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A hand saw is a classic wood-cutting tool that’s a must-have for any carpentry or home improvement enthusiast. In this round-up and buying guide, I evaluate the best hand saws for just about every woodworking project. Here are my top recommendations.
Top 5 Handsaws
- Best Folding Blade: Corona Razor-Tooth Folding Saw
- Best Double-Bladed Saw: SUIZAN Double-Edge Japanese Ryoba Pull Saw
- Best Curved Blade: Tabor Tools Folding Saw
- Best Long Blade: Craftsman Hand Saw
- Best Electric Hand Saw: BLACK+DECKER Electric Hand Saw
Compare Top Handsaws
Product | Number of Teeth Per Inch | Blade Length | Surface Recommendation |
---|---|---|---|
Corona Razor-Tooth Folding Saw | 6 | 7 inches | Wood |
SUIZAN Double-Edge Japanese Ryoba Pull Saw | 15 | 9.5 inches | Wood |
Tabor Tools Folding Saw | 3 | 8 inches | Wood |
Craftsman Hand Saw | 6 | 15 inches | Wood and plastic |
BLACK+DECKER Electric Hand Saw | 6 | 11.75 inches | Wood, plastic, metal |
Product | Number of Teeth Per Inch | Blade Length | Surface Recommendation |
Best Folding Blade
Best Double-Bladed Saw
Best Curved Blade
Best Long Blade
Best Electric Hand Saw
Buying Guide to Hand Saws
A hand saw lets you make small, detailed cuts that larger circular saws can’t handle. This buying guide will help you choose the best hand saw for your home improvement projects.
Type
Hand saws come in many forms. Some are operated manually, while others use electricity for power. The blades can also differ with single-edged, double-edged, curved, and straight options. When considering the different types, choose the one that matches your project’s needs.
Blade Length
Hand saws usually have longer blades for larger cuts. Typical hand saw blades are between 7 and 14 inches long, with 10 and 12 inches being popular.
Blade Edges
Different hand saw blades have different tooth patterns for finer or coarser cuts. Popular patterns include:
- Coping: This makes fine cuts, such as those along joints.
- Cross: This type cuts across the wood grain.
- Keyhole/compass: This type makes cuts with rounded edges.
- Rip: This cuts with the wood grain.
Safety
Hand saws often have features, functions, or accessories to prevent injury during use. Common ones include:
- Non-slip handles
- Foldable blades
- Blade sheaths
- Auto-stop buttons
Accessories
Hand saws can come with a variety of accessories, including:
- Storage bags
- Extension cords
- Blade sharpening tools
Frequently Asked Questions About Hand Saws
What can I use my hand saw for?
You can use a hand saw to cut wood of any kind. A hand saw is not as powerful as a rotating chop or miter saw, but it can make smaller, more precise, and more detailed cuts. Many DIY enthusiasts use hand saws to build furniture or to make improvements around their houses in tight spaces.
What’s a ryoba?
A ryoba is a specific type of Japanese hand saw. The word “ryoba” means “pair of blades” in Japanese. True to its name, a ryoba has two cutting edges rather than one. Typically, one edge will feature a rip pattern for cutting along the wood grain, while the other will feature a cross pattern for cutting against the grain.
How often should I sharpen my hand saw?
Sharpen your hand saw as soon as you notice that the blade is getting dull. This is usually every two to four weeks if you use yours regularly.
How We Selected the Best Hand Saws
To provide our readers with the best recommendations possible, we rely on several key sources of information to help guide our selection process.
Initial Research: Our research process began by generating a list of hand saws with a significant number of verified buyer reviews and an average customer review rating of 4–5 stars. I looked at positive and negative reviews alike, focusing on information from both satisfied and critical buyers.
Expert Insights: Through our years of experience, we’ve learned that listening to what others have to say is key to building accurate, well-rounded articles. To complement our in-house expertise, our team looked at reviews and videos from trusted publications and independent testers, spoke with subject matter experts, and drew insights from reader contributions.
Final Product Selection: I then began fine-tuning our list by replacing older models with the latest versions and eliminating any discontinued models. From there, I pared the list down further by comparing each model’s feature set and selecting the best-in-class options for various buyers, budgets, and scenarios.
Why You Can Trust Us
This Old House has empowered homeowners and DIYers for more than four decades with top-notch home improvement advice in the form of television programs, print media, and digital content.
Our team focuses on creating in-depth product and service review content. To date, we’ve published numerous tool reviews, from cordless drills and impact drivers to tape measures and laser levels.
Once we conclude our research, we craft a comprehensive, user-friendly article of recommended products and additional information to help our readers make the right purchase.
Questions or Comments?
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