What type of saw did Leonardo da Vinci design to cut wood using water power?

Leonardo da Vinci designed a hydraulic saw that used water power to cut wood.

The machine combined a waterwheel with mechanical linkages. Water turning the wheel supplied continuous rotary motion, while the mechanism converted that motion into the back-and-forth movement needed by a saw blade. A carriage could advance the timber as cutting progressed, allowing the machine to do work that otherwise required repeated manual effort.

Leonardo recorded many machines powered by water, including mills, pumps, and devices for manufacturing. His hydraulic saw belongs to this broader interest in converting natural motion into useful industrial work. The design shows his attention to gearing, cranks, and controlled movement rather than simply copying a hand tool.

The machine is sometimes described as the first mechanical saw, but saws themselves were ancient. Leonardo’s significance lies in his detailed design for mechanized, water-powered sawing. The exact arrangement varied among reconstructions based on his notebooks.