The best hand saw for wood. Types and characteristics of hacksaws for wood

Wood has been used as a building material since time immemorial. And now it has not lost its popularity. It is loved for its environmental friendliness and ease of processing, which is best done with wood saws. These tools are available with different parameters, which are selected depending on the specific application.

Specifications

The saw is one of the first hand tools invented by man. Since the appearance of the first rough version, centuries have passed, and many varieties have appeared for various types of work.

As for hand saws for wood, they differ among themselves in many ways, among which are the following:

Let's consider each in detail.

hacksaw blade

In principle, this is the tool itself. The most important parameter of the canvas is its length. It is this that determines the range of application possibilities. However, the longer the canvas, the stronger the springiness, which makes it especially difficult to work with hardwoods such as oak, ash or maple. For sawing small items like a plinth, a bar or a narrow slat, a manual hacksaw for wood with a blade length is enough 25-30 cm. For more serious work, you need a tool with a blade length 45-50 cm.

A simple rule for determining the length is that the blade should be twice the diameter of the logs that will be sawn with it. The teeth of a short hacksaw will stick in the wood, much more effort will have to be applied to work, which will quickly cause fatigue. The width of the canvas usually varies in the range of 10–20 cm. A narrower canvas is not allowed, as it breaks at the slightest bend, but it is inconvenient to work with an overly wide canvas by hand.

Production material

Blades for hacksaws are made of tool alloy steel with a high content of carbon and silicon, grades:

• 8 HF, 9 HF, 9 HS;
• 65 G, 60 C2A;
• U7, U7A, U 8, U8A, U8G, U8GA, U9A, U 10.

The metal is hardened by exposing it to an alternating magnetic field when a high-frequency electric current appears. When propagating over the surface, it heats a layer of metal, which hardens after cooling. The standard hardness is 45 HR C, although it is recommended to take products with a hardness of 55-60 HR C when the flexibility is sufficient and the teeth have high stability. With an external examination of such a tool, one can see a darkish shade of honed teeth.

Tooth parameters

Precision and performance mainly depends on tooth size.

The defining indicator - "TPI" - the number of teeth per inch.

There is an inverse relationship between these technical parameters:

• Cloths with large teeth allow you to work at high speed, but the cut turns out to be sloppy, rough.
• The fine-toothed blade guarantees a clean and precise cut, but the cutting speed is relatively slow.

When determining the size of the teeth, be guided by the material being processed. To work with chipboard, for example, a high cutting accuracy is required, so a tool with a high TPI of 7-9 is selected. For sawing logs and garden work, where the cleanliness of the cut is not so significant, TPI 3-6 is enough.

The difference between a hardened and an ordinary tooth is that the first one in domestic use does not dull for a long time. But a saw with hardened teeth cannot be resharpened, it can only be thrown away after use. Ordinary teeth can be sharpened, which is done with a special file marked with an accident (for sharpening saws). It is enough to spend several times on each tooth.

Depending on the type of teeth, there are three types of hacksaws for different types of sawing:

Some modern tools have teeth in the shape of a trapezoid. This increases strength and durability, but it is not easy to sharpen such a blade, since the trapezoidal teeth are difficult to shape. Because of this, the service life is greatly reduced, and after it has expired, the canvas has to be changed.

The market also offers modernized hacksaws. They are effective for sawing raw wood. Wet chips in the process of work easily exit through the gaps between the teeth, and the movement of the tool is not hindered.

Types of hand saws for wood

It is impossible to say unequivocally which is the best hacksaw for wood. There are different options for different types of work. Let's describe them.

Depending on the design and purpose of the saw, there are:

• Swing - for longitudinal cutting.
• Transverse - for sawing across the fiber.
• Vyruzhny - for making holes, figured sawing, making roundings.
• Spike - for cutting connecting spikes and cutting out simple geometric shapes.

It is possible to cut the material along and across only with a bow saw, sawing blanks with complex lines. The work can be done without an assistant.

Handle type

In many ways, the ease of use of the tool is determined by the shape and material of its handle. Handles can be wooden or plastic. The surface at the grip point should not allow the hand to slip. This effect is eliminated by making scars on the handle, or by covering it with a rubber layer. The saw can be cast or with a reversible blade. In the latter case, it is easy to replace the canvas.

Conventional handles are made of plastic. Prefabricated plastic handles from two halves do not have sufficient rigidity; it is much more convenient to handle a tool with a solid handle with a rubberized finger pad. The rubber insert allows you to make the grip tighter, which prevents the formation of calluses.

To choose the right hand saw for wood, you need to follow a number of recommendations. Pay attention to the following:

• Target. For carpentry, you need a saw with fine teeth, which will provide high precision sawing. Carpenters need a blade with large teeth.
• web uniformity. Gently bend the canvas at an angle of 30-45 ° and release it. The slightest deviations on the fold line (even within 2 mm) indicate the low quality of the metal.
• Frequency of use. If you need a saw for one-time work, it is better to take a tool with hardened teeth. The service life is quite long, and you don’t have to worry about sharpening and wiring.
• Price. High-quality models of leading manufacturers are much more expensive than consumer goods. But the high price is a kind of guarantee of wear resistance and durability. However, for one-time work, buying an expensive tool is not practical.

Decide on the purpose of the tool, see how it lies in your hand. Read the enclosed instructions, if any. These minimal "wisdom" repeatedly reduce the risk of choosing a bad tool.

Despite the variety of modern material, it is difficult to imagine handicraft products without wood. Therefore, carpentry tools are most in demand for the home workshop. With the help of them, wood is processed, crafts made of wood and structures consisting of wooden parts are made.

Carpentry tools, based on its purpose, can be divided into several groups:

• shock;
• sawing;
• chopping;
• measuring;
• marking;
• boring;
• chopping;
• auxiliary.

The sawing tool is designed for cutting and sawing wood parts according to the specified dimensions. These devices include a wood saw, which is a type of hand saw.

All hacksaws differ from each other in their characteristics: size, steel grade of the blade, shape of the handle and teeth.

Dimensions and material of the canvas

The size of the canvas depends on the needs of the buyer. If you need to cut boards, a bar of small diameter, it is enough that the hacksaw blade reaches 28–30 cm. For construction, it is more convenient and more expedient to use a 45–50 cm blade. Dimensions can be larger, they directly depend on the size of the wood with which you plan to work.

To make it easier to work the length of the workpiece should be less than the web twice. If this rule is observed, then the movements of the hand will be more sweeping, and the hand will not get tired quickly. In addition, the teeth of the hacksaw completely come out of the workpiece during cutting, which contributes to the effective removal of sawdust. The width of the canvas varies from 10 cm to 20 cm.

Hacksaws are made of alloy steel containing silicon and various types of carbon grades. Hardening of some is carried out by exposing the metal to an alternating magnetic field. One of the indicators of the quality of the fabric is its hardness, which is measured by the Rockwell method using the C scale, hence the abbreviation HRC.

A diamond cone tip or hard balls are pressed into the test specimen as an indicator. Based on the penetration depth of the indicator, the hardness of the test material is determined on the Rockwell scale. For a hacksaw blade, the standard hardness is 45 HRC. Steel with hardness from 55 HRC to 60 HRC is used for teeth. With such indicators, the tool is distinguished by the flexibility of the blade and high wear resistance of the teeth.

Handle shape

The comfort of work depends on the shape of the tool handle. To ensure the working stroke of the hacksaw, the handle is attached behind the blade. Although some manufacturers produce tools with pistol grips, most make powerful closed plastic or wooden handles. In some models, closed plastic handles act as an oversized square.

Types of teeth

The tool blade along the cutting edge has a row of pointed teeth. If they stand next to each other in an even row, the canvas will jam immediately in the first minutes of work, so they are bent in different directions in turn. Depending on the purpose of the saw, the teeth are given various shapes:

The size of the teeth can be indicated in two ways. The first - by the number of teeth per inch when calculating the distance between the tops, the second - between the bases.

Models with a variable distance between teeth are made. Sawing starts with small teeth, and closer to the handle, the distance between the teeth increases.

Rules for use and care

If the workpiece is not positioned correctly, it may affect the result of the work being done. Therefore, the workpiece should be positioned so that the inclination of the hacksaw to the surface is at an angle of 45º, and the blade is in line with the forearm.

For smooth sawing, the blade can be rubbed with a candle.

When working with the tool, the index finger must be held in the direction of the blade in an extended position. The canvas is guided by the knuckle of the thumb of the free hand. At the same time, you need to cut with short reciprocating movements. After the formation of the cut, the movements of the saw should be smooth throughout the entire length of the blade. If the saw deviates from the marking line, you need to turn it slightly, returning it to the desired path. When narrowing the kerf, use a small wedge.

At the end of sawing, it is necessary to hold the waste with your free hand. Smooth and gentle actions when cutting the last fibers will prevent the workpiece from splitting.

To extend the service life of a hacksaw, you must:

• Wear plastic protection on the teeth.
• If you do not use the tool for a long time, before starting work, you need to wipe the blade with an oiled rag to prevent corrosion.
• It is necessary to remove rust stains from the canvas with a wire washcloth, after wetting it with white spirit.

There is a wide variety of sawing tools that differ depending on the type of work that needs to be done.

Sheathed hacksaws

This tool is perfect suitable for fine work. The upper edge of the canvas is covered by a massive brass or steel strip. It prevents the saw from bending, and the weight makes sawing easier by helping downward hand pressure.

Types of hacksaws with a butt:

Work with a hacksaw with a butt begins with short movements towards yourself, while the tool is held at a slight angle. As the cut is formed, the tool lowers to a horizontal position.

For curved sawing

For sawing out curved parts, there are tools of various sizes, which ensures work with wood material of any thickness.

This group includes the following types of hacksaws:

A narrow hacksaw is used as a regular one, all the others require certain skills in work.

Japanese hacksaw

Japanese hacksaws work when moving towards themselves, so their blades are thin, and the teeth are planted very often. They make a narrow cut without actually breaking the wood fibers. The handles are wrapped in split bamboo.

Japanese hacksaws are represented by the following types:

To choose which wood saw will be better, you need to decide on the purpose of acquiring it. A hacksaw with a large tooth is used in carpentry, and with small teeth in carpentry.

If the tool is rarely used, then it would be right to choose a model with hardened teeth, since in the process of work you will not have to think about their divorce and sharpening.

Inspecting whether the tool is of high quality, you need to bend the canvas at an angle of 45º and release it. If, upon re-examination, any deviations in the fold are noticeable, this indicates a low quality of the metal.

If you choose the handle of the tool, then it is most convenient to work with a solid one, which has a rubberized substrate for the fingers. Models with flip and standard handles are made. The flip handles allow you to change the blade at any time in the hacksaw.

Manufacturer rating

It will help to identify the best hacksaws for wood rating manufacturers. At the same time, you can be sure that the tool is reliable and will last a long time. These are the models of the Swedish company Bahco, the American manufacturer is represented by the models of Stanley, the models of the German company Gross can make a worthy competition.

In the first place due to the budgetary cost and versatility, the ZUBR Expert models are presented. On the second - hacksaws Gross Piranha, which has a Teflon coating, hardened teeth with trihedral laser sharpening. In third place is a tool of good quality and low price - Stanley General Purpose. It is characterized by easy longitudinal and transverse cuts.

Wood, as a building material, has many advantages, not the least of which is ease of processing. Various tools for working with wood are produced, but the simplest and most common is the usual hand saw-hacksaw. What are the parameters for choosing a wood saw, which one is better and what to look for when choosing a new tool?

Criteria for choosing a hacksaw for wood

The choice of the most convenient option, as a rule, is determined by a set of the following characteristics:

• canvas length;
• material used in the manufacture of the saw;
• handle configuration;
• shape, pitch, size of the tooth.

Even with a change in one of the listed characteristics, the operational properties of the hacksaw also change markedly. It is clear that the shape of the handle affects the comfort of working with the tool. Therefore, if the saw will be used mainly by one master, you need to select the handle in such a way that, as they say, it “lies” in the hand. If the hacksaw is used rarely, and also not too intensively, then the comfort of holding becomes not the most important parameter.
Most often, hacksaws are produced with a blade length of 350 to 600 mm. The choice of blade length depends on the expected thickness of the wooden products that will have to be sawn. The main thing here is not to go to extremes, because a blade that is too short will have to work longer to achieve the same result, and a blade that is too long, especially when sawing hard wood, can spring and, again, create difficulties.

Blade material, tooth pitch and types

The material for the production of hacksaw blades is, as a rule, 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. In addition, 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, last longer, but sharpening them after they wear out is unlikely to succeed.

The question of which wood saw is best suited for certain conditions can most often be answered based on the size, type, and tooth pitch. Efficient sawing of wood materials is characterized by the speed and accuracy of the cut. These properties depend on each other - the accuracy of the cut guarantees a fine tooth, while reducing the speed of work. Larger teeth make sawing faster, but cut surface quality and accuracy are reduced.

For the correct choice, the TPI parameter is important, which means the number of teeth per inch of the working length of the blade. This coefficient, as a rule, is indicated in the marking on the side surface of the web. For accurate work, where accuracy and surface quality are of great importance, TPI should be equal to 7-11, but if speed is preferable, then TPI is selected with a value of 3-5.

By the type of teeth, there are several types of hacksaws:

1. For longitudinal sawing. This tool has teeth in the form of an oblique triangle, used for sawing wood along the grain.
2. The crosscut saw is equipped with isosceles triangular teeth, mainly used for dry wood.
3. For mixed sawing. Triangular teeth alternate with semicircular ones. Not recommended for intensive, frequent use.
4. Trapezoidal tooth. Each tooth of this hacksaw has three cutting edges. The use of this hacksaw has undeniable advantages - the tool cuts quickly, effortlessly.
5. The upgraded saw has grouped teeth separated by special gaps that make it easier to remove chips from the cut zone.

Hacksaws, in addition to the shape and location of the teeth, are divided according to the shape and length of the blade, they are folding, with different shapes of handles. The price can also indirectly testify to the durability, as well as the quality of the performance of the tool. A good hacksaw is unlikely to be the cheapest.

Popular Models

Information from sellers about which wood saws sell best makes it possible to judge the most popular models. Let's consider some of them.

Stanley Jet Cut SP2-15-288

This hacksaw is equipped with a D-handle, 50cm blade with 7mm tooth pitch. A tooth with three cutting edges provides ease and speed of sawing. The fine Swedish steel used in the production of the blade ensures the high quality of the tool. The teeth are practically not subject to wear, which makes it possible for many years of successful use. The price is within 1200–1300 rubles.

Zubr Expert

The tool is popular, it wins due to an acceptable cost (from 700 rubles), as well as versatility. Triangular hardened teeth allow for longitudinal and transverse cuts at a fairly high speed. The special tooth setting technology eliminates the occurrence of clamping forces, improves productivity, and improves work efficiency. Hardened, specially set teeth, 5 mm pitch, comfortable plastic handle. The length of the canvas is from 40 cm.

Stanley General Purpose 1-20-089

Designed for accurate and accurate sawing of workpieces, this hacksaw has fine teeth (TPI=11) made using Jet Cut technology, an ergonomic handle, and a polished steel blade. A feature can be considered the accuracy provided by a small tooth. At the same time, the speed of work is also quite high, due to the teeth with three cutting edges (sawing occurs both on the forward and reverse strokes). The comfortable handle provides a firm grip, excellent control and ease of use, and is attached to the blade with three screws. Length 380 mm, price - 650–700 rubles.

BAHCO Laplander 396-LAP

An excellent tool designed for sawing dry and wet wood, designed and manufactured specifically for hunters, fishermen and tourists, although it also finds use in gardeners and even builders. Excellent Swedish quality, TPI=7, Sandvik XT shaped teeth for 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 both in the folded and in the open position. The only drawback is the price - from 1.6 to 2 thousand rubles.

In the arsenal of a home master there is always a functional and easy-to-use circular saw. But there are situations when you need to saw off a part and do a small amount of woodwork, and there is no time or desire to deploy and connect the unit. In these cases, a hand hacksaw perfectly saves. But how to choose a manual hacksaw for wood so that it is convenient to use and easily “gnaws through” any type of wood, we will consider in more detail.

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 managed to acquire numerous “sisters” capable of performing dozens of jobs.

In the household, it is impossible to do without "toothy helpers": they are indispensable for pruning the garden, small carpentry and joinery work

Hand saws for wood differ from each other in many ways: blade size, steel grade, tooth shape, handle design. Let's dwell on each parameter in more detail.

How should a hacksaw blade be?

The main part of the tool is a 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 hardwoods such as ash, maple or oak.

The long stroke makes it possible to apply less effort when sawing, since a large number of teeth are cut in one stroke.

For sawing small elements such as skirting boards, bars or narrow slats, you can get by with a hacksaw with a blade length of 25-30 cm. When planning to use the tool when performing more serious construction work, choose a product with a blade 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 processed elements by 2 times. If you do not follow this recommendation, you will only complicate your work. The teeth of a short hacksaw will stick inside the wood, and everyone will have to make a lot of effort in order to advance the tool to free it from sawdust. Uncomfortable work will cause premature fatigue.

Traditionally, the width of the fabric of the product varies in the range of 10-20 cm. Models with a narrower fabric are not allowed for technical reasons, since they fail at the slightest bend. But it should be borne in mind that too wide canvases are inconvenient for manual work.

Of no small importance is the material of manufacture of the blade, which is most often alloyed steel, as well as its degree of hardening.

For hacksaws, tool alloy steel with a high content of silicon and carbon grades is used:

• 65G, 60 S2A;
• 8 HF, 9 HF, 9 HS;
• U7, U7A, U8, U8A, U8G, U8GA, U9A, U10

Hardening of the metal is carried out by exposing it to an alternating magnetic field, in which a high-frequency electric current appears. Spreading over the surface, it heats the surface layer of the metal, which hardens after cooling.

The standard parameter is the metal hardness of 45 HRC, but it is still preferable to choose products whose web hardness is 55-60 HRC. A hacksaw with a high hardness blade will have sufficient flexibility, but at the same time high tooth stability. With an external examination, such a tool can be identified by the darkish shade of sharpened teeth.

Blade tooth parameters

The determining indicator of the performance of the tool 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 wood and simultaneously remove sawdust

Sawing accuracy is determined by the "TPI" indicator - the number of teeth per inch.

There is an inverse relationship between these technical parameters:

• canvases with large teeth set a high speed of work, but the saw cut turns out to be rough and sloppy;
• hacksaws with fine teeth guarantee a clean and precise cut, but at a relatively slow working speed.

When determining the required tooth size, one should be guided by the type of material being processed. For example, for work with chipboard, where high precision of the cut is required, choose a tool with a high TPI of 7-9, and for sawing logs and gardening, where the cleanliness of the cut is not so essential, choose a TPI of 3-6.

When choosing the best hacksaw option, follow the rule that the minimum log thickness should in any case be more than a three-tooth pitch

If we compare a hardened and ordinary tooth, then the difference lies in the fact that in the first variant, subject to domestic use, the product does not dull for a long time. But a hacksaw with a hardened tooth can no longer be sharpened again. When she starts to cut badly, she will just have to be thrown away.

A normal tooth can be sharpened. Periodically, it can be performed 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 of hand saws:

1. For longitudinal sawing. 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 have sharpening on both sides of the tooth, due to which they are able to cut both when passing forward and in the opposite direction.
2. For cross cutting. The teeth of the tools are made in the form of isosceles triangles. This design makes it easy to saw through the material both when the cutting edge is drawn forward and in the opposite direction. But this type of tooth is only suitable for working with dry blanks, but not fresh wood.
3. For mixed sawing. Products have a combined composition in which triangular edges are combined with slightly elongated semicircular notches. This solution allows, when moving the hand forward, semicircular teeth to perform a guide cut, and when returning, to expand the channel with triangular ones, removing chips and sawdust from it.

Some types of modern tools are equipped with teeth that are made in the shape of a trapezoid. This solution allows you to make the canvas more durable and wear-resistant.

But it should be borne in mind that sharpening such a blade is very problematic, since it is difficult for trapezoidal teeth to give 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

Often on the market you can also find a modernized type of hacksaws.

Upgraded hacksaws are easy to distinguish by the groups of teeth located on the canvas, between which the gaps are clearly visible.

Modernized type hand saws are effective for cutting raw wood. Wet chips through the gaps between the teeth in the process of sawing easily come out of the cut, without hindering the movement of the tool.

Types of hand saws for wood

A small narrow saw is a design that consists of a straight flat blade and a handle. She performs delicate work: through cuts, cut out curved parts.

This type of tool is designed for sawing wooden blanks, the thickness of which does not exceed 8-10 cm, sawing small branches and small garden work.

In the manufacture of 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 canvas can deviate from a given direction.

Option #2 - Regular

A standard hand saw can be equipped with any type of teeth and is often equipped with interchangeable blades of various types and designs.

To be able to saw off workpieces at a certain angle using a standard hand saw, you have to purchase special miter boxes

But despite the declared versatility of their application, it is not advisable to use saws of this type in the manufacture of furniture.

Option # 3 - with a butt

Both narrow and conventional saws are prone to bending when the material being processed increases in rigidity. In these cases, it is effective to use canvases equipped with a backing, which acts as a kind of stiffener.

Hand saws equipped with a back are designed to create shallow cuts in a wooden surface of any thickness.

The presence of the butt prevents the saw from making a cut deeper than the width of the blade, as it prevents the cutting blade from passing further into the tree.

Option # 4 - bow

Bow-type saws are more bulky devices that act as an analogue of a jigsaw.

The main purpose of this type of saws is to create an accurate cut when working with surfaces located at any angle.

Due to the solidity of the design and the threaded connections of the handles, bow-type saws are able to easily overcome knots, cutting along radii and curvilinear patterns.

Depending on the purpose and design solution, saws can be:

• swing - for longitudinal cutting;
• transverse - for sawing blanks across the wood fiber;
• rounded - for cutting holes, making roundings and figured sawing;
• spiked - for cutting connecting spikes, as well as sawing simple geometric shapes on a workpiece.

Only with a bow-type hacksaw can you cut the material up and down, sawing blanks with complex lines and doing the work alone without involving an assistant.

The procedure for choosing a hand saw for wood is quite simple:

1. Determine the purpose for which the tool will be used. For carpentry work, choose products with fine teeth that provide high sawing accuracy, for carpentry - blades with large teeth.
2. Application frequency. If the hand saw will only be used for occasional work, choose a tool with hardened teeth. The service life of this type of product is quite large. In addition, you do not have to worry about sharpening and setting teeth during operation.
3. Canvas uniformity. While inspecting the tool, try gently bending the blade to a 30-45° angle, and then release it. Re-examine the blade: the slightest deviation at the fold point, even within 2 mm, indicates poor quality of the metal.
4. Product cost. As with 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 wear resistance and durability of the saw. But for one-time work, it makes no sense to spend 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 finger pad. The presence of a rubber insert allows you to make 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

On sale there are products with standard and flip-over handles. The second option is convenient in that it allows, if necessary, to replace the worn canvas with a new one.

Keep in mind that not all hand saws go on sale already sharpened. And this seemingly trifle largely determines how soon you can get to work.

There are many companies that manufacture hacksaws on the market. Judging by the reviews, they have proven themselves well: the Zubr hacksaw of 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 suggest you watch a video with tips on choosing:

1. How to choose a saw?
2. Tooth size
3. Steel selection
4. Blade length
5. Handle shape
6. Varieties
7. Type 1: Classic
8. Type 2: Narrow
9. Type 3: With collar
10. Type 4: Archery
11. Type 5: Reward
12. Type 6: Folding Tool
13. Choice by purpose
14. How to decide

Without a hand saw, it is difficult to imagine the arsenal of tools for a home craftsman or locksmith. Its other name is a hacksaw. With this tool, you can file branches in the garden, shorten picket fences and do a lot of work where you need to change the length of a wooden product: laminate, boards for the household, etc.

Perhaps you have not thought about it, but the right choice of a hacksaw determines not only its service life, but also the convenience of work, the quality of the cut. Consider the main parameters of the correct choice of this tool, which is necessary in the household and carpentry activities.

How to choose a saw?

A hacksaw for wood is presented on the market in different versions. How products may differ:

• The shape and size of the tooth;
• canvas size;
• The steel grade from which the working part (sheet) is made;
• Handle shape.

A hacksaw with a change in one of these parameters can radically change its characteristics. Also, sitting comfortably in the hand of one master, it will not fit another at all. These factors must be taken into account when choosing a tool for different purposes.

Tooth size

This parameter affects the quality and speed of work. For the convenience of determining the size and number of teeth, the designation TPI was introduced, indicating the number of teeth in one inch. This parameter can be seen in the description of a hand saw for wood, often the value is applied to the blade.

The carpenter's saw is selected, first of all, according to the size of the tooth. So, for an ordinary tree, small and large ones are suitable, and for “delicate” materials such as fiberboard, a fine-toothed saw is needed. In stores, you can now find similar designations: “for wood”, “for drywall”, etc. Their main difference is the size of the teeth, which is optimal for sawing each of the materials indicated on the label.

The teeth are distinguished by shape, depending on this, the tool acquires a different purpose:

Steel selection

In order for the tool to last longer, you should choose high grades of steel for the production of blades. Better if it is stainless.

Teeth can be hardened or regular. Ordinary ones can be sharpened at home, saws with hardened teeth are disposable, after wear, nothing can be done with them. They are easy to recognize by the dark color as in the photo.

Blade length

This parameter is determined by the size and pitch of the saw tooth.

• The mini-hacksaw is always equipped with small frequent teeth, the length of its blade does not exceed 350 mm;
• The universal hacksaw has an average tooth size and a length of not more than 550 mm;
• The wide hacksaw is equipped with large teeth with an increased pitch, the length of its blade is over 600 mm.

In addition to length, the canvas may vary in shape. A traditional saw has the shape of a rectangle narrowed on one side. This is a universal type of tool that can cut anything.

The rounded blade is adapted for working with branches and other objects from a distance: it is light, easily glides over the wood without much effort.

Handle shape

This part of the saw determines the convenience of work. The tool should fit perfectly with the hand and be comfortable. For the manufacture of handles, various plastics are used that are pleasant to the body. An important note - the material should not slip if the hand suddenly becomes sweaty. To do this, recesses and grooves, a rubberized lining are provided in the handle body.

Varieties

By combining the above factors, manufacturers have developed and today produce standard products with different canvases, the shape of the handle and tooth. To understand how to choose a hacksaw for wood, you first need to familiarize yourself with the existing types of saws.

Type 1: Classic

The main type of saw that almost every man has, even far from construction and carpentry. This hacksaw can have a blade of any length with a different number of teeth, often the tool is equipped with interchangeable blades that come with the purchase.

Type 2: Narrow

Its other name is a hacksaw. It takes its name from the main application - it cuts out lines of various shapes, moreover, it does it neatly and clearly. It is also used for cutting through round, square holes. The saw blade is narrow, the teeth are frequent, they can be located both on one working plane and on both.

When working with a saw, you should be careful: with an uncertain movement, the blade will turn in the other direction, so the choice of a hacksaw for wood with a narrow blade should be stopped on a product made of high-quality hard steel, which will not bend during the sawing process.

Type 3: With collar

A hacksaw with a backing is equipped with a stiffening rib (the same backing), which prevents the blade from bending during operation. Thus, the tool is not able to make a cut lower than the width of the working part of the saw.

The edge hacksaw is always equipped with a comfortable handle at an angle of 45 0 to the blade for easy work.

Type 4: Archery

For plumbing, a bow saw is indispensable: it is used for sawing off the rough parts of the trunk, knots, for sawing figures out of plywood and other wood materials, cutting wood along and across the fibers. The use of the bow saw is so widespread that it alone can replace a small woodworking machine.

A wide range of work carried out slightly obscure the main disadvantages:

1. Bulky. A bow saw is a complex structure, its bearing part is made in the form of a large curved arc, to which is attached a blade as narrow as a thread with teeth.
2. Fragility. You need to work with the tool very carefully: the blade can fly off the mounts and tear during work, and it needs to be replaced frequently.

Type 5: Reward

An award-winning saw takes a lot of effort to master. It is a tool that resembles a planer. It is equipped with two handles. Its main application is the cutting of grooves and spikes, the depth of holes and recesses can be of different sizes, moreover, on rocks of any hardness.

Type 6: Folding Tool

A mechanical hacksaw that you can take with you on a hike or vacation. It is compact, lightweight, and folds completely safe. Folding hacksaw has fine teeth, short pointed blade.

Choice by purpose

In addition to taking into account the main types of saws, the choice of a hacksaw for wood should be carried out on request for a certain type of work:

1. Swing for longitudinal sawing;
2. The transverse one copes well with wood across the location of the fibers;
3. Spike for cutting grooves, spikes and technological recesses in products;
4. Vyruzhnaya for cutting holes of various shapes;
5. Folding wood saw

These types of wood saws generalize the above tool models. The choice should be made according to the main purpose, for which the selected type of tool is acquired. For a household, it is advisable to purchase a saw with interchangeable blades or have several different types of hacksaws in the arsenal.

How to decide

This amount of new information is not easy to put into practice, so we will give you some tips on how to consistently choose the right saw.

1. The first factor to consider is what kind of material will be cut and what is the desired cut quality. Carpenters working with small wood products choose small saws with a short blade. For a carpenter, it is better to use large teeth and a blade - this master does not need high work accuracy, speed is a priority. A folding garden hacksaw is ideal for summer residents who will only cut through trees and shrubs.
2. Application frequency. Determine how often you will need to work with the tool. If the need is rare, take a saw with hardened teeth, if often there will be a need for sharpening - from ordinary steel.
3. The quality of steel must be high for a tool with any frequency of use. The higher the class of metal, the better the product. Before buying, take the tool in hand and gently bend the canvas to 45 0. Good metal is resilient and when the end of the saw is released, it will restore its shape without shifting the central axis. Noticed a deviation - return the hacksaw to the seller.
4. The price in this case is the guarantor of quality. Of course, provided that the seller is honest and does not offer you a fake. A good product cannot be cheap. Choose in the middle price range, if your wallet allows - do not skimp on an expensive saw. Choose a manufacturer by trust rating and give preference to their products in the store. In most cases, this tactic allows you to avoid buying incomprehensibly what instead of a good tool.
5. Take a hacksaw tool in your hand. You should be comfortable holding it. The material of manufacture can be solid plastic with a rubberized handle.

By adhering to these simple rules, you can easily choose the right hacksaw for your needs.