Abstract: A circular saw includes a circular disk-shaped body with an outer periphery having saw teeth separated by gullets and saw tooth tips at the saw teeth. The saw tooth tips have a saw kerf. At least one of the gullets has a radially innermost margin at a first radius. The body has a thickness discontinuity at a second radius, the second radius being at least equal to the first radius. The body has a first thickness adjacent to and radially outside of the thickness discontinuity and a second thickness adjacent to and radially inside of the thickness discontinuity. The second thickness is greater than the first thickness. The ratio of the difference between the second thickness and the first thickness, and the difference between the kerf and the first thickness is equal to or greater than 0.25.

Abstract: A variable thickness linear saw design is proposed for enabling maximum reduction of the thickness of the kerf associated with such saws. Typically, such saws have cutting teeth mounted on the leading edge of a supporting plate. In the improvement of this saw, this supporting plate is given two discrete thicknesses relative to the kerf. A first and narrow thickness (relative to the kerf) longitudinal segment is used parallel to and adjacent the supported teeth. This first and narrow thickness longitudinally extending segment only occupies a fraction of less than half and preferably about 20% of the full width of the saw behind the supported teeth. A second and expanded thickness (relative to the kerf) longitudinal segment is used for the remaining width of the saw. The reduced thickness of the narrow tooth supporting section of the saw forms in the case of the linear saws a preferred exit path for sawdust, this preferred exit path being immediately adjacent and behind the supported teeth of the saw.

Abstract: A circular saw utilized for ripping lumber (or cutting any other work piece material) is provided with a step taper construction. The step taper construction occurs between concentric circular members of decreasing thickness to the periphery of the saw, this construction raising critical rotational speeds to enable lower saw kerf or greater operating speeds of the saw. The saw includes a thick central concentric hub member having a thickness greater than that of the cutting path or kerf of the saw. An intermediate concentric member begins at a step taper at the concentric hub and extends the radial distance from the hub to the saw periphery. Intermediate radial member typically extends into the kerf of the saw at a diameter less than the kerf and has a thickness less than that of the kerf. An exterior tooth supporting concentric member of the saw extends from the intermediate concentric member to the supported saw teeth on the exterior of the saw.