Positive hook
The tooth leans into the cut, reducing feed effort in ripping but increasing self-feeding tendency.
Neutral and negative hook
A restrained entry is useful where the head pivots into the work or the material is prone to grabbing.
Never generalize blindly
Use only a blade whose application and hook geometry are approved for the specific saw type.
Method for this decision
- Identify whether the blade enters a fixed table, a pivoting head, or a handheld cut.
- Read the approved hook range for the material and machine rather than selecting by positive or negative alone.
- Clamp and support the work, then keep the feed aligned with the saw’s intended direction.
Worked example
Example: a miter-saw crosscut has a different entry motion from a table-saw rip. A nonferrous blade may use restrained hook geometry to reduce grabbing, but the material and saw must both be explicitly supported.
Limits and stop conditions
Hook angle does not compensate for a loose fence, unsupported stock, or wrong blade direction. Stop if the saw manufacturer forbids the chosen geometry or if the work can rotate into the blade.