The Smouldering-Associated Worsening (SAW) Index is a patient-reported outcome measure developed to track subtle, non-relapsing neurological progression in Multiple Sclerosis, addressing limitations in traditional assessment tools. Led by Professor Jeremy Hobart, this tool aims to identify early disease progression and optimize treatment, including the use of BTK inhibitors, to manage invisible MS progression. Read the full discussion on Gavin Giovannoni's Substack (MS-Selfie) at gavingiovannoni.substack.com.

The Future: AI and the Dynamic Saw Index

We are entering the era of the Dynamic Saw Index. Machine learning algorithms now analyze past cuts to predict optimal SI settings for new materials. A bandsaw equipped with AI can listen to the cut, watch the chip load via camera, and adjust feed and speed 100 times per second.

In these systems, the Saw Index is no longer a static calculation but a real-time performance target. Early adopters report 40% reduction in blade costs and 22% faster throughput.

The Saw Index Breakdown

| Film | Trap Creativity | Twist Quality | Gore Level | Index Score | Verdict | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Saw (2004) | 7/10 | 10/10 | 5/10 | 27/30 | Masterpiece. Low budget, high intelligence. The bathroom reveal is untouchable. | | Saw II | 8/10 | 8/10 | 7/10 | 23/30 | Excellent expansion. The nerve gas house and the "time is a lie" twist are iconic. | | Saw III | 9/10 | 7/10 | 9/10 | 25/30 | Brutal & emotional. The Rack is the series' most painful trap. Ends the original arc perfectly. | | Saw IV | 6/10 | 6/10 | 8/10 | 20/30 | Convoluted but ambitious. The twist (timeline overlap) is clever but requires a flowchart. | | Saw V | 5/10 | 4/10 | 7/10 | 16/30 | Weakest of the originals. Feels like a filler episode. The "teamwork" trap is frustrating. | | Saw VI | 8/10 | 9/10 | 8/10 | 25/30 | Underrated gem. Perfect social commentary (health insurance). The carousel trap is a classic. | | Saw 3D | 4/10 | 2/10 | 6/10 | 12/30 | Garbage. Cheap 3D gimmicks, terrible acting, and the worst twist (Dr. Gordon returns... poorly). | | Jigsaw (2017) | 6/10 | 5/10 | 6/10 | 17/30 | Unnecessary reboot. Too clean, too digital. The laser collar is silly, not scary. | | Spiral (2021) | 7/10 | 4/10 | 7/10 | 18/30 | Interesting misfire. Chris Rock tries hard, but it forgets to be Saw (no John Kramer, weak twist). | | Saw X (2023) | 9/10 | 8/10 | 9/10 | 26/30 | Return to form. A character-driven revenge story. Best traps since III, and Tobin Bell gives a real performance. |

Step 1: Match TPI to Material Thickness

Use the "3-tooth rule." Measure the thickness of your material. Divide that number by 3 to find the minimum TPI. For example:

Product Write-Up: Saw Index

Title:
Saw Index – Precision Reference Tool for Accurate Repetitive Cuts

Overview:
The Saw Index is an essential shop accessory designed to bring speed, consistency, and accuracy to your miter saw, table saw, or band saw operations. Whether you’re cutting crown molding, framing studs, or trimming multiple identical parts, the Saw Index eliminates the need for repeated measuring by providing a hardened, repositionable stop system with clear, easy-to-read indexing points.

Key Features:

Benefits:

How It Works:

  1. Mount the Saw Index rail to your saw’s fence or work table.
  2. Slide the adjustable stop to your desired length using the built-in scale.
  3. Engage the lock or drop the indexing pin into the nearest reference hole.
  4. Butt your workpiece against the stop and make your cut.
  5. Reset in seconds for the next dimension.

Who It’s For:

What’s Included:

Optional Accessories:

Part 4: The Cultural Saw Index – How We Score Horror Today

The phrase "Saw Index" has leaked out of the fandom and into sociological discourse. Urban Dictionary defines it as: "The metric used to determine how much suffering an audience can endure before they check out."

Common Myths About the Saw Index

Myth 1: "Faster blade speed always improves the Saw Index." False. For most metals, doubling speed halves the Saw Index due to heat generation. Speed is secondary to feed pressure.

Myth 2: "All carbide blades have a better Saw Index than HSS." False. While carbide resists heat, a dull carbide blade actually has a worse Saw Index than a sharp HSS blade. Sharpness trumps material.

Myth 3: "Lubricant doesn't affect the Saw Index." False. Proper coolant or cutting wax reduces friction coefficient by up to 40%, directly boosting the Saw Index by 0.2 to 0.4 points.

Part 2: The Franchise Saw Index – Ranking the Films by Brutality

For critics and streaming services, the "Saw Index" has become shorthand for a comparative ranking of the films' intensity. Here is the definitive Index ranking of the ten films (Saw I through Saw X), measured by Lethality (death count), Ingenuity (trap design), and Plot Complexity (the "twist").