allowing you to cut on an angle when needed. These types of saws can cut nearly any type of wood using blades with a TPI between 8 and 10. The teeth on a standard jigsaw blade point upward, so the saw cuts on the blade's upstroke.3 mar 2020
What is a compass keyhole saw?
Compass or Keyhole saws cut curved or straight-sided holes. Saw blades are narrow, tapered nearly to a point to fit into most spaces. Blades come in three or four styles that can be changed to fit the job. Some models have induction-hardened teeth for longer life without sharpening.
What does a compass saw look like?
Characteristics. Compass saws have a narrow, tapered blade usually ending in a sharp point, typically with a tooth pitch of 2.5 to 3 mm (eight to ten teeth per inch), but down to 1.3 mm (up to 20 teeth per inch) for harder materials and as long as 5 mm (few as five teeth per inch) for softer materials.