A ripsaw is a specialized type of handsaw designed to make rip cuts. A rip cut is a term used in woodworking to describe a cut that is made parallel to the grain of the wood. Cutting a tree trunk in half from its top to its bottom, for example, is considered a rip cut.

There are many tools that can be used to make a rip cut, such as a table saw, a radial alarm saw, a hand rip saw, and a band saw. A ripsaw, however, is the only saw that was created specifically for this purpose. The cutting edge of every tooth on the ripsaw is made with a flat front edge. Unlike with many other types of saws, the tooth of the ripsaw is not angled in a forward or backward direction.

The special tooth design of the ripsaw allows it to act like a chisel. Unlike the crosscut saw, which has teeth angled back with beveled edges, the design of the ripsaw teeth prevents the saw from following along the grain lines. By acting in a way that is similar to a chisel, the ripsaw can easily cut across grain lines and achieve a straight cut by lifting off tiny splinters of wood. The American-designed ripsaw is created to cut when the saw is being pushed through the wood, which is called the push stroke. A Japanese ripsaw, however, cuts on the pull stroke instead.

A ripsaw is made with a metal blade and blade holder. The handle is usually made of wood, though it may be made of metal as well. Since the ripsaw is made of metal, it should be stored in an area that is free from excessive moisture in order to prevent rusting. In addition, it is best to hang the ripsaw on pegs on a wall in order to prevent moisture from accumulating on one area of the saw.

Occasionally, the ripsaw blade needs to be replaced because it dulls from use. In addition, the ripsaw blade may break during use, particularly if too much pressure is applied while sawing. Replacement blades are available at hardware stores and home improvement stores. To replace the ripsaw blade, the user simply has to remove the screws holding the old blade in place, slide in the new ripsaw blade, and re-screw.