Abstract The main aim of this paper was to evaluate the practical aspects and compare two of the most common machining techniques employed in the crack compliance (incremental slitting) method for the determination of residual stresses, namely wire electrodischarge machining (WEDM) and circular abrasive saws. For the circular saws, the effect of the rotational speed and blade thickness was also evaluated. Results show that the associated level of errors introduced during thin saw machining can be as low as the results obtained by WEDM machining. However, for practical reasons, WEDM machining offers a better control of cut increment length than sawing techniques. Additionally, higher rotational saw speeds are likely to introduce larger errors in strain readings probably due to higher frictional heat and plasticity generation ahead of the slot tip.