Raker shape

The raker is a dual purpose tooth. Since the saw cuts in both directions, on the push and pull stroke, the shape of the raker will effect how it works as a leading point and trailing point. Most people consider how the raker works as a leading point to scoop out the cuttings but how is performs as a trailing point is just as important.

The trailing tip controls how deep the saw cuts. If the raker is swaged with a long smooth curved shape it will work very well to scoop out the cuttings and draw the saw into the cut like a plane. However the very same raker will restrict how the saw advances because it will not compress into the bottom of the kerf as needed for the saw to advance down into the wood.

The greater the distance between the two leading and trailing points of a raker the more the trailing tip must compress into the bottom of the kerf for the saw to advance. When compared to traditional saws, modern competition saw have a very short distance between raker tips and this is one reason they will cut faster then a tradition saw.

So the best shape of the raker is a trade off. A straight un-swaged raker will not scoop out the cuttings well but may allow the saw to advance well. A long curved swaged raker will scoop out the cuttings well but may restrict the advancement of the saw into the wood.