Good hand saw. Wood saw - rating of the best models. What is a reciprocating saw and how to choose one

A hand saw, at first glance, is a fairly simple tool that does not require special maintenance. Nevertheless, few people know about the criteria for choosing a saw and its types. Like other tools, a hand saw has certain signs of quality and characteristics.

The main parameters of a hand tool for sawing wood

The hacksaw is one of the most necessary tools in the inventory of every man. This device allows you to easily change the size of wood and plastic lumber. With the help of a hacksaw, you can perform a lot of operations in construction, file branches in the garden, shorten the poles of the fence, and so on.

A hand saw is used to work with lumber

But when buying this, at first glance, a simple tool not everyone thinks about how to make the right choice and what criteria should be taken into account. The 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 convenience, the length of the hacksaw blade is chosen so that it is twice the size of the material at the cut point. This allows you to effectively remove sawdust during operation 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 canvas 30–35 centimeters long will suffice.

Tooth size

This is perhaps the most important parameter. After all, the speed and accuracy of the cut depends on the size of the tooth.. The number of teeth per inch of blade is commonly referred to as TPI. For more precise work with the material it is necessary to use a hacksaw with a high TPI coefficient, that is, with large quantity teeth. When choosing a blade with a TPI of at least 7-9, and the distance between the teeth is not more than 2-4 mm, the surface at the cut will be more even and without torn edges. For working with large bars and garden trees A blade with a TPI of 3–6 and a tooth spacing of over 4mm will work well. The use of such a hacksaw will reduce the effort expended and increase the speed of cutting the working material..

Tooth Pitch Correspondence Table

Tooth sharpening

The usual triangular shape of the 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 corners of the teeth. Such a blade can be used for both longitudinal and transverse cuts to avoid coarse notches.

The teeth of a classic hacksaw are made in the shape of a triangle and can be sharpened

Video: self-sharpening the teeth of a hacksaw 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 keep all the angles of the sharpened teeth.

Modern hacksaws made with hardened teeth in the shape of a trapezoid

Steel type

For the production of hacksaw blades, it is most often used stainless steel high grade. Usually saws for wood 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 steel 45, but the cutting part is made of steel 55 and 60. When hardening the cutting edge, 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 of the metal and improved the quality of the tool.

Handle type

The ease of use of the saw depends on the correct choice of the saw handle. Handles are made of wood or plastic. A very important point - the surface at the grip should be such that the hand does not slip. This is eliminated by making scars on the handle, or by covering it with a rubber layer. The hacksaw can be both a classic cast and a reversible blade. The latter allows you to replace the canvas, which is very convenient.

How to choose a hand saw

Bringing everything together basic parameters saws, 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 - carpentry or joinery. If the most important thing is the speed of cutting, then, of course, you need to purchase a carpentry. The carpenter's saw has fewer teeth per inch, which contributes to faster productivity and removal of sawdust. If the priority is the accuracy of the cut, then you should use the carpentry.

The quality of a hacksaw can be determined 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 wins back and calms down, you should again look at the evenness of the blade. If it deviates slightly from its original position, then the tool is of poor quality and it is not recommended to buy it.

If you need a rip saw, you need to choose a hacksaw with sharp teeth. 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 ripping blade are sharpened in the shape of an acute triangle

Rip sawing cuts parallel to the grain of the material. For rip sawing, circular saws and bow saws are well suited.

Hacksaws for cross cutting are the most common. Their teeth are made in the form of an isosceles triangle and sharpened on both sides. This allows cutting in both directions..

For cross sawing, the teeth of the blade are made in the form of an isosceles triangle and sharpened on both sides.

In crosscut sawing, the material is cut across the fibers. For such sawing, classic hacksaws, hacksaws with a back are suitable, and when big thickness material - two-handed saws.

The price of the saw is also at least significant factor when choosing. A more expensive hacksaw gives a guarantee of reliability and wear resistance. Those saws that are much lower than the average price are made from cheaper raw materials and do not guarantee you long-term service.

What types of hand saws are supposed to be used

1. 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. Extra care must be taken to avoid deviation of the cut line from the initial markup. Such a hacksaw is suitable for working with timber, boards, chipboard and so on.
2. Hacksaw with back. This saw model has a rigid edge-nozzle, which minimizes the frequency of vibration of the blade. And also such a hacksaw has smaller teeth and a higher TPI coefficient. They are designed for sawing plywood, chipboard with a layer of coating and sawing profile strips.
3. Saws for fine sawing have an adjustable handle. They are needed for cutting grooves, grooves and sawing straight and profile strips.
4. Circular hacksaw, or hacksaw with a narrow blade. It is also used for cutting grooves, as well as for sawing parts with rounded places and large holes.
5. bow saw well suited for cutting knots and rough parts of the material, as well as for sawing parts from plywood and wood. Such a 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 very carefully because of its increased fragility.
6. Award - has two handles. The appearance of such a saw is in many ways similar to a planer. It is used for cutting spikes and grooves, deepening holes and slots in materials of any hardness.
7. Garden saw with a curved blade. Most often, for greater convenience, they are foldable. This saw is great for gardening. The saw blade is made of chrome steel. Widely spaced teeth with an inclination towards the handle will allow you to conveniently cut knots and branches, focusing on yourself during sawing.
8. A two-handed saw has the highest performance. It has two wooden handles. To make a cut with such a saw for greater efficiency, you need two people. A two-handed saw is often used for sawing large logs and trees.
9. Manual or pocket chain Saw- is a small piece of chain with two handles at the ends. It is convenient to work with such saw both to one, and together. A log or bough is wrapped around a chain and cut with the help of handles. A hand chainsaw, like a folding saw, is well suited for gardening.

Photo gallery: varieties of hand saws

This classic hacksaw is easy to sharpen This hacksaw has hardened teeth and increased wear resistance A hacksaw with a back or a butt minimizes blade vibration during operation A hacksaw with a narrow blade is well suited for cutting holes and grooves
This saw has an adjustable handle, which allows you to work at the right angle. The bow saw is well suited for cutting plywood parts. This type of saw is similar to a planer and is used to cut spikes and slots. A two-handed saw is suitable for sawing large logs.
Garden saws with a curved blade are good for cutting twigs and small tree branches.
The hand chainsaw is compact and well suited for sawing logs on a hike and branches in the garden.

Thus, having carefully studied all the nuances regarding hand saws, everyone will be able to choose for themselves the most suitable option. The right choice of tool will provide you with high-quality and pleasant work.

In the arsenal 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.

• Blade tooth parameters
• Types of hand saws for wood
• Option #1 - narrow
• Option #2 - normal
• Option # 3 - with a butt
• Option # 4 - bow
• Recommendations for choosing a tool

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 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 works, 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 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 metal is carried out due to the impact on it of an alternating magnetic field, at which appears electricity high frequency. 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.

Between these technical parameters there is an inverse relationship:

• 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 required size teeth 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 option hacksaws, follow the rule that the minimum thickness of the log should in any case be greater than the step of three teeth

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:

Some types modern instruments equipped with teeth, which are made in the form 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

Option #1 - narrow

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 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 - normal

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 with an increase in the rigidity of the material being processed, they are prone to bending. 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 butt are designed to create shallow cuts in wooden surface 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 passage cutting blade 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 saws of this type is to create precise 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:

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 domestic production, Gross Piranha joint German-Chinese cooperation, Irwin Xpert made in the USA. They are famous decent quality at a low price, which varies between 10-20 USD.

Finally, we suggest you watch a video with tips on choosing:

related posts

Hacksaws for wood differ in the size of the cutting teeth. This indicator determines what the cut will be, for which wood species the hacksaw is suitable and how convenient it will be to work with it. But, in addition to this, there are other indicators that you need to pay attention to when choosing a tool. Therefore, the question of how to choose the right hacksaw for wood requires careful study.

Technical characteristics of a hacksaw for wood

For a saw on a tree, the main importance is:

• canvas width;
• canvas length;
• tooth size;
• handle;
• brand of steel canvas.

The length of the blade affects the width of the cut workpiece. and also greatly simplifies the work. The long stroke makes it possible to apply less force, because in one movement the cut is made by a large number of teeth. Moreover, the longer the canvas, the stronger it will spring. When working with hardwoods such as ash, maple or oak, a hacksaw will cause a lot of inconvenience and will quickly become dull.

In terms of practice, short hacksaws, with a cutting blade length up to 35 cm, best used for one-time fine work. They are great for those who live in an apartment because they do not take up much space. So, in a private household, it is advisable to immediately choose a long hacksaw (50–55 cm). This will make it possible to work with blanks, as well as sawing trees.

As a rule, the width of the canvas is 10–20 cm. Narrower canvases are not allowed due to technical considerations (they break even with a slight bend), wider ones are rather inconvenient for manual work. When choosing a saw for wood, you must remember that thin workpieces are easier to cut with a narrower blade, and, conversely, thick (roofing logs, tree trunk, etc.) - wide.

Ordinary pens are made of plastic. It is best to choose a handle with a rubber backing. This will protect your hand from calluses and will allow you to perform a tighter grip.

The saw tooth is the most important part of the tool, so we will dwell on this point in more detail.

Purpose and types of teeth

In hacksaws for wood, the following types of tooth are distinguished:

• for universal cutting;
• for a cross cut;
• for a longitudinal cut.

Longitudinal cut most often produced either with a jigsaw, or circular saw. But there are also hand saws for these purposes. As with power tools, the tooth on the hacksaw looks like a hook. The angle between the tooth can be 45-60 degrees.

Hook shape Allows cutting in only one direction. It is best to cut along the fibers. In this case, the saw easily penetrates the tree and the cut comes out the most accurate and even. The purchase of this hacksaw is appropriate only for those people who want to make furniture with their own hands. Because it is not suitable for any other purposes.

Tooth for cross cutting the most popular. Outwardly, it looks like an isosceles triangle. The angle of the tooth is 45–55 degrees. This design makes it possible to cut well both during the movement of the blade forward and in the opposite direction. As a result, the cross cut occurs without special efforts, quickly and as accurately as possible. When choosing a hacksaw, it must be borne in mind that this type of tooth is only suitable for dry workpieces. A saw will tear a fresh tree, and the sharpening will deteriorate.

For fresh wood use triangular teeth with parallel cutting. This means that the teeth are staggered and only on one side. As a result, a free channel appears between the teeth inside the cut, through which wet sawdust can freely exit without complicating the advancement of the blade.

The next option is combined teeth. Here the triangular ones intersect with the semicircular ones. Moreover, a semicircular tooth is larger than a triangular one. While the blade moves forward, long and narrow teeth make a guide cut, and when the blade returns to its original position, the triangular tooth enlarges the cut channel and removes chips and sawdust. We must not forget that the smaller the angle between the triangular and semicircular tooth, the more accurate the cut will be.

Saw blades for universal cutting it is advisable not to choose, as a rule, they have a different compilation of teeth, which in theory should do any job equally well. But in practice, these hacksaws dull much faster, and their sharpening is usually more expensive than a new saw.

And most importantly, in any high-quality saw, the teeth must be made of hardened steel.

Types of wood saws

There are several types of saws, among them:

• ordinary;
• narrow;
• beam;
• with a butt.

The cheapest wood saw is narrow hand saw. This tool is suitable for sawing branches in gardening and small work with workpieces. As a rule, either double-sided triangular teeth or parallel sharpening are used.

You need to understand that you can work with this hacksaw only with blanks, no more than 7-12 cm thick. A very short blade does not make it possible to create a lever, respectively, cutting thick parts suffers from requiring a large load.

Conventional saws can be with any kind of teeth. The choice will depend only on what tasks you plan to purchase the tool for. It is only necessary to pay attention to the fact that it is undesirable to work with these saws during the production of furniture. Or you need to buy special large miter boxes so that you can saw at a certain angle.

Back saws applied as auxiliary tool. Their main task is small cuts in the details.

Bow saws is an analogue electric jigsaw. They make it possible to make the most accurate cut and work with different workpieces at different angles. Exist:

• transverse;
• sweeping;
• spiked;
• rounded.

Swing saws make it possible to produce slitting. Today there are canvases 40-80 cm long. Longer workpieces can only be sawn with a power tool.

Crosscut saws used to cut workpieces across the grain. They can perform a cut, and at a right angle, and under any other. And they come out perfect. smooth edges at the section of the cut.

Hacksaws narrower, used for figured cutting. With the help of them, rounding and other complex elements. Feature– use of very flexible steel grades.

spiked hacksaws make it possible to perform simple geometric shapes on the workpiece.

The difference between bow saws is that the mechanism for fasteners is purchased once, and they are not spent directly on saws, buying new blades.

Wood saw manufacturers

Professional saws distinguished by good quality and compliance with the specified characteristics. By purchasing a tool from trusted manufacturers, you will be sure that this product will serve you reliably and for a long time. Among the proven manufacturers it is necessary to highlight:

Bahco is a Swedish company that is part of the SNA Europe Corporation. For more than 200 years of history, the company has never changed its basic concept - the production of high-quality and affordable hand tool. Bahco saws are characterized by durability, and a pleasant cost.

Also on the market you can find Sandvik saws. This company is part of Bahco, because the quality of the goods meets the general requirements of the company.

American saw manufacturer Stanley, also focuses on the availability of its product. The company is distinguished by a large staff of engineers and designers. Thanks to their developments, the cutting edge and blade of hacksaws differ from domestic GOST, but this does not affect the quality at all. This company is great for those who choose a hacksaw for the country. Because the combined large teeth make it possible to produce any kind of cut.

German firm Gross younger than other companies. The competitiveness of its product is achieved due to its very low cost. However, the products are quite high quality and meet all standards. The only drawback is that the choice of products is very small.

There are also domestic manufacturers offering high-quality and relatively inexpensive saws. Among which:

• Piranha;
• Bison.

Saw Bison are made in China, however, meet the requirements for teeth and steel. Of the shortcomings:

• cannot be used for working with hard wood;
• the time of continuous work is not more than 10 minutes (then a pause of 15 minutes);
• do not leave it outside (it will quickly rust, even with low humidity).

Despite this, the characteristics of the hacksaw are suitable for pruning trees.

The Piranha company is relatively small and has been operating relatively recently. Like everything new, its products are quite affordable and different. good quality. Saw Piranha presented in only a few variants. large country The manufacturer of this product is China. But the products of this company are coated with Teflon, which protects the hacksaw from corrosion, even if you forgot it on the street.

About safety and comfort

When choosing a hacksaw for wood, pay attention to the handle. The most comfortable is the two-component handle with rubber insert. It provides a firm grip, does not allow the palm to slip and does not rub the hand.

For working with various sizes of workpieces and performing different types of cuts far from superfluous is a set of interchangeable cloths. Often saws are equipped with equipment with different cutting edges and different shapes- for cutting branches, making transverse and straight cuts, etc. It is also quite convenient when the hacksaw is equipped with a case for carrying and storing, or at least a plastic plug that covers sharp edges, eliminating injury and damage to the surface of the blade.

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?

The wood saw is on the market in different options. 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 the average size tooth and length no 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. 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, first you need to familiarize yourself with existing types drank.

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 execution 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 sawing 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. Bow saw - 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 different size, 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 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 wooden 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 elastic 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. 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.

Adhering to these simple rules you can easily choose the right wood saw for your needs.

If your set of entrenching tools still does not have such a tool as a hacksaw, or you experience a lot of inconvenience when working with it, it's time to correct the situation and purchase good saw, having understood in detail all the characteristics of the instrument.

Hacksaws for wood differ in blade size, steel grade, shape of teeth and handle. Now in more detail about each aspect.

Blade characteristics: length, width, hardness

Particular attention should be paid to the hacksaw blade. From him quality characteristics the cutting capabilities of the saw itself depend. If the blade is long, then when sawing hard rock wood: oak, ash or maple, difficulties will arise, as the canvas will spring back, which will require more effort to get the job done.

When it is necessary to perform work on sawing small elements: skirting boards, slats, then a blade length of up to 30 cm will suffice. For sawing thicker bars or even logs, you will need a tool with a cutting length of at least 45 cm.

Here is the simplest rule for determining the optimal length of the blade, which will minimize the effort expended during sawing: the length of the cutting part should be twice the thickness of the part to be cut. Too short a hacksaw will constantly get stuck inside the sawn element, and you will quickly get tired.

As for the width of the canvas, we choose the golden mean. If it is too narrow, then there is a risk of breaking the tool during its bending, and when working with a blade that is too wide, there will be inconvenience. The width should be between 10 and 20 cm.

The hacksaw blade is made of tool alloy steel grades U10, U8GA, U8G, U8A, U8, U7A, U7, 9 XC, 8 XF, 9 XF, U9A, 60 S2A, 65G.

The acceptable hardness parameters for the alloy of the cutting part of the saw are considered to be 45. But still, choose a blade that has large hardness parameters: 55–60 HRC. Such a tool has the necessary flexibility and at the same time strong teeth. Such teeth have a characteristic darkish tint.

Determine by teeth

We are interested in the size of the teeth. There is such a coefficient: "TPI" (the number of blade teeth per inch). For example, to work with chipboard, TPI should be about 7-9 (meaning from 7 to 9 teeth per inch). If the work ahead is mainly gardening: sawing logs, branches, then rarer teeth will do - from 3 to 6 teeth per inch.

Saw blades with rare and large "teeth" can set great speed cutting, however, at the same time, the saw cut will be chipped. The canvas, where the number of teeth is larger and their size is smaller, on the contrary, leaves behind clean cut, without burrs, but the speed of operation is rather slow.

Do not rush to conclude that the best wood saws have hardened teeth. Indeed, at home, the use of such a tool long time does not cause tooth wear. However, it will not be possible to sharpen them again. When the teeth become dull, the tool will only have to be thrown away.

But an ordinary, non-hardened tooth can be sharpened. To sharpen a saw, it is enough to take a special file marked with an abbreviation of three letters: DTP (for turning saws), and go through each tooth with it.

Video: saw sharpening technique

There are several types of hand saws:

• Longitudinal. Has an oblique tooth. When viewed from the side, it looks like a hook. Used when sawing large wooden elements along the fibers. The tooth in such saws is sharpened on both sides, which makes it possible to cut not only in one direction.
• Transverse. It has a tooth in the shape of an isosceles triangle. The sharpening is double-sided. This makes it possible to cut in two directions. Suitable for sawing only dry wood.
• For mixed sawing. It has triangular shaped teeth, which are replaced by elongated, semicircular shaped teeth. This shape of the edge of the blade allows you to effectively cut with semicircular teeth when moving forward, while triangular when moving backward, expand the groove of the cut, while removing sawdust and chips formed at the cutting site. Designed for infrequent use.
• Trapezoidal. Has three cutting edges. Manual sawing with this type of teeth is a pleasure - effortless, quick and easy. However, sharpening this type of tooth is very difficult, and in some cases impossible.
• Modernized. The teeth are located on the edge of the blade in groups, with characteristic gaps between them. They are used when sawing raw wood. The gaps between groups of teeth allow wet chips to easily exit the cutting zone without clogging the cutting edge.

There are such types of hacksaws:

	Narrow. Designed to perform smaller work: sawing curved elements of wood with a thickness of no more than 8-10 cm. It is very convenient for gardening to remove small branches.
	Normal. On a canvas of this kind may be present different types tooth, both modernized and trapezoidal. The convenience is that the canvases are interchangeable. However, due to inaccurate cut, use in the manufacture of wooden structures Not recommended.
	With a collar. This name is cutting tool received due to the characteristic stiffener that runs along the edge of the upper part of the canvas. This allows you to avoid unwanted bends in the cutting part of the hacksaw during operation. They are used in works where it is necessary to make shallow and accurate cuts in the workpiece.
	Luchkova. It is somewhat reminiscent of a jigsaw, with which it is possible to easily make a curvilinear and precise cut, even in the presence of knots.

There are also saws:

• Swinging. Used for longitudinal cutting.
• Transverse. Used for cross cutting.
• Vykruzhnye. Used when making holes, curved sawing.
• Spiked. Used for cutting connecting spikes.

Among tourists, the folding saw is the most popular. In appearance, it resembles a large folding knife, in which the serrated blade snaps into the handle. Firstly, you do not need a special cover, and, secondly, such a saw takes up little space. Such folding saws are able to saw through a tree trunk up to 14 cm, which makes it an indispensable tool on long hikes.

So, we examined the main types of wood saws: in their purpose and characteristics, they are very different from each other. Therefore, before buying a tool of one type or another, ask yourself a few questions:

1. For what purpose. If for carpentry work, then the canvas should be with a fine tooth. If carpentry - with a large one.
2. How often will it be applied. If from time to time, it is better to take with a red-hot tooth.
3. What is the quality of the metal. Bend the canvas at an angle of 30-45º, then let it straighten out again. If after that it did not visually return to its original position, then the quality of the metal of the cutting part of the hacksaw leaves much to be desired.
4. What is the price. If the product is expensive, then it is not consumer goods. It is better to pay for wear resistance and durability than to simply throw away the saw, and at the same time the money. However, for infrequent use, you can take a cheaper tool.

Don't forget about the handle of the tool when choosing a saw. It is better to buy a tool with a solid handle, where, as a rule, there is a rubberized insert for fingers. Such rubber pads allow you to make the grip of the hand tighter, which will save you from the appearance of blisters.

Video: technical specifications of hacksaws for wood