A resaw is a large band saw

Band saw

A bandsaw is a power tool which uses a blade consisting of a continuous band of metal with teeth along one edge to cut various workpieces. The band usually rides on two wheels rotating in the same plane, although some small bandsaws have three wheels. Bandsawing produces uniform cutting action as a...

 optimized for cutting timber along the grain to reduce larger sections into smaller sections or veneers

Wood veneer

In woodworking, veneer refers to thin slices of wood, usually thinner than 3 mm , that are typically glued onto core panels to produce flat panels such as doors, tops and panels for cabinets, parquet floors and parts of furniture. They are also used in marquetry...

. Resawing veneers requires a wide blade - commonly 2" to 3" (52 - 78 mm) - with a small kerf

Kerf

Kerf and similar can mean:* kerf, the width of a cut* Kerf, a poetry collection by Peter Sanger* Kerala E.N.T. Research Foundation , a hospital at Kollam in Kerala in India...

 to minimize waste. Resaw blades of up to 1" (26 mm) may be fitted to a standard band saw. Many small & medium sized sawmills use 1"-1-1/2" band saw blades. Manufacturers of these blades are Wood-Mizer, Dakin-Flathers, Lenox Saw, Edge Manufacturing & Munkforsagar.

Timber mills

Sawmill

A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....

 use larger resaws to rip large planks into smaller sizes. A typical mill sized resaw is eight inches wide and made with 16 gauge steel. Resaw bladess can be identified by their straight back, as opposed to headsaws

Head saw

A head saw, framesaw, gang saw or head rig, is the saw that makes the initial cuts in a log at a sawmill, turning a log into cants, or planks, of wood.-History:...

and doublecut blades which have notched or toothed backs.