Crosscut
Affiliate link — we may earn a commissionA crosscut goes across the width of a board, perpendicular to the grain. Cutting a 2x4 to length is a crosscut. Trimming the end off a shelf board is a crosscut. Miter saws are built for this operation. A table saw with a miter gauge or crosscut sled also crosscuts. Circular saws crosscut with a speed square as a guide. Crosscut blades have more teeth (60 to 80 on a 10-inch blade) with a higher hook angle to shear wood fibers cleanly instead of tearing them. Using a rip blade for crosscuts leaves a ragged edge with visible tearout.
Why It Matters
Almost every woodworking project starts with crosscutting lumber to rough length. Clean crosscuts with square ends are the starting point for every joint that follows. If the cut isn't square, the joint won't close. A sharp crosscut blade and a consistent technique prevent gaps at every downstream step.