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, on the long side cutting edge up to 30 cm, it is more advisable to use it 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. More narrow options are not allowed for technical reasons (they will break at the slightest bend), wider ones are too inconvenient for self made. 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.
Longitudinal cutting is usually carried out either with a circular saw (circular saw blades) 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 working in the garden, cutting branches and small work 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 an 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. A distinctive feature is the use of particularly flexible metal grades.
Tenon saws allow you to make simple geometric shapes on a workpiece.
The peculiarity of 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 meets the general requirements of the 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 are of 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.
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 canvas has more light 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 optimal 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.
(18
ratings, average: 4,28
out of 5)
Hacksaws or saws are tools necessary both in production and at home. Every home owner has at his disposal one or even several of these cutting tools.
Currently on the market big choice different types hacksaws for wood, and it is sometimes difficult for an inexperienced person to answer the question of which tool is better.
Selection options
Let's figure out how to choose a hacksaw for wood and what you need to know for this.
A hacksaw is a hand-held woodworking tool consisting of hacksaw blade with serrated cutting edge and handles for ease of use
Based on the size of the blade, hacksaws are divided into:
- mini hacksaws – blade length no more than 350 mm with small and frequent teeth;
- universal – length more than 550 mm with increased pitch and teeth, medium size;
- wide – length over 600 mm with a wide blade and large teeth.
When choosing a hacksaw, you need to consider the following factors.
Another parameter that you need to pay attention to is steel quality, from which canvases are made. This is checked by bending the canvas in half. If it is springy and there is no strip left at the bend, it means the steel is of high quality. The best saws are made of stainless steel.
Types of hand saws for wood
It should be noted that depending on the type of teeth there are the following types of hacksaws:
- Longitudinal;
- Transverse;
- Mixed.
Longitudinal types of saws are designed for cutting wood along the grain. They have teeth in the form of beveled acute triangles, similar to hooks. The teeth are sharpened on both sides, so they cut both when moving forward and in the reverse pass of the saw.
Transverse saws are used to cut wood across the grain and have teeth in the form of isosceles triangles, sharpened in the same way as longitudinal ones, so the cutting process occurs both during forward and reverse stroke of the saw. They they cut well dry wood , and raw wood - with difficulty.
Saws mixed type Suitable for cutting wood both lengthwise and crosswise. The blade has saw teeth of both types located one behind the other, combined with recesses in the blade round shape for better removal of sawdust.
Currently manufacturers release the following types drank:
Classic look hacksaws are produced with a blade in the form of an elongated trapezoid, passing from the wide end into a handle. Available with different types of teeth and from different brands steels Widely used at home and in production. Convenient to use.
Circular saws They have a long and narrow blade with a comfortable “pistol” handle. The blade has small, frequent teeth, often double-sided. Convenient for cutting lines complex shapes: round, square and curved, as well as through holes– hence the name – circular.
Blade saws– have rectangular blades equipped with a stiffening rib (back) on top, which limits the depth of cut to the width of the blade. The handle is conveniently attached to the canvas at an angle of 45 degrees.
Bow saws for wood they have narrow blades with arched or rectangular devices that stretch the blade like a bowstring, hence the name - bow. Used for sawing figured products. They easily cope with knots and hard wood, and are suitable for cutting wood both lengthwise and crosswise.
Reward Saws They resemble a plane in shape and have two handles. Their main purpose is to cut tenons and grooves in wood of any hardness. This procedure is not easy, so awards require work skills.
Folding hacksaws indispensable for trips to the forest or to the country to trim branches on trees. They have a straight or arched folding blade with fine teeth. Compact and lightweight, they are easy to carry.
Garden hand saws – great helper gardener Their blades are shaped like a saber, which is perfect for pruning garden trees.
Performance and quality according to TPI standard
Please note that the sawing speed and quality of work are affected by frequency and size of saw teeth.
To classify saws according to this criterion, the TPI standard is used, showing the density of teeth per square inch, which is indicated in the documentation and on the hacksaw blade itself.
Hacksaws with large teeth provide high speed, but rough cuts. They are suitable for cutting firewood, branches, and tree trunks. For these purposes, you should choose hacksaws with a TPI of 3 to 6.
For work where it is required smooth surface cut, choose hacksaws with small teeth and a TPI standard value of 7 to 9. The productivity of such saws is lower, but the quality of the cut is better.
Sharpening and divorce
Often saw teeth are hardened, and it is impossible to sharpen them at home. At correct handling, such saws last a long time, but if you get a nail, they must be replaced. Hardened teeth are easy to distinguish by color - they dark.
However, if your saw is made of good, non-hardened steel, but as a result of long-term use has stopped working properly, do not rush to throw it away. After sharpening and trimming, it will last for a long time.
To sharpen a cross saw you will need a triangular file with a 60 degree cut, and for a longitudinal one you will need a diamond file.
Sharpening and setting the saw is carried out in four stages:
- The first stage is the alignment of the teeth in height. Take a file and run one of the edges along a row of teeth. Those that leave a mark should be ground down to the lowest level in height so that all the teeth are at the same level.
- Stage two - lengthen the short teeth. Short teeth prevent good sawing, so they need to be lengthened. We clamp the hacksaw blade in a vice and saw through the recess between the teeth with a file. Best work saw blade is ensured when the width of the tooth is half its length.
- Stage three – we set the teeth. Wiring is one of the important stages saw settings, because even if the saw is sharpened, without correct wiring When sawing, the hacksaw blade will be clamped in the wood. To do this, we need a simple tool that you can make yourself. We take a strip of metal and make a cut in it to the height of a tooth. By inserting the teeth into the cut and bending them in one direction or the other alternately and checking the deviation of the teeth by eye, you can achieve a good setting.
- Fourth and The final stage- sharpening of teeth. Sharpening is done using a file. The operation is simple, but requires certain skills.
User reviews
You can't do without a hacksaw. Even if you are not a joiner or carpenter, there will always be something to cut or saw off on the farm. In my opinion, the most convenient is a mixed-type saw, which can cut everything. I have one like this at home and it always helps me out. Dmitriy
I agree. A hacksaw is necessary thing in the house. Only I have a combination hacksaw - with interchangeable blades. In my opinion, this is very convenient - you take and put the blade you need and cut out trees, even cut them out with a jigsaw. Anton
In the arsenal home handyman there is always something functional and easy to use electric circular saw. But there are situations when you need to saw off a part and perform a small amount of woodwork, but there is no time or desire to deploy and connect the unit. In these cases, a hand saw is a great help. But let’s look at how to choose a hand hacksaw for wood so that it is easy to use and can easily “gnaw” through any type of wood.
The saw is rightfully considered the ancestor of a large family of hand tools. Since the creation of the first type of tool from iron, the saw has undergone many changes, having acquired numerous “sisters” capable of performing dozens of jobs.
IN household It’s impossible to do without “toothed helpers”: they are indispensable for garden pruning, small carpentry and joinery work
Hand saws for wood differ in many ways: blade size, steel grade, tooth shape, handle design. Let's look at each parameter in more detail.
How should a hacksaw blade be?
The main part of the tool is the hacksaw blade. The first thing you should pay attention to when choosing a product is the length of the canvas. The possibilities of its application largely depend on this parameter. At the same time, the longer the blade, the more springy it is, which also complicates the process, especially when working with hard wood such as ash, maple or oak.
A long stroke makes it possible to use less effort when sawing, since the cut is performed by a large number of teeth in one stroke
For sawing small elements such as plinths, bars or narrow slats, you can get by with a hacksaw with a blade length of 25-30 cm. If you plan to use the tool when performing more serious construction work, choose a product with a canvas of 45-50 cm.
When determining the length of the hacksaw blade, follow the rule that the length of the saw exceeds the diameter of the elements being processed by 2 times. Failure to follow this recommendation will only make your job more difficult. The teeth of a short hacksaw will jam inside the wood, and everyone will have to make a lot of effort to move the tool to free it from sawdust. Uncomfortable work will cause premature fatigue.
Traditionally, the width of the product blade varies in the range of 10-20 cm. Models with a narrower blade are not allowed for technical reasons, since they fail at the slightest bend. But it is worth considering that too wide canvases are inconvenient for manual work.
The material used to make the blade, which is most often alloy steel, as well as its degree of hardening also play an important role.
For hacksaws, tool alloy steel with a high content of silicon and carbon grades is used:
- 65G, 60 C2A;
- 8 HF, 9 HF, 9 HS;
- U7, U7A, U8, U8A, U8G, U8GA, U9A, U10
Hardening of metal is carried out due to the influence of variable magnetic field, at which it appears electricity high frequency. Spreading over the surface, it heats the surface layer of the metal, which is hardened after cooling.
The standard parameter is considered to be a metal hardness of 45 HRC, but it is still preferable to choose products whose blade hardness is 55-60 HRC. A hacksaw with a blade of high hardness will have sufficient flexibility, but at the same time high stability of the teeth. Upon external inspection, such a tool can be identified by the darkish tint of the sharpened teeth.
Parameters of teeth on the blade
The determining indicator of the tool’s performance and the accuracy of cutting wood is the size of the teeth.
The teeth of a hacksaw for woodworking perform a dual function: they cut the wood and, at the same time, remove sawdust
Sawing accuracy is determined by the “TPI” indicator - the number of teeth per inch.
Between these technical parameters there is an inverse relationship:
- blades with large teeth set a high speed of work, but the cut is rough and sloppy;
- hacksaws with fine teeth guarantee a clean and precise cut, but at a relatively low speed.
When determining the required tooth size, you should focus on the type of material being processed. For example, for working with chipboard, where high cutting accuracy is required, choose a tool with a high TPI of 7-9, and for sawing logs and garden work, where the cleanliness of the cut is not so important, choose a TPI of 3-6.
When choosing optimal option hacksaws, follow the rule that minimum thickness there should be a log anyway more step three teeth
If we compare a hardened and a regular tooth, the difference is that in the first option, provided that it is used in everyday life, the product does not become dull for a long time. But a hacksaw with a hardened tooth cannot be sharpened again. When it starts cutting badly, you just have to throw it away.
An ordinary tooth can be sharpened. This can be done periodically using a special file marked with an accident (for sharpening saws). To sharpen the blade, it is enough to perform several movements on each tooth.
Depending on the type of teeth used, there are three types hand saws:
- For rip sawing. The products are equipped with teeth in the form of an oblique triangle and look like hooks. The tool allows you to cut wood along the grain. Such saws are sharpened on both sides of the tooth, thanks to which they are able to cut both when passing forward and in the opposite direction.
- For cross cutting. The teeth of the instruments are made in the shape of isosceles triangles. This design makes it easy to cut material both when moving the cutting edge forward and in the opposite direction. But this type of tooth is only suitable for working with dry workpieces, but not with fresh wood.
- For mixed sawing. The products have a combined composition, in which triangular edges are combined with slightly elongated semicircular notches. This solution allows the semicircular teeth to perform a guide cut when moving the hand forward, and when returning, the triangular teeth expand the channel, removing chips and sawdust from it.
Some types of modern tools are equipped with teeth that are shaped like a trapezoid. This solution makes the fabric more durable and wear-resistant.
But it is worth considering that sharpening such a blade is very problematic, since it is difficult to give the trapezoidal teeth the desired shape. This significantly reduces the service life of the product, after which it is necessary to change the blade or purchase a new tool.
For sawing fresh branches, it is more convenient to use blades equipped with triangular teeth processed by parallel sharpening, in which each element is sharpened only on one side and in a checkerboard pattern.
You can often find a modernized type of hacksaw on the market.
Modernized hacksaws can be easily distinguished by the teeth located on the blade in groups, between which the spaces are clearly visible
Retrofitted hand saws are effective for cutting raw wood. Wet chips easily come out of the cut through the spaces between the teeth during the cutting process, without impeding the movement of the tool.
Types of hand saws for wood
A small narrow saw is a structure that consists of a straight flat blade and a handle. It is carried out fine work: through cuts, cutting out curved parts.
This type of tool is designed for cutting wooden blanks, the thickness of which does not exceed 8-10 cm, cutting small branches and minor work in the garden
When making narrow models, manufacturers install blades with triangular double-sided teeth, or with parallel sharpening. The disadvantage of the tool is that when pressed during operation, the blade can deviate from the given direction.
Option #2 - regular
A standard hand saw can be equipped with any type of teeth and often comes with replacement blades various types and execution.
To be able to cut workpieces at a certain angle using a standard hand saw, you have to purchase special miter boxes
But despite the stated versatility of their use, it is not advisable to use saws of this type in the manufacture of furniture.
Option #3 - with a butt
Both narrow and regular saws with increasing rigidity of the processed material, they are prone to bending. In these cases, it is effective to use canvases equipped with a backing, which acts as a kind of stiffening rib.
Hand hacksaws equipped with a backing are designed to create shallow cuts in wooden surface any thickness
The presence of a backing prevents the saw from making a cut deeper than the width of the blade, since it prevents the cutting blade from passing further into the tree.
Option #4 - archery
Bow-type saws are more bulky devices that act as an analogue of a jigsaw.
The main purpose of saws of this type is to create an accurate cut when working with surfaces located at any angle.
Thanks to the solidity of the design and threaded connections handles, bow-type saws are able to easily overcome knots, cutting along radii and curved patterns.
Depending on the purpose and constructive solution saws can be:
- sweeping – for longitudinal cutting;
- transverse – for sawing workpieces across the wood fiber;
- round - for cutting holes, making roundings and figure sawing;
- tenon - for cutting connecting tenons, as well as cutting out simple geometric shapes on the workpiece.
Only with a bow-type hacksaw can you cut the material lengthwise and crosswise, sawing workpieces with complex lines and doing the work alone without the involvement of an assistant.
The procedure for choosing a hand saw for wood is quite simple:
- Determine the purpose for which the tool will be used. For carpentry work, choose products with fine teeth, which ensure high cutting accuracy; for carpentry, choose blades with large teeth.
- Frequency of application. If the hand saw will be used only for one-time work, choose a tool with hardened teeth. The service life of this type of product is quite long. In addition, you will not have to worry about sharpening and setting teeth during operation.
- Uniformity of the canvas. While inspecting the tool, try to carefully bend the blade, setting an angle of 30-45°, and then release it. Re-inspect the blade: the slightest deviations at the bend point, even within 2 mm, indicate poor quality of the metal.
- Product cost. As when choosing other tools, keep in mind that high-quality models from leading brands are always an order of magnitude more expensive than consumer goods. This overpayment acts as a kind of guarantee of the wear resistance and durability of the saw. But for one-time jobs there is no point in spending money on an expensive tool.
Conventional handles are made of plastic. Prefabricated plastic handles, made of two halves, do not have sufficient rigidity. It is much more convenient to work with a tool that has a one-piece handle, which is equipped with a rubberized backing for the fingers. The presence of a rubber insert allows for a tighter grip, preventing the formation of calluses on the palm.
Pay attention to the design of the tool handle: it is desirable that it has an ergonomic shape that allows you to correctly transfer force to the blade
There are products on sale with standard and reversible handles. The second option is convenient because it allows you, if necessary, to replace the worn blade with a new one.
Keep in mind that not all hand saws come on sale already sharpened. And this seemingly trifle largely determines how quickly you can get to work.
There are many companies producing hacksaws on the market. Judging by the reviews, they have proven themselves well: the Zubr hacksaw domestic production, Gross Piranha joint German-Chinese cooperation, Irwin Xpert made in the USA. They are famous for their decent quality at a low price, which varies between 10-20 USD.
Finally, we invite you to watch a video with tips for choosing:
A hand saw, at first glance, is a fairly simple tool that does not require much maintenance. However, few people know about the criteria for choosing a saw and its types. Like other tools, a hand saw has certain signs qualities and characteristics.
Basic parameters of hand tools for cutting wood
A hacksaw is one of the most necessary tools in every man's inventory. This device allows you to easily change the dimensions of wood and plastic lumber. Using a hacksaw, you can perform a lot of operations in construction, cut branches in the garden, shorten fence poles, and so on.
A hand saw is used to work with lumber
But when buying something like this, at first glance, simple tool Not everyone thinks about how to make the right choice and what criteria need to be taken into account. A hacksaw has its own special parameters that can affect the quality of work. There are four basic parameters when choosing a hacksaw: blade length, tooth size, steel type and handle type.
Blade length
For ease of use, the length of the hacksaw blade is chosen so that it is twice the size of the material at the cut site. This allows you to effectively remove sawdust during work due to the fact that all the teeth of the blade will come out of the board/log. In addition, this ratio of the size of the hacksaw and lumber contributes to a greater range of hand movement. This, in turn, takes much less effort. In construction, a universal hacksaw with a blade length of 45–50 centimeters is most often used. To work with small bars and boards, a blade 30–35 centimeters long will be sufficient.
Tooth size
This is perhaps the most important parameter. After all, the speed and accuracy of cutting depends on the size of the tooth.. The number of teeth per inch of blade is usually denoted by the TPI coefficient. To work more accurately with the material, it is necessary to use a hacksaw with a high TPI coefficient, that is, with a large number of teeth. When choosing a blade with a TPI of at least 7–9, and a distance between teeth of no more than 2–4 mm, the surface at the cutting site will be smoother and without torn edges. For working with large beams and garden trees A blade with a TPI of 3–6 and a tooth spacing of over 4 mm will work well. Using such a hacksaw will reduce the effort required and increase the speed of cutting the working material.
Tooth pitch correspondence table
| 1 TPI = 25.5mm | 10 TPI = 2.5mm |
| 2 TPI = 12mm | 11 TPI = 2.3mm |
| 3 TPI = 8.5mm | 12 TPI = 2mm |
| 4 TPI = 6.5mm | 13 TPI = 2mm |
| 5 TPI = 5mm | 14 TPI = 1.8mm |
| 6 TPI = 4mm | 17 TPI = 1.5mm |
| 7 TPI = 3.5mm | 19 TPI = 1.3mm |
| 8 TPI = 3mm | 22 TPI = 1.1mm |
| 9 TPI = 2.8mm | 25 TPI = 1mm |
Sharpening teeth
The usual triangular shape of hacksaw teeth is taken as standard. The teeth are made in the form of an acute triangle or isosceles, depending on the purpose of the cut. Such a blade can be sharpened with particular ease by repeating all the angles of the teeth. This blade can be used for both longitudinal and transverse cuts to avoid rough notches.
The teeth of a classic hacksaw are made in the shape of a triangle and can be sharpened
Video: self-sharpening hacksaw teeth for wood
But modern hacksaws, unlike classic ones, have hardened teeth with a non-standard trapezoidal shape. Such saws are endowed with increased strength and are resistant to wear. Their steel cannot be sharpened, and it is very difficult to maintain all the angles of the sharpened teeth.
Modern hacksaws are made with hardened teeth in the shape of a trapezoid.
Steel type
High-grade stainless steel is most often used to produce hacksaw blades. Typically, wood saws are made of steel with a hardness of HRC45. Very often, manufacturers combine steel in the canvas. In a hacksaw with a combined blade, most of it is also made of 45 steel, but cutting part made of steel 55 and 60. When the cutting edge is hardened, wear resistance increases. This type of tool can be easily distinguished from a regular hacksaw by its dark, hardened teeth.
The first forged saws were made back in Ancient Greece. Forging gave high hardness to the metal and improved the quality of the tool.
Handle type
The ease of use of the saw depends on the correct choice of saw handle. Handles are made of wood or plastic. Very important point- the surface at the grip site should be such that the hand does not slip. This can be eliminated by scarring the handle or covering it with a rubber layer. The hacksaw can be either a classic cast saw or with a reversible blade. The latter allows you to replace the canvas, which is very convenient.
How to choose a hand saw
By combining all the basic parameters of the saw, everyone can easily decide for themselves which one suits them best. When choosing a tool, you need to decide for yourself which saw is more suitable - a carpenter's or a carpenter's saw. If the most important thing is cutting speed, then, of course, you need to purchase a carpenter's tool. A carpenter's hacksaw has fewer teeth per inch, which allows for faster cutting performance and sawdust removal. If cutting accuracy is a priority, then you should use a carpentry shop.
The quality of a hacksaw can be determined in simple ways. First you need to visually verify the evenness of the canvas. Then you need to bend the canvas with a little effort and release it as soon as resistance appears. After the blade plays back and calms down, you should again check the evenness of the blade. If it is slightly deviated from the original position, then the tool is of poor quality and it is not recommended to buy it.
If you need a saw for longitudinal cut, you need to choose a hacksaw with sharp tooth angles. The teeth of such saws are sharpened only on one side, so the cut will be made only in one direction - away from you.
The teeth of the rip saw blade are sharpened in the shape of an acute triangle
When longitudinal sawing, the cut occurs parallel to the fibers of the material. For rip sawing, circular saws and bow saws are well suited.
Crosscut saws are the most common. Their teeth are made in the shape of an isosceles triangle and sharpened on both sides. This allows you to cut in both directions.
For cross cutting, the teeth of the blade are made in the shape of an isosceles triangle and sharpened on both sides
When cross-cutting, the material is cut across the grain. For such sawing, classic hacksaws, hacksaws with a backrest are suitable, and for large thickness material - two-handed saws.
The price of the saw is also an equally important factor when choosing. A more expensive hacksaw guarantees reliability and wear resistance. Those saws whose price is significantly lower than average are made from cheaper raw materials and do not guarantee you long-term service.
What types of hand saws are used for what purposes?
- The classic hacksaw is the most common of all. It has a long and wide canvas. If the blade is too long, the hacksaw may tilt to the side when cutting. Great care must be taken to avoid the cutting line deviating from initial marking. This hacksaw is suitable for working with timber, boards, chipboard and so on.
- Hacksaw with back. This saw model has a rigid rib attachment, which minimizes the vibration frequency of the blade. This hacksaw also has smaller teeth and a higher TPI coefficient. They are designed for cutting plywood, chipboard with a coating layer and sawing profile strips.
- Finish saws have an adjustable handle. They are needed for cutting grooves, grooves and straight and profile planks.
- A circular hacksaw, or a hacksaw with a narrow blade. It is also used for cutting grooves, as well as for cutting out parts with rounded areas and large holes.
- A bow saw is well suited for cutting knots and rough parts of material, as well as for cutting out parts from plywood and wood. This hacksaw is distinguished by a thin blade fixed on both sides in a frame. It is worth noting that you need to work with it extremely carefully due to its increased fragility.
- The award has two handles. The appearance of such a saw is in many ways similar to a plane. It is used for cutting tenons and grooves, deepening holes and slots in materials of any hardness.
- Garden saw with curved blade. Most often, for greater convenience, they are made folding. This saw is well suited for garden work. The saw blade is made of chrome steel. Widely spaced teeth with an inclination in the direction of the handle will allow you to conveniently cut down twigs and branches, placing emphasis on yourself while cutting.
- A two-handed saw has the highest productivity. It has two wooden handles. For greater efficiency, cutting with such a saw requires two people. A two-handed saw is often used for sawing large logs and trees.
- A hand or pocket chain saw is a small piece of chain with two handles at the ends. This saw is convenient for both one and two people to work with. The log or branch is wrapped around a chain and cut is made using the handles. A manual chainsaw, like a folding one, is well suited for gardening.
Photo gallery: types of hand saws
This classic hacksaw can be easily sharpened. This hacksaw has hardened teeth and increased wear resistance. A hacksaw with a back or butt minimizes vibrations of the blade during work. A hacksaw with a narrow blade is well suited for cutting holes and grooves. 
This type of saw has an adjustable handle, which allows you to work at the desired angle. A bow saw is well suited for cutting parts from plywood. This type of hacksaw is similar to a plane and is used for cutting tenons and slots. A two-handed saw is suitable for cutting large logs. 
Garden saws with curved blades are well suited for cutting down knots and small tree branches. 
The hand chain saw is compact and well suited for sawing logs while camping and branches in the garden.
Thus, having carefully studied all the nuances regarding hand saws, everyone will be able to choose the most suitable option for themselves. Right choice the tool will provide you with high-quality and pleasant work.