tree like construction material, has numerous advantages, not the least of which is ease of processing. Issued various instruments for working with wood, but the simplest and most common is the usual hand saw-hacksaw. What parameters are used to select a hacksaw for wood, which is better and what to look for when choosing a new tool?
Criteria for choosing a hacksaw for wood
Choice of the most convenient option, as a rule, is determined by a set of the following characteristics:
- length of the canvas;
- the material used in the production of the saw;
- handle configuration;
- shape, pitch, tooth size.
Even if one of the listed characteristics changes, the performance properties of the hacksaw also change noticeably. It is clear that the shape of the handle affects the comfort of working with the tool. Therefore, if only one master will use the saw, you need to select the handle so that, as they say, it “fits” in the hand. If you use a hacksaw rarely and not too intensively, then comfort of holding becomes not the most important parameter.
Most often, hacksaws are produced with blade lengths from 350 to 600 mm. The choice of blade length depends on the expected thickness wooden products, which will have to be cut. The main thing here is not to go to extremes, because with a blade that is too short you will have to work longer to achieve the same result, and a blade that is too long, especially when sawing hard wood, can spring back and, again, create difficulties.
Blade material, pitch and tooth types
The material for the production of hacksaw blades is usually tool or alloy steel. In order for the tool to serve for a long time, you should choose a saw with a blade made of high types of steel, preferably stainless steel. The price will be higher, but it will certainly pay off. Additionally, the teeth may or may not be hardened. Both options have their merits. Unhardened teeth can always be sharpened, with a certain skill. Hardened teeth are more reliable and last longer, but it is unlikely to be possible to sharpen them after they are worn out.
When asked which wood hacksaw is best for certain conditions, most often you can answer based on the size, type, pitch of the teeth. Efficient cutting wood materials characterized by cutting speed and accuracy. These properties depend on each other - cutting accuracy guarantees a fine tooth, while reducing the speed of work. Larger teeth make cutting faster, but cut surface quality and accuracy become poorer.
For the right choice The TPI parameter is important, meaning the number of teeth per inch of working length of the blade. This coefficient is usually indicated in the markings on the side surface of the canvas. For accurate work, where the accuracy and quality of surfaces are of serious importance, the TPI should be equal to 7–11, but if speed is preferred, then the TPI is selected with a value of 3–5.
There are several types of hacksaws based on the type of teeth:
- For rip sawing. This tool has teeth in the shape of an oblique triangle and is used for cutting wood along the grain.
- The cross saw is equipped with isosceles triangular teeth and is mainly used for dry wood.
- For mixed sawing. Triangular teeth alternate with semicircular ones. Not recommended for intensive, frequent use.
- With trapezoidal tooth. Each tooth of this hacksaw has three cutting edges. The use of this hacksaw has undeniable advantages - the tool cuts quickly and effortlessly.
- The modernized saw has grouped teeth separated by special spaces, which make it easier to remove chips from the cutting area.
Hacksaws, in addition to the shape and arrangement of the teeth, are divided according to the shape and length of the blade, are folding, with various forms handles. The durability and quality of the instrument can be indirectly indicated by the price. Good hacksaw It's unlikely to be the cheapest.
Popular models
Information from sellers about which wood hacksaws sell best makes it possible to judge the most popular models. Let's look at some of them.
Stanley Jet Cut SP2-15-288
This hacksaw is equipped with a D-shaped handle, a 50 cm blade with a tooth pitch of 7 mm. A tooth with three cutting edges ensures ease and speed of sawing. The fine Swedish steel used in the production of the blade ensures high quality of the tool. The teeth are practically not subject to wear, which allows for many years of successful use. Price - within 1200–1300 rubles.
Bison Expert
The tool is popular, benefits from its reasonable cost (from 700 rubles), as well as its versatility. Triangular hardened teeth allow longitudinal and transverse cutting at a fairly high speed. The special tooth setting technology eliminates the occurrence of clamping forces, improves productivity and work efficiency. Hardened, specially set teeth, 5 mm pitch, comfortable plastic handle. Canvas length from 40 cm.
Stanley General Purpose 1-20-089
Designed for precise and accurate cutting of workpieces, this hacksaw has fine teeth (TPI=11) made using Jet Cut technology, an ergonomic handle, and a polished steel blade. A special feature is the precision provided by the fine teeth. At the same time, the operating speed is also quite high, due to the teeth with three cutting edges (sawing occurs in both forward and reverse motion). The comfortable handle provides a firm grip, excellent control and ease of use, and is attached to the blade with with the help of three screws Length 380 mm, price - 650–700 rubles.
BAHCO Laplander 396-LAP
Great tool, designed for sawing dry and wet wood, designed and manufactured specifically for hunters, fishermen and tourists, although it is also used by gardeners and even builders. Excellent Swedish quality, TPI=7, Sandvik XT shaped teeth, allowing sawing both along and across the grain. The canvas has a special coating applied not only to protect against corrosion, but also to reduce friction. Folded length -23 cm, weight 200 g. The blade is securely fixed in both the folded and open positions. The only drawback is the price - from 1.6 to 2 thousand rubles.
Wood saws differ in the size of the cutting teeth. This parameter determines how the cut will turn out, what types of wood the hacksaw will be suitable for, and how easy it will be to work with it. But besides this, there are other characteristics that you should pay attention to when buying a tool. Therefore, the question of how to choose a hacksaw for wood is relevant and requires a thorough approach.
For a hacksaw for wood, the following matters:
- blade length,
- canvas width,
- blade steel grade,
- lever,
- tooth size.
The length of the blade not only affects the width of the cut wooden piece, but also greatly simplifies the work. A long stroke allows you to make less effort, since in one movement the cut is carried out by a large number of teeth. On the other hand, the longer the canvas, the more springy it is. When dealing with hard woods such as oak, maple or ash, the saw will cause a lot of discomfort and will quickly become dull.
On the practical side, short hacksaws, with a long cutting edge of up to 30 cm, are more appropriate to use for small one-time work. They are suitable for those who live in an apartment, as they do not take up much space. Accordingly, in a private household, it is better to immediately buy a long saw (45-50 cm). This will allow you to work not only with workpieces, but also to cut down trees.
Typically, the width of the canvas is from 10 to 20 cm. Narrower options are not allowed for technical reasons (they will break at the slightest bend), wider ones are too inconvenient for manual work. When choosing a hacksaw for wood, you should remember that thin workpieces are easier to saw with a narrow blade, and thick ones (tree trunk, roofing joists, etc.) with a wide blade.
Alloy tool steel of the following grades is used for hacksaws:
- U8GA,
- 60С2А.
All of them are certified by GOST and are distinguished by a high content of carbon (0.7 - 0.8%) and silicon (0.1 - 0.4%), which makes the steel strong and resistant to fractures. Other steel grades do not meet the technological requirements for the product.
Conventional handles are made of plastic. It is advisable to choose a handle with a rubberized backing for the fingers. This will allow you to make a tighter grip and protect your hand from calluses.
The saw teeth are the most important part of the tool, so it’s worth taking a closer look at them.
Types and purpose of teeth
Highlight following types teeth:
- for slitting,
- for cross cutting,
- for universal cutting.
Slitting is usually carried out either circular saw(round sawing discs), or with a jigsaw. But there are also hand hacksaws for these purposes. As with its electric counterparts, the teeth on the saw resemble hooks. The angle between them is allowed 40-55 degrees.
The hook shape allows cutting in only one direction. It is preferable to cut along the grain. Then the hacksaw easily penetrates the wood and the cut is as smooth and accurate as possible. The choice of such a hacksaw is appropriate only for those who have a desire to make furniture themselves. Since it is not suitable for any other purposes.
The cross cutting tooth is the most common. Externally, it looks like an isosceles triangle. The angle between the teeth is 40-50 degrees. Similar design allows you to cut equally well both when moving the cutting edge forward and backward. As a result, cross cuts are performed as accurately, quickly and without special effort. When purchasing a hacksaw, it is important to note that this type of tooth is only suitable for dry workpieces. The saw will tear fresh wood, and the sharpening will deteriorate.
For fresh branches, triangular teeth with parallel sharpening are used. This means that each tooth is sharpened in a checkerboard pattern and only on one side. As a result, a free channel is formed between the teeth inside the cut, through which wet sawdust can freely come out of the cut without impeding the progress of the saw.
Another option is a combined tooth composition. It combines triangular with semicircular. At the same time, semicircular elongated teeth are longer than triangular ones. When the hand moves forward, narrow long teeth make a guiding cut, and when the hand returns to its original position, the triangular tooth expands the cutting channel and removes sawdust and shavings from it.
It should be remembered that the smaller the angle between the semicircular and triangular teeth, the more accurate the cut will be.
It is better not to buy hacksaws for universal cutting; they are usually equipped with various sets of teeth, which in theory should cope equally well with any task. But in practice, such saws become dull much faster, and sharpening them often costs more than a new hacksaw.
And most importantly, in any high-quality hacksaw, the teeth are always made of hardened metal.
Types of hand saws for wood
There are several types of hacksaws, including:
- narrow,
- regular,
- with a butt,
- onion.
A hacksaw for wood, the price of which is the lowest, is a narrow hand saw. This option is suitable for gardening, cutting branches and small jobs with wooden blanks. Typically, either parallel tooth grinding or triangular double-sided teeth are used.
It is important to understand that working with such a saw is only possible with workpieces whose thickness does not exceed 8-10 cm. A blade that is too short does not allow you to create leverage, therefore, sawing thicker parts will require a lot of physical effort.
Conventional hacksaws are made with any type of teeth. The choice depends solely on the purpose for which you plan to buy the tool. You should only pay attention to the fact that it is extremely undesirable to use such hacksaws when making furniture. Or you should buy special miter boxes in order to be able to saw off at a certain angle.
Hand hacksaws with a blade are used as additional tool. Their main task is not to make deep cuts in the workpiece.
Bow saws are an analogue of an electric jigsaw. They allow you to make the most precise cuts and work with any workpiece at any angle. Highlight:
- sweeping,
- transverse,
- round,
- thorny.
Swing saws allow you to perform longitudinal cutting. The market offers canvases from 40 to 80 cm in length. Longer pieces can only be cut using a power tool.
Cross-cut saws are designed for sawing workpieces across the wood fiber. They make cuts both at right angles and at any other. This results in perfectly smooth edges where the cut is made.
Circular saws are narrower and are used for figure sawing. They are used to make curves and other complex elements. Distinctive feature– use of particularly flexible metal grades.
Tenon saws allow you to make simple geometric figures on the workpiece.
Feature bow saws is that the mechanism for fastening is made or purchased once, and the saws themselves are not sharpened, but new ones are purchased (as for hacksaws for metal).
Recommended manufacturers of hand saws for wood
Professional wood hacksaws are distinguished by their quality and compliance with the stated parameters. By purchasing products from trusted manufacturers, you will be confident that the tool will last a long time and reliably. Among the verified companies, the following should be highlighted:
- Bahco,
- Stanley,
- Gross,
- Sandvik.
Bahco is a Swedish company that is part of the SNA Europe corporation. For more than 200 years of history, the manufacturer has never changed the main concept - the production of affordable high-quality hand tools. Bahco wood hacksaws are distinguished by their durability and a reasonable price from 500 rubles.
Sometimes you can find Sandvik wood hacksaws on the market. This company is part of Bahco, so the quality of the products corresponds general requirements concern.
The American manufacturer of wood saws, Stanley, also focuses on the accessibility of its products. The company is distinguished by an extensive staff of designers and engineers. Thanks to their work, the hacksaw blade and cutting edge differ from Russian GOST, but this does not affect the quality in any way. This company is ideal for those who buy a hacksaw for the country. Since the combined teeth allow you to carry out any type of cut. Price from 400 rub.
The German company Gross is younger than its opponents. It achieves the competitiveness of its products through very low prices(from 250 rub.). Nevertheless, the products are of sufficient quality and comply with all domestic technical standards. The only downside is that the range of products is quite small.
There are also domestic producers, which offer relatively inexpensive and quality options. Among them:
- Bison,
- Piranha.
Bison wood saws are made in China, but meet the steel and tooth requirements. Of the minuses:
- cannot be left outdoors (it rusts quickly, even with slight humidity),
- continuous work time no more than 10 minutes (rest 15 minutes),
- not suitable for working with hard wood.
Despite this, these hacksaws will come in handy for pruning garden trees.
The Piranha company is relatively small and has not been operating for long. Like everything new, its products are very affordable (up to 500 rubles) and different high quality. Piranha wood saws are available in only a few models. Country of origin: China. But, unlike Zubr, the products of this company are coated with protective Teflon, which protects the instrument from corrosion, even if it is forgotten in the rain.
While working, I often have to cut various wooden elements. And, if it is not possible to use a power tool, a hacksaw comes to the rescue. I'll tell you how to choose quality tool, and I’ll tell you what to look for when purchasing. And as a bonus, I’ll list a few specific options that worked best.
Tool selection criteria
The main characteristics of any hacksaw are:
- Length and width of the canvas;
- Type of steel from which the blade is made;
- Size and configuration of teeth;
- Construction type.
We will analyze each aspect in detail.
Length and width of the canvas
Regarding these aspects you need to know the following:
| Illustration | Description |
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Short hacksaws are used to cut small elements. The length of the working blade in them is no more than 30 cm. Using this version of the tool, it is very convenient to cut thin bars and sheet materials such as plywood, fiberboard and chipboard. The tool can be different types, this aspect is described in more detail below. |
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Medium options are suitable for any work. The most popular type of tool has a blade length of 35-50 cm. Using such a hacksaw you can cut any boards and bars. |
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Hacksaws over 500 mm long. This option is mainly used for longitudinal sawing of thick elements. They are not found often, since sawing large blocks or logs by hand is very difficult. |
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Canvas up to 50 mm wide. These are so-called narrow hacksaws used for cutting small elements and sheet materials small thickness. |
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Hacksaws with a blade width of 100-200 mm. Most often, the blade tapers towards the end, that is, the width changes from the handle to the end of the blade. This configuration simplifies sawing and reduces the likelihood of the blade getting stuck in the wood. There are also options with the same width of the canvas along the entire length. Most often these are bow and axle type saws (their features are described below). |
The wider the blade, the stiffer it is, but the likelihood of the working part getting stuck in a thick piece of wood is higher.
As for the length, it should be approximately twice the thickness of the elements being cut. This ratio allows you to work in a sweeping manner, and your hand will get much less tired. The instructions on the packaging will tell you what kind of work this or that model is intended for.
Fabric material
This aspect is difficult to determine by eye, so the packaging must contain all the information:
- steel grade. Most often, one of the following options is used in manufacturing: U7, U7A, U8, U8A, U8G, U8GA, U9A, U10, 8ХФ, 9ХФ, 9ХС, 65Г, 60 С2А. These are all grades of alloy steel with high hardness and good wear resistance;
- Steel hardness. The minimum value that a hacksaw must meet is 45 HRC, but it is better to choose options with a hardness of 50 to 60 HRC. The markings are either on the packaging or on the hacksaw blade itself; the photo below shows a version with a hardness of 55 HRC;
- Hardening. For tooth strength hacksaw blade can be hardened. In this case, they acquire special strength and wear resistance. But hardened teeth cannot be sharpened, so after the blade wears out you need to buy new tool. Unhardened options wear out faster, but they can be sharpened as needed with a special file.
If you only use a hacksaw occasionally, it is better to purchase a hardened version. With infrequent use, it will last at least several years. When using actively, it is better to take a non-hardened hacksaw and sharpen it as needed.
Tooth size and configuration
When figuring out how to choose a hacksaw for wood, Special attention given to the teeth. The quality of work and its productivity depend on them.
The tooth pitch is determined by the TPI index, this abbreviation refers to the number of teeth per 1 inch (25 mm). All products have the appropriate markings, so it won’t be difficult to figure it out:
- Large tooth. This is 3-6 TPI. These options provide better performance. A hacksaw cuts very quickly, but it damages the ends and the cutting quality is not very high. This option is suitable for work in which speed is important;
- Middle tooth- 7-9 TPI. A universal tool option that provides good cutting quality when average speed carrying out work. This is the option you need to purchase if you will be sawing different materials;
- small tooth- from 10 TPI and above. These hacksaws are used where highest value is given to quality. The ends are neat, without burrs or burrs, but the work speed is several times lower than when cutting with a hacksaw with a large tooth.
It is very important to choose the right type of tooth. The technical characteristics of a wood saw directly depend on this:
| Illustration | Description |
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Hacksaws for longitudinal sawing. Used for cutting wood along the grain and have a curved tooth. This configuration allows cutting in only one direction; when the tool goes in the other direction, sawdust is removed from the cut. |
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Cross saws. Used for cutting material across the grain. They have smooth triangular teeth with sharpening on both sides, which allows you to cut elements in two directions. |
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Universal hacksaws. They have a trapezoidal beveled tooth of a special configuration. With its help, both longitudinal and transverse cutting are carried out equally well. |
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Special options. A modern professional hacksaw may have an unusual version of the teeth, which are divided into separate blocks. This type of tool is designed for cutting raw wood, thanks to the gaps the sawdust is removed very efficiently.
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Types of hacksaws and the most popular options
All products can be divided into 4 groups:
- Narrow hacksaws. They have a small web width and are designed for figure cutting sheet materials and sawing of small elements;
- Bow saws. They are a frame with a stretched canvas. Used when cutting large diameter elements;
- Hacksaws. They have a stiffening rib in the upper part, so the blade does not bend during operation. With this tool you can make perfectly even cuts with your own hands;
- Standard options. The most popular and common type of hacksaw. It is distinguished by its versatility, ease of use and compactness.
Now I will give a couple of examples. The hacksaws listed below have been personally tested and performed well:
- Stanley General Purpose. Very a good option with medium tooth size (8 TPI). It cuts easily and quickly enough, suitable for both wood and sheet materials based on it. Hardened edge ensures durability. The price is approximately 800 rubles (prices are current for spring 2017);
- Gross Piranha. An excellent tool that comes in different options lengths and with different tooth sizes. The high-strength, hardened steel is very durable, and the Teflon coating on the metal ensures easy movement when sawing. This option costs about 1000 rubles.
Conclusion
Now you know exactly which wood hacksaw is needed in your case. I recommend watching the video in this article, and if you have any questions, ask in the comments.
A wood saw is a must-have tool in almost any home. Sawing various wood parts or processing garden trees is a common thing, so you can do without special tool pretty hard. To choose a good and high-quality product, first of all, you need to understand how to choose the right hacksaw for wood. This tool has many varieties, which differ in some details and build quality.
Despite the simplicity of hacksaws for wood materials, you need to be savvy and have the necessary knowledge when choosing them. Otherwise, there is a possibility of purchasing an inconvenient or low-quality tool. In addition, it should be remembered that hacksaws can be sold unsharpened. In other words, you won't be able to start working immediately after purchase. Below we discuss how to choose a hacksaw for sawing wood materials with a description of all the nuances that you should pay attention to when choosing products.
Basic characteristics of the tool
First of all, you should take a closer look at the tool, focusing on its main part - the blade. From the quality of the metal, its production and correct sharpening Comfort during use and durability of the device depend. When selecting quality products, you need to focus on 4 main factors:
- canvas size;
- tooth size;
- type of metal;
- handle shape.
The size of the canvas is of primary importance. Its length is selected based on the purpose of application. For narrow slats, wooden skirting boards and boards, a saw with a length of 25 to 30 cm is suitable. If you decide to build any building yourself, it is advisable to select a hacksaw from 45 to 50 cm.
The main criterion when choosing the length of the blade is the diameter of the tree to be processed. The size of the hacksaw should be at least 2 times larger. You can purchase a tool of slightly shorter length, but this may cause problems during operation. The main difficulty will be caused by the blade sticking inside the wood, since the teeth will not be released during cutting to discard sawdust. The second reason is the lack of comfort. In other words, you will spend much more physical strength for sawing, since sweeping body movements will strain the muscles more.
The cutting performance and accuracy depend on the size of the teeth and their sharpness. When choosing a tool, you need to take into account that smaller teeth are designed for high-precision sawing, but they have some limitations in performance. With large teeth, the sawing is not as accurate due to high-speed work, which means you will spend less energy on sawing.
This property is marked on tools as TPI (total number of teeth per inch). The accuracy of cutting depends on the value of this indicator. For example, when working with types of boards such as chipboard/fibreboard, you should use a hacksaw with a TPI rating of 7-9. This will allow you to cut the material carefully without crushing its surface.
If a tool is purchased for cutting trees, then there are no requirements for accuracy of work. In this case, the main criterion is the performance of the tool, so the most suitable option would be a saw with a TPI of 3 to 6, where the interval between the teeth is 4-8 mm.
Preparing the hacksaw for work: a – setting the teeth; b – sharpening.
Standard teeth on hacksaw blades are triangular in shape. In most cases, these teeth can be sharpened from time to time. Modern tools have trapezoidal teeth. During their production, the emphasis is on high strength and wear resistance. Such a saw cannot be sharpened, since during the processing process it is quite difficult to give the teeth the required shape. In addition, the high-strength metal from which they are made is difficult to grind down. Therefore, after the end of the hacksaw’s service life, you will have to buy a new tool or change the blade.
The metal used for saws also has its own indicator. The classic hardness of steel intended for sawing trees is 45 HRC. For the teeth, metal with a hardness of 55 to 60 HRC is used. Such tools simultaneously combine wear-resistant teeth and a flexible base. Hacksaws with inherent characteristics are easily identified visually, since the blade has a lighter shade in relation to the teeth. Most of these saws cannot be sharpened. The only exceptions are models with teeth that have not undergone the hardening stage.
IN last resort Attention should be paid to the handle, since only the ease of use of the tool depends on it. Handles are either reversible or standard. In the first case, it is possible to replace the worn blade.
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How to choose the right hacksaw for wood?
First you need to figure out for what purposes the hacksaw will be used: in carpentry or carpentry. In the first case, the tool produces high-precision sawing and is used for dry wood. Operating speed in carpentry not as important as accuracy.
The length of the blade is selected based on the purpose of use, that is, the size of the wood for sawing. For passive use, it is better to choose a hacksaw with hardened teeth, since it will often stand idle. Due to the long service life of such saws, you will not need to sharpen them, which in itself is a labor-intensive process.
The quality of a product is easily determined during the purchasing process.
You need to take the tool and first of all evaluate the uniformity of the canvas. After this, you need to bend it approximately 30-45° and release it. Do this carefully as poor quality material may break. Then re-evaluate the uniformity. If there is a slight deviation at the bend point, the metal of the product is of poor quality.
Tool teeth have 2 tasks:
- sawing wood;
- remove sawdust.
If the arrangement of teeth on the blade is sparse, the productivity of the tool increases, and sawdust does not clog the processing area. Saws with a TPI of up to 7 are considered high-speed and comfortable to use. However, their disadvantage is low cutting accuracy.
Therefore, you need to focus on your own needs and look for a ratio of indicators that suits you. The best option for all types of work is selected as follows: minimum diameter The wood being processed must have a size larger than the section in which 3 teeth are located. Otherwise, it will complicate the sawing process and you will quickly get tired.
Sawing tools can cut both lengthwise and crosswise. The teeth of a saw designed for cutting lengthwise have a slight slope. She cuts the wood in a forward motion. The size of a standard tool is no more than 50 cm, the angle of the teeth is always sharp. Cross-cut saws are much more common; they can be found in any hardware stores in a wide range. Their teeth are sharpened in both planes. This allows you to cut wood with a forward and away motion.
When choosing a tool for sawing wood, its cost is important. A standard pattern applies here: expensive and branded models are of high quality, unlike counterfeits from China. If you need a hacksaw for a one-time job, there is no need to buy a branded model. But for long-term use, it is recommended to take a closer look at high-quality hardened steel products.
As a rule, good products are made from high quality steel, which is processed using advanced technological solutions. It takes into account many little things, from the shape of the teeth to the spacing between them.