The fact that it is thinner at the back than along the teeth gives it clearance in passing back and forth in the kerf, but the friction is still great, especially in sawing soft or damp wood.

To avoid this binding still further, the teeth are "set" alternately one to one side and the next to the other, and so on.
[Illustration: Fig.87.Rip Saw Teeth: A-edge view, B-side view, C cross-section.

Crosscut-Saw Teeth: A'-edge view, B'-side view, C'-cross-section.] The size of saws is indicated by the length of the blade in inches.
The coarseness of the tooth is indicated by the number of "points" to the inch.

"Points" should not be confused with teeth as there is always one more point per inch than there are teeth.

For example, a five point rip-saw has five points to the inch but only four full teeth, Fig.87.