The objective of this study was to develop and design a model of calculation of fracture parameters for axial-perpendicular direction of wood cutting. Two selected wood species of Central Europe provenance spruce (Picea abies L.) and beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) of two different levels of MC (w ¼ 8% and 16%) were sawn. Measurements of energetic effects (cutting power and cutting force) while sawing wood were carried out on the laboratory stand, simulating conditions of circular saw blade cutting. Using the newly designed model, it is possible to determine fracture toughness and shear yield strength only on the basis of the cutting tests. Unknown parameters, which are then applied in the model, were set based on calculation of the forces acting on the workpiece and the tool. Using the measured cutting force and the feed force, other components of the resulting active force were calculated. The computation was based on Ernst-Merchant's force decomposition diagram. Results confirmed the obvious influence of the anatomical structures and MC on the size of fracture parameters.