The bow saw is one of the most common types of saws still in use today. The design of this tool includes several structural parts, one of which is the blade for bow saw. Such a blade can have different sizes and tooth shapes, can be made from a variety of metals and have various purposes. Therefore, in this article we will take a detailed look at blades for bow saws for wood, and also find out what you need to know in order to choose such a blade in a store or hardware supermarket.
Main features of the saw blade
When choosing or purchasing a saw, it is important to pay attention to the main features of the part, namely parameters such as blade length, density and stability, fastening method, etc.
Length of blade for bow saw. Determining the length of the bow saw blade is very simple - to do this, it is enough to know the length of the frame in which it should be installed. So, the frame can have a wide variety of different size– this can be a saw with a length of 350 mm, 500 or 700 mm and so on. Also, important feature in this case, it is the length calculation system - it can be inch or metric. Therefore, if the length of the bow saw is expressed in inches, then inch blades should be selected accordingly.
Canvas material. Several types of steel are used as material for the manufacture of bow saw blades. Naturally, all these types are high-strength, so the following types are used:
- V high carbon steel;
- V high-strength tool steel;
- s hardened steel.
In addition, the coating of the blade teeth can be coated with a special Teflon coating to prevent corrosion processes or any others that arise due to external environmental influences.
Shape of blade teeth. Is enough important characteristic when selecting and using a bow saw blade. The blade teeth may have different shape– these can be trapezoidal or triangular-shaped teeth, they can also be teeth with a forked triangular tip (Kremlin-shaped teeth), and so on. In addition, a feature of bow saw blades for wood is that it has different quantities teeth per inch of blade. This indicator indicates how neat the cut made with this blade will be. The greater the number of teeth per inch of blade, the more accurate the cut will be; accordingly, the fewer teeth, the more “rough” the cut will be.
Consumer analysis of bow saw blades
Today, you can easily buy a blade for a bow saw, but at the same time, you need to know the most suitable options. Therefore, we will present several types of saw blades that are highly popular in the market.
Stanley Fleam Tooth canvas. This blade is intended for use in a bow saw and has hardened teeth of a traditional shape. The material used to manufacture this blade is Swedish high-strength steel. The surface of the teeth themselves is hardened, so when examining this blade you will notice that they have a slightly dark tint in contrast to the rest of the surface of the blade. This blade is best suited for quick cuts, longitudinal and cross cuts.
Thanks to the successful geometry and tooth spacing, the occurrence of vibrations during operation is eliminated and minimized. The blade length of this blade is 610 mm. Thus, if the blade does not fit the frame of the bow saw, you can install a special adapter that will adjust the size of the blade to the size of the saw itself.
Bahco bow saw blade. This model bow saw blades, has been around since 1969. So, the company developed its own version of the saw blade, which was made of bimetallic material. Thanks to the properties of this material, the fabric is very elastic, and at the same time durable and wear-resistant. In addition, the blade has high cutting ability. The length of the blade is 530 mm, and the cutting has 51 teeth. In turn, this makes it possible to ideally work with old and dry timber, wood, etc. And thanks to the triangular shape of the teeth, the blade is also well suited for cross-cutting raw wood.
Intertool bow saw blade with an “American” tooth. The material used to make this blade is Swedish high-strength steel. The teeth of this blade have a hardened structure, which ensures a long service life of the tool, and thanks to the correct geometry of the teeth, any vibration is eliminated during operation, and a clean, high-quality cut is ensured.
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Among the wide range of hand saws and hacksaws, there is one fairly common type of saw - the bow saw. This tool can be designed both for cutting metal parts and for working with wood materials. In this article we will talk about a bow saw for wood - you will find out what kind of tool it is, what its features are and what you need to know to buy a bow saw.
Bow saw device
Let's start with the most important thing - the design and purpose of the bow saw. It is used for longitudinal cuts and consists of a special beam in which the saw blade is stretched. In turn, the bow itself consists of 2 posts and handles, as well as a spacer, a tension string and a fixing twist. Also, instead of a twist, you can often see a screw with a nut in the design, which is connected to a metal bowstring. There are circular bow saws that are used to cut along a curved line.
If we compare a regular saw (two-handed or hacksaw) with a bow saw, then the tool in question has some advantages over a regular saw. Thus, a bow saw helps to obtain a more even and accurate cut, and besides, this requires much less effort and effort than when sawing with a hacksaw, for example. In addition, in some cases, two people can work with a bow, which cannot be said about a hacksaw. The advantages of a bow saw for wood also include ease of maintenance. Thus, the blade for a bow saw does not need to be sharpened, thinned or adjusted - a worn blade can simply be replaced with a new one. We also note that a clamped bow saw blade in a cut almost never jams. Yes, perhaps moving the saw in some cases can be difficult, but in general, it does not “chew” the saw tightly, which cannot be said about ordinary saws.
For all their external similarity, bow saws from different manufacturers will differ from each other, and in some cases, quite significantly. Thus, differences exist in almost all structural parts of the instrument - this may be a different shape of the beam or handle, different way fixing and tensioning the canvases, as well as their tension.
Consumer analysis of bow saws for wood
Proline bow saw. This saw is designed for longitudinal or cross cuts, and is also suitable for curved cuts. Like most similar instruments, it consists of a beam in which saw blade. In turn, the bow has two posts, spacers and a tension string. The length of this saw model is 760 mm, which allows it to work with medium logs.
Bow sawStanley Raker Tooth. Designed for working at medium speed with small wooden workpieces. The oval cross-section of the steel frame provides the tool with high strength. The design also includes a lever for tensioning the blade, which allows you to quickly change the blade if necessary. The material of this tool is tool steel, processed and hardened. The teeth have an “American” shape, so they do not require sharpening or maintenance. This allows the tool to cope well with both fresh and dry lumber.
Bow saws Bahco. Bow saws from Bahco are presented various options, but the most popular models are 530 mm and 760 mm saws. These options are excellent for pruning trees, since they can be easily dragged between branches and cut. But, with all this, cutting with the help of one of these saws is only possible with fine gauges. For example, a log with a diameter of 10 cm will be extremely inconvenient to saw - the beam will touch the log, and the blade will bounce all the time when cutting.
Gardena bow saws. Among the features of saws from this manufacturer, it is worth noting the screw blade tensioner, as well as the included adapter with which you can attach the rods. In addition, several types of blades are supplied with this saw. There are models different lengths– for example, with a length of 750 mm or 350 mm, the difference, as you can see, is noticeable. Saws from this manufacturer have unique features. For example, a 350 mm saw has the ability to rotate the blade 360°, locking it in any position. The bow saw for wood, with a length of 750 mm, has an oval trapezoidal tube section, which helps to tightly install fixed pins with grooves, etc. The handle of such a tool is quite massive, with rubberized inserts, which makes working with this tool more comfortable. Otherwise, all types of saws presented have excellent reviews; to buy a bow saw, you just need to choose one of the presented models.
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Among the fairly extensive list of hand saws and hacksaws, it is worth highlighting one type of saw that is in demand - the bow saw. Such a device can be created for cutting metal parts, as well as for working with wooden materials. In this article we will talk about what a bow saw is, what its features are and what you need to consider before purchasing.
Design
The saw was called "bow" not because it can be shot, and not even because it looks like Robin Hood's weapon, but because its design has the same principle of elasticity as in the ancient bow.
The entire structure of the machine is based on durable, well-finished and often varnished racks. There are only three racks - two on the sides and one horizontal. Racks are made from hardwood, for example, oak, hornbeam or ash. In the lower part vertical racks there are identical symmetrical through holes to attach the handles. The horizontal stand is called the middle stand. The working handle is not even a subject of carpentry, but of carpentry, because the comfort and level of productivity of the entire work directly depends on its quality. The handles have a rounded shape; there are cuts and holes at the end to secure the working blade.
A bow saw blade is often a thin strip of tool steel with a slight “notch.” The greater the width of the blade, the lower the maneuverability of the entire saw, and the lower the tension force in the clamps.
Any bow-type saw has a bowstring, which brings it even closer to the throwing weapons of ancient times. However, the purpose of such a bowstring is absolutely peaceful - it is necessary for strong and reliable tension of the blade between the handles. The bowstring is created from natural materials, for example, linen rope or hemp twine. Synthetic material didn't justify themselves. Their elasticity and durability are insufficient for cutting massive timber.
On axis central symmetry, in the space between the middle post and the bowstring, there is an auxiliary bar - an arrow. During the rotation of this part, tension occurs on the hemp or linen bowstring, as a result of which hacksaw blade freezes firmly between the handles.
Threaded handles and reliable design make the performance of such a saw very high for short and long cuts, as well as for cutting timber along and across the grain. A bow saw can cut through knots and cut along radii and curved patterns.
Comparison with a hacksaw
This tool is used to implement longitudinal sawing. The saw has a special beam in which the saw blade is stretched. The bow itself contains 2 stands and handles, as well as a spacer, a tension string and a fixing twist. Sometimes, as a substitute for twisting, you can find a screw with a nut connected to a metal bowstring in the design. There are circular bow saws used for cutting along a curved line.
Speaking of comparison regular saw(two-handed or hacksaw) with a bow saw, it is worth noting a number of advantages over a conventional saw:
- a bow saw will help make a more even and accurate cut
- during work you will put in much less effort than when working, for example, with a hacksaw. in certain cases, even two people can work with a bow, which is impossible when working with a hacksaw
- simple maintenance. Bow saw blades do not require turning, setting or adjusting. A worn file just needs to be replaced with a new one.
- The blade of a bow saw, clamped in the place of the cut, almost never jams. Yes, it is possible that the movement of the saw is sometimes difficult, however, it does not “chew” the saw tightly, as is often the case with conventional saws.
Despite their external similarity, bow saws from different manufacturers are radically different from each other. For example, there are differences in almost all structural components of the instrument - this is a different shape of the beam or handle, different method fixing and tensioning the canvases, as well as their tension.
Operating rules
To make working with a bow saw comfortable and safe, you should follow these recommendations:
- insert the blade into the slots of the handles and fix it through the side holes with dowels
- bring the saw to your chest so that the bowstring touches the body, and carefully examine the position of the blade with one eye. Its location should be strictly perpendicular to the line of sight
- by slowly and carefully turning the handle, you can achieve a smooth position of the serrated blade in the fixing holes
- After adjusting the blade, you need to slowly rotate the arrow, tighten the bowstring and stretch the racks to securely fasten the blade
- You should not sharpen or straighten working blades for bow saws yourself. The best option is to purchase factory-made blades characterized by sharpness and precisely set “toothing”
- You can’t be distracted while working, because you can saw off the board along with it, and you shouldn’t throw a saw sticking into the workpiece during a break, because you can break the blade, and it’s very difficult to start work from this position.
Before starting work, it is necessary to inspect the instrument and make sure that there are no cracks or defects on the wooden parts of the stands, and that the string is intact.
To make cross cuts as convenient as possible wooden blanks must protrude (“hang”) from a fixed support. Experienced craftsmen begin to saw from the thumbnail of the hand holding the beam or timber. After the blade has “bitten” into the workpiece, it can be lightly rested not on the nail, but on the joint of the thumb. But for maximum cutting accuracy, as well as for making curved cuts, it is worth using templates or a miter box.
The wood bow saw is excellent for longitudinal sawing. To do this, the canvas must be fixed at an angle from 0˚ to 90˚ relative to the horizontal post. The pressure applied will be less than in the crosscut process, so the procedure will take a little longer. This cutting is done with both hands. Masters advise placing the board or timber in a horizontal plane and moving the saw towards you, holding it by the handle and side stand.
If you need to make a curved cut, you should purchase a narrow blade, the width of which does not exceed 8 mm. Blades for curved slots are sold with rectangular teeth and a significant spread - almost up to 2.5 denominations of the nominal thickness of the entire blade. If you need to cut a thick board that has many knots or oblique layers of wood, you need to choose the widest blade, up to 5 cm wide. It should have a small gap, but significant thickness. It is not recommended to make figured and curved cuts on such material.
Bow saw Bahco
Bahco bow saws are considered one of the best in the world. Thanks to the light steel frame, significant tension of the blade is ensured, up to approximately 120 kg, as well as fast and uncomplicated sawing. There are two series of such saws:
- series 51. These saws are equipped with dagger teeth for cutting old and dry timber
- series 23. These saws are equipped with a splitting tooth for cutting green lumber.
The tips of the teeth of absolutely all saws of this brand are electrically hardened high frequency, have sharp edges that work when moving in two directions.
The main advantages of Bahco bow saws:
- have an ERGO™ frame
- ergonomic handle with finger protection system. This tool is very convenient and safe.
- very robust construction
- the canvas is made of steel highest quality and coated with impact-resistant enamel and corrosion protection
- empty lightweight 24" frame that weighs less than a kilogram
- The latest fastening system puts a strong tension on the blade (up to 120 kg), guaranteeing a straight cut.
Let's look at two saws, 530 and 759 mm. They have different sizes, different shapes, as well as various mechanisms for tensioning the web.
The 530 mm (21“) long saw has a triangular shape. For pruning trees, this saw can be called the most convenient, because it can be inserted into the narrowest gaps between branches. With one such saw, it is comfortable to saw only thin-sized logs; even 10-centimeter logs cannot be sawed, because the beam already clings to the log, and the blade jumps during cutting. Overall, this tool is quite useful for gardening work, but you can’t call it a hiking option. Note that in the Bahco product line there is a bow saw for the same 530 mm blades, but it has a more familiar shape, which resembles a truncated triangle.
The canvas is equipped with a lever tension mechanism. It is secured at the front with a partially hollow cotter pin inserted into two holes in the beam. The holes have different diameters; for this reason, the cotter pin does not fall out on the new saw. However, many craftsmen note that this will not last long, because the cotter pin is made of a fairly soft metal, and through certain time the flaring gets crushed and it falls out at the most inopportune moment. At the same time, this is not the end of the world. To restore the functionality of the saw, you only need to have a nail or a small piece of wire.
At the back, the canvas is inserted into a special lock, which has a more reliable fixation. It can only be broken if the canvas is pulled too hard, and the lever axis can also be twisted.
The 759 mm long saw has a serious appearance. It is trapezoidal in shape, the bevel towards the front edge is invisible. The blade is mounted on rigidly mounted pins and tightened with a screw. The handle, which has a protective bracket, is tightly attached to the beam. This tool cuts perfectly. There is no particular difference between a blade for dry wood and a blade for green wood. This tool has an eccentric blade protection system.
Homemade bow saw. By classic scheme. Collapsible.
Introductions or ode to camp saws.
I almost always take a saw with me into the forest.
For PVD/autumn, a small saw is enough.
There is a large selection here:
Chain Saw.
Pros:
-compactness
-weight
- efficiency
-price
- you can cut alone
Minuses:
- low reliability
- gets dull pretty quickly
- cutting thick trees is quite difficult
Folding hacksaw.
I walked for quite a long time with Tajima ALOR- A240 - Aluminis t Black 240, Folding Saw, 9.4in 9 TPI (Japan).
I like this saw. But it has a minus - the price.
Our saw costs about 2000 rubles, replacement blades for it are quite rare and cost about 800 rubles.
One blade is enough for 1-2 seasons of intensive use.
I'm disappointed, it's Japan after all. The company specializes in professional hand tools.
Among the advantages we can note:
- compactness
- relatively healthy weight (approximately 340g)
- high efficiency (when the web is fresh)
We went on a water trip to Karelia, we had a two-handled saw =)
Naturally, water workers don’t care about weight, but it’s still too much.
As a result, I only took out a two-handed tool once, the rest of the time I prepared firewood with a hacksaw Tajima. The saw did an excellent job with trees 20-25 cm in diameter.
But when it gets colder and you go overnight, you want to sit by the fire longer. Or in general this hike requires something more serious.
Options? petrol is clearly not our tool =) is there a two-handed saw left? Only if it's a ski trip.
Those. I need a saw that is light, compact, with high performance. To prepare firewood in large quantities.
Everything is new, well forgotten old.
Bow saw.
In the old days, this was the main tool of a carpenter.
High productivity, precision cutting, low weight, ability to work alone.
Bow saw according to the classic design.
These are not currently on sale. I was surprised when the sellers at Liroy threw up their hands when asked about the availability of such a saw. They just don't know. And they have a saw. But from an aluminum pipe 
You can carry such a saw on your backpack, but I don’t like it. And her weight is clearly more than 400g. + Price approximately 1000 rub.
What to do? Do it yourself.
Go.
I bought a canvas Bahco 607mm (Sweden). 
The company produces extremely quality tool.
In Liroy I bought a pvc pipe for heating d25, and an aluminum pipe, plus a couple of snap hooks.
I made a frame for the saw according to the classic design with a crank.
All together weighs 340g. My Tajima folding hacksaw weighs this much. I like.
A long blade will increase productivity and the diameter of logs that can be cut.
Pricing:
Canvas bacho 630mm-450r
Liroy pipes -250r
Manufacturing is very simple. You don't even need a drill. All you need is a torch and a piece of old metal cutting cloth. The main thing is to carefully mark future holes. By heating the transverse tube we form holes on the PVC tubes. The horizontal crossbar should be slightly shorter than the saw blade itself. We heat the old metal blade and form holes in the pvc tubes for the saw blade. Everything fits me perfectly.
We assemble the saw, insert the carabiners (fix the blade). We put on the laces with any stick and twist them with a sliver. There is no need to over-tighten, just adjust the rigidity of the frame and the normal tension of the canvas.
My tubes bend a little, so I want to try to do the same but with all aluminum tubes, I wonder how much stronger and heavier it will be.
How to carry a saw? I need to sew a cover. The canvas can be protected with thin plastic, for example from a stationery folder, or simply take a stronger fabric for the cover.
There is another option to carry the saw blade in a bowler hat. Twisting it. I got this idea from Grigory Sokolov’s video link to YouTube for which I thank him. I'll try.
My saw, photos:
UPD
I’ll definitely write after I try the saw.
UPD_2
The saw passed the first test. Peels.
Two jambs have been identified:
1. Coupled carabiners must be replaced with any non-coupled ones. The thread is capricious and jams.
2. It is necessary to replace plastic tubes with aluminum or wood. Insufficient saw blade tension. The tubes are bent. You can see it in the photo.
The saw cuts, but it is noticeable that the blade is moving. You can cut alone, but the output is small. If you cut together, then it’s a song. It will take 3-5 minutes to fell a pine tree and cut it into logs for “nodya”. Swedish canvas - pass!
Here's a video I found youtube
Probably the most correct saw, from my point of view.
The crossbar is rectangular, the grooves on the crossbar are rectangular, i.e. torsional rigidity.
+ the canvas is retracted into the handles.
Almost everyone home handyman There is a power saw in the work suitcase. But sometimes it is necessary to saw off a part or do some woodworking, for which there is no desire to unwrap the device from the suitcase. And in this case, it would be nice to get a hacksaw for wood. Its manual version will be an excellent assistant if necessary. Let's take a closer look at the question of how to choose a hacksaw for wood!
Characteristics of a hand saw for wood
There are many differences in this tool, such as: blade sizes, steel grades, tooth shapes, as well as the design of the handle itself. Let's look at each of them in more detail.
What should a hacksaw blade be like for wood?
This element is the main parameter of the hacksaw. And the main thing about it is its length. Depending on it, the tool can be used for different purposes. There is one caveat, which is that the longer the blade is, the more springy the tool is. This complicates the process of wood carving, especially if you need to work with maple, oak, or ash.
A length of 25-30 cm is quite suitable if sawing is necessary small elements beams, slats, baseboards. If it is necessary to carry out more serious types of work, then a hacksaw should be chosen with a blade of 45-50 cm.
The basic rule when choosing the length of the blade is that it should be twice as long as the elements being processed, otherwise it will be more difficult to work. Standard sizes The width of the canvases is up to twenty centimeters. Too narrow models will quickly fail, while wide ones are completely inconvenient to work with.
Hacksaws are made from alloy tool steel, which contains a lot of carbon and silicon. Standard option The hardness of the material is 45 HRC, but for work it is still worth choosing a hardness with an indicator of 55-60 HRC.
Characteristics of hacksaw teeth
It is the size of the teeth that is the most important indicator. Their number per 1 inch shows the TPI, which determines the accuracy of the sawing process. In addition, these parameters are interrelated:
· If the blade has large teeth, then the speed is quite high, but the cut is sloppy.
· If the teeth are small, the speed of work is also low, but the cut is precise and very neat.
When faced with the question of which hacksaw to choose, focus on a TPI of 3-6 for garden work, or 7-9 for working on chipboard.
The teeth of a hacksaw can be ordinary or hardened. If the tool is used in living conditions, hardened teeth will not become dull for a very long time. But when it becomes dull, it can no longer be sharpened, and the tool will have to be thrown away.
Regular teeth can be sharpened using a file marked with an accident mark.
There are 3 types of hacksaws, depending on what teeth are used:
To cut longitudinally
· Sawing in a transverse manner
Mixed sawing
If you use a modern hacksaw, in which the teeth have trapezoidal shape, the canvas can be created durable and wear-resistant. But it is very difficult to sharpen, which means the service life of such a product is much shorter.
How to choose a hacksaw? Types and purposes
Narrow saw version
The saw is small in size, narrow in shape, very effective when cutting raw wood. Wet chips come out very easily through the gaps of the teeth, so the movement of the saw is not hampered.
During the manufacture of saws of narrow shapes, their blades have triangular double-sided teeth. The only disadvantage of this tool is its ability to deviate from the desired direction.
It can have absolutely any teeth, as well as be equipped with replaceable blades.
Regardless, these types of saws are best used in the furniture manufacturing process.
Saws that are equipped with an axle can be said to have stiffening ribs. But when using hacksaws and increasing the rigidity of the materials being processed, they can bend. This is why drying is so important. Its main task is to prevent the cutting blade from passing deep into the wood, for which it controls the depth of the cut with the saw so that it is not wider than the blade itself.
Such devices are already more cumbersome. To some extent they resemble a jigsaw.
To begin with, you should decide on the purpose of using the tool, as well as the frequency of its use. Decide how uniform the canvas should be, and of course, what price you are willing to “accept” and buy hand saw.
The handles are ordinary, plastic. And the presence of a rubberized insert will protect the master’s hands from the formation of calluses during the process of wood carving. manual option hacksaws.
