What To Look For in a Hand Saw
The best hand saws should feature a rigid high-quality durable stainless steel blade that stays on the cut line and doesn’t bend or buckle. The blade should feature a lacquer coating for both weather resistance and reduced friction when cutting wood. Blades can be as long as 550mm (22″) – the longer the blade, the longer and more efficient the stroke.
Teeth should be induction hardened, tempered, and razor-sharp. Ideally, teeth should be precision ground on three surfaces, so they cut on both the push and pull strokes.
Heavy-duty first fix hand saws typically feature 7 TPI for rough cuts through timber, whilst finer second fix saws with 11-14 TPI are used for cutting laminate, composite, MDF and plastics.
Check the hand saw comes with a blade sheath to protect both its teeth and your hands when you pick it up.
An ergonomic handle is an extremely important feature of the hand saw. Ideally, it should be both screwed and welded to the blade. The handle should be constructed from a rubberised plastic that provides a soft comfortable grip to help keep your hand straight when cutting. Most handles are shaped to mark out 90° and 45° angles.
Whether you’re looking for a heavy-duty or fine-toothed hand saw, I’ve done the hard work for you. I’ve put together the best hand saws on the market right now. Read on to see what I found out…