A whipsaw is a long, thin saw with two handles historically used by lumberjacks. It requires skill and coordination with a partner and can be dangerous. Chainsaws are also used for timber harvesting. The term “whipsaw” is also used in the financial world to describe violent market movements.
A reciprocating saw is a type of cross saw designed to be used by two people. Crosscut saws have special teeth designed for making horizontal cuts, such as the cut needed to fell a tree safely. For certain applications, miter saws are safer, especially when used by experienced operators. Some hardware stores sell whipsaws and they can also be obtained from lumber supply companies.
You’ve probably seen a picture of a whipsaw; it is the classic long thin blade with two handles that was historically used by lumberjacks. Once the loggers had selected a tree for felling, they would prepare the tree and surrounding area and then set to work with the whipsaw, with the men standing on either side of the tree and moving the saw in a back and forth movement.
Successfully using a whipsaw requires some skill and coordination with your partner. A well-trained and experienced team can establish a smooth pace that executes felling tasks quickly and safely. It also requires a fair amount of force, as typically a hacksaw has sharp teeth on both sides, meaning the tree is cut on both push and pull strokes, so loggers need to put in a fair amount of force in saw use.
As you might imagine, a jigsaw can be extremely dangerous. Both users must maintain a firm grip on the saw, as a lumberjack’s relaxation could cause the saw to bounce off course, potentially causing serious injury. If a lumberjack pulls a saw that isn’t supported from the other side, it is possible to pull the whipsaw out of the tree, and it may spin around, dealing damage along the way.
Chainsaws are still used to harvest timber in some regions of the world, and are also used to chop and trim timber. Some examples of historically used huge whipsaws can be seen in logging museums and are sometimes demonstrated at logging contests for people who want to see them in action.
The term “whipsaw” is also used in the financial world to describe violent movements in the market, referring to the sometimes frantic movement of a team of whipsaws. For investors, the market can be quite stressful, as fortunes can change very quickly. Savvy investors are familiar with the phenomenon and may choose to ride it or pick the right time to unload whiplash stocks, but inexperienced individuals can lose a significant amount of money to these violent fluctuations.
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