Which hacksaw to choose

Types of hand saws for wood

Option # 3. with backing

Both narrow and conventional saws tend to bend as the workpiece becomes stiffer. In these cases, it is effective to use canvases equipped with a backing, which acts as a kind of stiffening rib.

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

The presence of the backing prevents the saw from making a cut deeper than the width of the blade, since it prevents the cutting blade from going further into the tree.

Option # 1. narrow

A small, narrow saw is a design that consists of a straight-line 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 works in the garden

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 is able to 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 replaceable 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 use, it is not advisable to use saws of this type in the manufacture of furniture.

How to choose the right hacksaw: looking for the best hand saw for wood

In the arsenal of a home craftsman there is always a functional and easy-to-use circular saw. But there are situations when you need to saw off a part and perform a small amount of woodwork, and there is no time or desire to unfold and connect the unit. In these cases, a hacksaw is excellent. But how to choose a hand saw for wood, so that it is convenient to use and easily “gnawed” any wood species, we will consider in more detail.

Option # 4. bow

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.

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

Depending on the purpose and design of the saw, there may be:

  • swinging. for longitudinal cutting;
  • transverse. for sawing blanks across the wood fiber;
  • circular. for cutting holes, making rounding and curly sawing;
  • spike. for cutting connecting spikes, as well as cutting out simple geometric shapes on the workpiece.

Only with an onion-type hacksaw can you cut the material up and down, sawing blanks with complex fishing lines and performing the work alone without the involvement of an assistant.

How a hacksaw blade should be?

The main part of the tool is a hacksaw blade. The first thing to look for 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 it springs, which also complicates the process, especially when working with hard wood species such as ash, maple or oak.

Long stroke allows less effort when sawing, since more teeth are cut in one stroke

For sawing small elements such as plinths, bars or narrow slats, you can do with a hacksaw with a blade length of 25-30 cm.When planning to use the tool for more serious construction work, choose a product with a blade of 45-50 cm.

When determining the length of the hacksaw blade, be guided by the rule that the length of the saw is 2 times the diameter of the processed elements. If you do not follow this recommendation, you will only complicate your work. The teeth of a short hacksaw will jam inside the wood, and each will have to make a lot of effort to advance the tool to free the 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 less importance is the material for making the canvas, which is most often the role of alloy steel, as well as its degree of hardening

Tool alloy steel with high silicon and carbon grades is used for hacksaws:

  • 65G, 60 C2A;
  • 8 HF, 9 HF, 9 XC;
  • U7, U7A, U8, U8A, U8G, U8GA, U9A, U10

Metal hardening is carried out due to the influence of an alternating magnetic field on it, in which a high-frequency electric current appears. Spreading over the surface, it heats up the surface layer of the metal, which is quenched after cooling.

The standard parameter is considered to be the hardness of the metal at 45 HRC, but it is still preferable to choose products, the hardness of the fabric of which 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. On visual inspection, such a tool can be identified by the darkish shade of sharpened teeth.

Tooth size

One of the main parameters of any hacksaw for wood is the size of the teeth. Size is understood as a step, that is, the distance between adjacent points. Depending on this parameter, the saws can have teeth:

Stanley FatMax 5 in 1 Hacksaw

Hacksaws with fine teeth (from 2.0 to 2.5 mm.) Provide cutting of wood with high accuracy and are most often used for working with products of the smallest sizes.

Saws with coarse teeth (4 to 6 mm) are used to cut logs or beams.

Hack saw tutorial

Hacksaws with an average size of teeth (from 3.0 to 3.5 mm) are used when processing small parts.

There are also types of hand saws for wood with teeth arranged in groups of 6-7 pieces, separated from each other by intervals. This tool is used to process raw wood. Gaps allow wet chips to avoid blocking the saw channel.

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 saw 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, the bow-type saws are able to easily overcome knots, cutting along radii and curved patterns.

Depending on the purpose and design of the saw, there may be:

  • swinging. for longitudinal cutting;
  • transverse. for sawing blanks across the wood fiber;
  • circular. for cutting holes, making rounding and curly sawing;
  • thorns. for cutting connecting spikes, as well as cutting out simple geometric shapes on the workpiece.
which, hacksaw, choose

Only with an onion-type hacksaw can you cut the material up and down, sawing blanks with complex fishing lines and performing the work alone without the involvement of an assistant.

Classification by construction

Structurally, hacksaws for wood are:

They cut workpieces with narrow hacksaws, the thickness of which does not exceed 10 cm. They are also used for sawing branches in the garden, cutting out curved parts and other work. Structurally, these saws are a narrow blade with triangular teeth, connected to the L-shaped handle.

The blade of a standard hacksaw (GOST 2615-84) can have any kind of teeth. Often they are equipped with sets of interchangeable blades designed for a wide variety of carpentry and joinery work.

When processing hardwoods, the blades of the hacksaw can bend strongly. Saws are spared from this drawback, the blades of which are equipped with a backing that acts as an additional stiffener. However, its presence does not allow making the cut deeper than the width of the blade itself.

A hacksaw with a reward looks like a plane. It has two handles and is used when it is necessary to make grooves or tenons. over, the depth of these elements can be different.

Bow saw is a canvas stretched over a base made in the form of a large arc. It is connected to the handle by means of a threaded or tension connection, which makes it possible to use different types of blades during operation. In turn, this makes it possible to single-handedly cut workpieces with complex mowing lines sawing.

On the market you can also find folding hacksaws for wood. They are very light and small in size when folded, which makes it possible for outdoor enthusiasts to take them with them on a hike or fishing. This saw has a short, pointed blade with small teeth.

Tool specifications

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 when pruning a garden, small carpentry and joinery

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

Other varieties

There are other types of wood hacksaws. Among them, a garden hand saw is distinguished, equipped with a narrow blade, for the manufacture of which chromium steel is used. It is equipped with widely spaced teeth, angled towards the handle. It is convenient to work with such a tool in cases when the emphasis during cutting has to be done on oneself.

There is a two-handed saw with which it is convenient to cut large logs or cut trees. Two people should work with it.

A hand chain saw is a short chain with hardened teeth and two handles at the ends. It is compact and suitable for hiking trips. You can work with her as one person or together.

A modern and versatile tool is an electric hawk, with which you can perform a large amount of various works. In some cases, it completely replaces the circular. Changing the canvases, it is used to cut not only wood, but also plastic, metal.

Tools

It seems to be a simple tool, but no, with the wrong choice, at best, we will not get the expected pleasure from work. At worst. because the author of the comment on the forum: “It seemed to me that saws are sold ready-to-use, that is, already imprisoned and divorced. ” So how to choose a hacksaw for wood? What to look for: brand, length or price? We will try to answer this question in this article.

Length and shape of the blade

In the domestic market, you can find hacksaws for wood with a length of 250 to 650 mm in increments of 25 mm. This parameter is specified by GOST 2615-84 and depends on the distance between the teeth.

Note! It is necessary to choose a saw, guided by the rule: “The length of the blade should be 2 times the thickness (diameter) of the workpieces”.

Otherwise, it will be uncomfortable to work with a hacksaw, since the short blade will jam inside the solid wood.

As a rule, hacksaws with a narrow blade are no more than 350 mm in length and have a large number of small teeth. Universal tools are completed with blades about 500 mm long with medium-sized teeth. Hacksaws with a wide blade are made with large teeth located at a great distance from each other (coarse pitch), their length can reach 650 mm.

Traditionally, a saw for wood looks like a triangle narrowed on one side. This tool can work with any type of wood. In addition, there are hacksaws adapted to work, for example, with tree branches or other objects located at some distance from the sawer. They are rounded and lightweight.

How to choose?

First of all, you need to determine what type of tool is needed: carpentry or carpentry. The carpentry has a more accurate and clean cut, it is used mainly for dry wood. Cutting speed for this type of tool is not the main characteristic.

When choosing a length, be guided by your needs, i.e. what size timber or log you are going to cut. If the tool will not be used often, for example, in a summer cottage, choose with hardened teeth. The service life of such a saw is large. In addition, correctly sharpening and setting the teeth is its own science, and it may not be advisable to master it for seasonal work in the garden.

The quality of the canvas can be checked upon purchase. To do this, take a hacksaw and see how even the canvas is. Next, bend the canvas to tangible resistance and release. The bending effort should be negligible, do not break. After that, look at the flatness of the web at the bend, if the deviation is more than 2 mm. the steel is not of very high quality.

The hacksaw teeth have a double role:

  • cut wood;
  • take away sawdust.

The fewer the number of teeth per inch, the faster the cutting speed and less clogging by sawdust. Hacksaws with up to 7 teeth provide high productivity with low user effort. True, accuracy will suffer from this. But here, too, it is necessary to look for a middle ground, tk. the greater the distance between the teeth, the smaller the cutting surface. Accordingly, performance will drop. The best option would be the following rule: the minimum thickness of the bar should be greater than the pitch of three teeth. Otherwise, it will be torment, not sawing.

One of the defining criteria for choosing a hacksaw for wood is the price. As with everything else, quality products from top brands will cost more than Chinese brands. This overpayment, in fact, is a guarantee of the durability and durability of such a tool. And with hardened teeth, this is very important, the overall service life of such a tool will depend on it. It does not lend itself to sharpening. Leading manufacturers exercise stricter control when choosing a steel grade and hardening technology. And as we discussed above, even the shape and pitch of the teeth of such a tool will affect a lot. From convenience and effort to precision and evenness of cut.

Tools

It seems to be a simple tool, but no, with the wrong choice, at best, we will not get the expected pleasure from work. At worst. as the author of the comment on the forum: “It seemed to me that saws are sold ready-to-use, ie already imprisoned and divorced. ” So how to choose a hacksaw for wood? What to look for: brand, length or price? We will try to answer this question in this article.

Main characteristics

The canvas is of paramount importance in this tool. The ease of use of the product and its service life will depend on the grade of steel, the correct hardening procedure and successful sharpening. The choice of a hacksaw for wood is based on four basic characteristics:

  • length of the canvas;
  • tooth size;
  • type of steel;
  • handle type.

The first criterion is the length of the web. It depends on the needs of the buyer, for small blocks, boards, etc. 280. 300 mm of a hacksaw is quite enough. For construction or a summer residence, it is more expedient to have a canvas of 450. 500 mm. There are more. When choosing a model, you must clearly know what size of wood you are going to cut. The rule is the following: the length of the hacksaw should be twice the largest workpiece for which it is intended. Less is possible, but the usability will be lost. This is due to several reasons:

which, hacksaw, choose
  • this ratio allows all the teeth of the hacksaw to completely exit the log during cutting, and this is an effective removal of sawdust (it will not clog);
  • it is easier for hands, with more sweeping movements, the hand does not get so tired.

The size of the teeth and their sharpening. The accuracy of the cut and its speed will depend on this characteristic. The pattern is as follows: a small tooth. a clean and accurate cut, but less speed; the larger one is a rough cut at a much higher speed and less fatigue. This characteristic is referred to as “TPI” on hacksaws, which refers to the number of teeth per inch (almost 30 mm). The higher the TPI value, the more “delicate” the cut will be. For example, for work with chipboard and fiberboard, this value should be at least 7. 9. The cutting surface will be smoother without a “ragged” edge.

which, hacksaw, choose

For gardening, cleanliness is not so critical, especially for trimming or sawing logs. A more important characteristic in such work is the cutting speed and the effort that must be expended. For this we need a hacksaw with a TPI value of 3-6, the distance between the teeth is from 4 to 8 mm.

The classic tooth shape is a triangle. As a rule, these saws are of the sharpened type. The latest generation of hacksaws with hardened teeth are trapezoidal. They are originally designed with increased strength and durability. When it is dull, we go, buy a new hacksaw or change the canvas. With all the desire to sharpen it will not work: it is extremely difficult to repeat the sharpening angles, and even such steel does not lend itself to a file. Provided that the production technology is followed.

Steel type. The standard metal hardness for a hacksaw for wood is 45 HRC. For teeth, steel with a hardness of 55. 60 HRC is used. This type of hacksaw combines the flexibility of the blade with a high wear resistance of the teeth. They are easily recognizable by their characteristic appearance. the teeth have a darker shade than the rest of the blade surface. These hacksaws are of the non-sharpening type. If the teeth are not hardened. they can be edited and sharpened.

Lever. The number of calluses on the hands depends on its ergonomics. There are two versions of the handle: overhead or classic. The first option allows you to change the blades, for example, in the Bahco Superior EX-19-XT9-C hacksaw model.

Models that you should definitely look at

Hacksaw for wood Bison Expert, has a very comfortable plastic handle. Hardened, triangular teeth with two cutting edges. Suitable for both rip and cross cuts. The user chooses the length of the blade, as well as the number of teeth per inch, on his own, the variations of this model are different. Saws well any kind of wood. This tool is suitable for carpentry work, because controllability and accuracy of cutting at height. For a garden, you can choose a model with a lower TPI value. Cost from 12 to 15 USD.

The Gross Piranha hacksaw is also available in several versions. Blades Available in different lengths (from 400 to 550 mm) and different number of teeth. The saw is made of hard steel 52 HRc, teeth hardened 66 HRc with triangular laser sharpening. Saws smoothly and cleanly. The Piranha hacksaw has a Teflon coating, which significantly improves the sliding of the blade and allows you to get clean cut edges. The cost of this tool is 12. 15 USD.

Hacksaw for wood Stanley General Purpose. This tool is produced by a French company, has good quality and not a high price (about 12). Designed for both rip and cross cuts. Length 500 mm with TPI 8. Teeth hardened. The cut is easy, without additional effort. Excellent purchase for a summer cottage.

Irwin Xpert hacksaw. A very good tool for a reasonable price, from 20. Washed down light, the cut is even and smooth. When sawing hardwoods, the hand force does not increase significantly. Good ergonomics of the handle. Length 500 mm, teeth, hardened with proprietary geometry, TPI 8.

Sandvik wood saws (formerly), now well-known Bahco-branded tools. Bahco’s proprietary XT geometry saws are virtually unmatched in the category of professional tools. Notable is the Bahco ProfCut PC-19-File-U7 model. This is one of the few saws that can be sharpened. Convenient hacksaw, 475 mm long. Saws smoothly and easily. Cost from 20 USD.

By the way, you can get the quality of the Bahco company, and at the same time save money, by purchasing a hacksaw under the “Mother-in-law” trademark. This instrument comes to Russia from two countries. If you buy it labeled “made in Sweden”. you will have a tool from the Bahco factory in your hands, with its level of quality.

Sharpening teeth

In such tools, a standard triangular sharpening shape is provided. It looks like a triangle with sharp angles and equal hips. Such a blade is used for cutting along and across, which, in turn, avoids coarse notches at the cutting site.

If you ask yourself how to sharpen a hacksaw on wood, then an important aspect in this case is that the teeth are very easy to sharpen, it is enough to purchase a special sharpener.

But it is worth noting that today there are more modern tools on the market. They have a significant difference from the classic ones, since they have hardened teeth, presented in the shape of a trapezoid. The presented saws are much stronger and more durable, but the teeth of such a saw cannot be sharpened.

Handle type

In addition to the listed parameters, it is worth paying attention to the type. This is due to the fact that the ease of use of the hacksaw directly depends on the choice of the handle. The main material for the handle is wood or plastic.

Among the criteria that can help to find a comfortable saw is the grip position, it is necessary that the hand does not slip through the available hole. Often it is covered with a layer of rubber or there are special scars on the hole.

Blade length

One of the main points to look out for is the length of the tool. This is due to the fact that it depends on the length of the saw what kind of work the tool is used for. For example, if you need to saw bars or boards, then the length of the canvas will be enough. 30-35 centimeters.

But as for sawing thicker wood, the best option would be to purchase a universal tool. The length of his canvas varies from 45 to 50 centimeters.

Tooth size

This element is important in that the speed, as well as the accuracy of the cut, completely depends on the size of the tooth on the hacksaw. It should be noted that the number of teeth per millimeter of blade is indicated by the TPI coefficient. That is, if accuracy is needed in the work, then it is recommended to select the tool with the highest TPI.

For example, you can pay attention to the following hacksaw teeth:

  • if the TPI is from 7 to 9, and the distance between the teeth is 2-4 mm, then at the cut site the surface will be smooth and without ragged edges;
  • if TPI is in the range from 3 to 6, with a distance of teeth on the blade of 4 mm, the tool can be used when pruning garden trees or it can be used to saw large blocks.

Which hacksaw to choose

A hacksaw is a popular tool on the farm, as it is used in construction or for sawing branches in the garden. But in most cases, when purchasing a designated tool, few people pay attention to details such as the length of the blade or the size of the teeth, and it is they that affect the quality and ease of use.

Brief content of the article:

  • Main settings
  • Blade length
  • Tooth size
  • Sharpening teeth
  • Steel type
  • Handle type
  • Points to consider when choosing a tool
  • Photo of a hacksaw for wood

Main settings

Despite the fact that a hand saw for wood looks quite simple, it has a number of parameters that you should definitely pay attention to when buying a tool.

Steel type

For the manufacture of hacksaws, stainless steel of the highest grade is used. Basically, the hardness of steel is HRC45, but it is also allowed to combine steel in production.

But as for the cutting part itself, the hardness of the steel should be 55-60.

Points to consider when choosing a tool

When choosing a hacksaw, first of all, you should designate for yourself what kind of tool you need, since there are different types of hacksaws. for carpenters and joiners.

For instance:

  • if an accurate cut is required, then the choice of a carpentry saw would be the best option;
  • when cutting speed is needed, it is recommended to purchase a carpenter’s hacksaw.

Further, you can test the quality using several methods, among them the following can be noted:

  • evaluate how smooth the canvas is;
  • bend the canvas slightly, and then return to its original position;
  • check the flatness of the web again, if there are small deviations, then it is not worth buying.

Given the information provided, you can easily designate which hacksaw is better and choose for yourself a high-quality wood tool that will last a long time, and the work will not only be done with high quality, but also comfortable in the process.

If you wish, you can see various photos of a hacksaw for wood.