While working, I often have to cut various wooden elements. And, if it is not possible to use a power tool, a hacksaw comes to the rescue. I will tell you how to choose a quality tool and indicate what to look for when buying. And as a bonus, I’ll list a few specific options that worked best.
The main characteristics of any hacksaw are:
We will analyze each aspect in detail.
Regarding these aspects you need to know the following:
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Short hacksaws are used to cut small elements. The length of the working blade in them is no more than 30 cm. Using this version of the tool, it is very convenient to cut thin bars and sheet materials such as plywood, fiberboard and chipboard. The tool can be different types, this aspect is described in more detail below. |
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Medium options are suitable for any work. The most popular type of tool has a blade length of 35-50 cm. Using such a hacksaw you can cut any boards and bars. |
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Hacksaws over 500 mm long. This option is mainly used for longitudinal sawing of thick elements. They are not found often, since sawing large blocks or logs by hand is very difficult. |
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Canvas up to 50 mm wide. These are so-called narrow hacksaws used for cutting small elements and sheet materials small thickness. |
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Hacksaws with a blade width of 100-200 mm. Most often, the blade tapers towards the end, that is, the width changes from the handle to the end of the blade. This configuration simplifies sawing and reduces the likelihood of the blade getting stuck in the wood. There are also options with the same width of the canvas along the entire length. Most often these are bow and axle type saws (their features are described below). |
The wider the blade, the stiffer it is, but the likelihood of the working part getting stuck in a thick piece of wood is higher.
As for the length, it should be approximately twice the thickness of the elements being cut. This ratio allows you to work in a sweeping manner, and your hand will get much less tired. The instructions on the packaging will tell you what kind of work this or that model is intended for.
This aspect is difficult to determine by eye, so the packaging must contain all the information:
If you only use a hacksaw occasionally, it is better to purchase a hardened version. With infrequent use, it will last at least several years. When using actively, it is better to take a non-hardened hacksaw and sharpen it as needed.
When figuring out how to choose a hacksaw for wood, Special attention given to the teeth. The quality of work and its productivity depend on them.
The tooth pitch is determined by the TPI index, this abbreviation refers to the number of teeth per 1 inch (25 mm). All products have the appropriate markings, so it won’t be difficult to figure it out:
It is very important to choose the right type of tooth. This directly depends on specifications wood hacksaws:
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Hacksaws for longitudinal sawing. Used for cutting wood along the grain and have a curved tooth. This configuration allows cutting in only one direction; when the tool goes in the other direction, sawdust is removed from the cut. |
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Cross saws. Used for cutting material across the grain. They have smooth triangular teeth with sharpening on both sides, which allows you to cut elements in two directions. |
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Universal hacksaws. They have a trapezoidal beveled tooth of a special configuration. With its help, both longitudinal and transverse cutting are carried out equally well. |
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Special options. A modern professional hacksaw can have unusual option teeth, which are divided into separate blocks. This type of tool is designed for cutting raw wood, thanks to the gaps the sawdust is removed very efficiently.
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All products can be divided into 4 groups:
Now I will give a couple of examples. The hacksaws listed below have been personally tested and performed well:
Now you know exactly which wood hacksaw is needed in your case. I recommend watching the video in this article, and if you have any questions, ask in the comments.
tree like construction material, has numerous advantages, not the least of which is ease of processing. Issued various instruments for working with wood, however, the simplest and most common is a regular hand-held hacksaw. What parameters are used to select a hacksaw for wood, which is better and what to look for when choosing a new tool?
Choice of the most convenient option, as a rule, is determined by a set of the following characteristics:
Even if one of the listed characteristics changes, the performance properties of the hacksaw also change noticeably. It is clear that the shape of the handle affects the comfort of working with the tool. Therefore, if only one master will use the saw, you need to select the handle so that, as they say, it “fits” in the hand. If you use a hacksaw rarely, and also not too intensively, then the comfort of holding becomes not the most important parameter.
Most often, hacksaws are produced with blade lengths from 350 to 600 mm. The choice of blade length depends on the expected thickness wooden products, which will have to be cut. The main thing here is not to go to extremes, because with a blade that is too short you will have to work longer to achieve the same result, and a blade that is too long, especially when sawing hard wood, can spring back and, again, create difficulties.
The material for the production of hacksaw blades is usually 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. Additionally, 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 and last longer, but it is unlikely to be possible to sharpen them after they are worn out.
The question of which wood hacksaw is best suited for certain conditions can most often be answered based on the size, type, and pitch of the teeth. Efficient cutting wood materials characterized by cutting speed and accuracy. These properties depend on each other - cutting accuracy guarantees a fine tooth, while reducing the speed of work. Larger teeth make cutting faster, but cut surface quality and accuracy become poorer.
For the right choice The TPI parameter is important, meaning the number of teeth per inch of working length of the blade. This coefficient is usually indicated in the markings on the side surface of the canvas. For accurate work, where the accuracy and quality of surfaces are of serious importance, the TPI should be equal to 7–11, but if speed is preferred, then the TPI is selected with a value of 3–5.
There are several types of hacksaws based on the type of teeth:
Hacksaws, in addition to the shape and arrangement of the teeth, are divided according to the shape and length of the blade, are folding, and have different shapes of handles. The durability and quality of the instrument can be indirectly indicated by the price. A good hacksaw is unlikely to be the cheapest.
Information from sellers about which wood hacksaws sell best makes it possible to judge the most popular models. Let's look at some of them.
This hacksaw is equipped with a D-shaped handle, a 50 cm blade with a tooth pitch of 7 mm. A tooth with three cutting edges ensures ease and speed of sawing. The fine Swedish steel used in the production of the blade ensures high quality of the tool. The teeth are practically not subject to wear, which allows for many years of successful use. Price - within 1200–1300 rubles.
The tool is popular, benefits from its reasonable cost (from 700 rubles), as well as its versatility. Triangular hardened teeth allow longitudinal and transverse cutting at a fairly high speed. Special technology tooth alignment eliminates the occurrence of clamping forces, improves productivity and work efficiency. Hardened, specially set teeth, 5 mm pitch, comfortable plastic handle. Canvas length from 40 cm.
Designed for precise and accurate cutting of workpieces, this hacksaw has fine teeth (TPI=11) made using Jet Cut technology, an ergonomic handle, and a polished steel blade. A special feature is the precision provided by the fine teeth. At the same time, the operating speed is also quite high, due to the teeth with three cutting edges (sawing occurs in both forward and reverse motion). 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.
An excellent tool designed for sawing dry and wet wood, designed and manufactured specifically for hunters, fishermen and tourists, although it is also used by gardeners and even builders. Excellent Swedish quality, TPI=7, Sandvik XT shaped teeth, allowing 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 in both the folded and open positions. The only drawback is the price - from 1.6 to 2 thousand rubles.
A hacksaw, or as it is also called, a wood saw, is a tool that should be in every home, and even more so in every dacha. But choosing a hacksaw for wood is not as simple as it seems, and further on, we will analyze in detail the types of tools, you will learn about the configuration and purpose of various types of teeth, we will “go through” famous brands, and finally I will tell you what a reciprocating electric hacksaw for wood is and how to choose it.
A hand saw for wood has several fundamental parameters - steel grade, blade length, blade shape and handle tilt, but the most important parameter is the shape and type of tooth, and this characteristic is the same for both manual and electric models.
The quality of domestic hacksaws for wood is in no way inferior to their foreign counterparts
It all depends on the purpose for which the hacksaw is purchased. So if you take a hacksaw to city apartment and you don’t plan to work with it constantly, then a folding model with a blade length of 300 – 400 mm is quite sufficient. For a private house or cottage you already need a full-size tool with a blade of 500 - 700mm.
Important! When cutting a workpiece, the length of the blade must be at least twice the thickness of the workpiece, otherwise sawdust will accumulate inside the cut and the hacksaw will quickly jam.
Folding or small-sized types of wood hacksaws are suitable for one-time work.
In the recent past, hacksaws were made from grades HRc45 and HRc50; the metal is of high quality, but the blade requires periodic sharpening. Now all leading manufacturers produce hacksaws with combined blades.
The blade itself is made of HRc45 steel, which provides it with good flexibility and high strength, and the cutting edge with teeth is made of HRc55 or HRc60 steel. You can recognize these hacksaws by their dark cutting edge.
Important! When purchasing a hacksaw with a dark edge made of high-strength steel, make sure that it is already set and sharpened well. The fact is that sharpening and wiring by an amateur of such metal at home is very problematic, so you will have to pay extra for sharpening the blade.
Wood saws with a dark cutting edge are different high quality
Before we look at tooth configuration, let's talk about tooth markings and size. Any types of hacksaws for wood are classified according to the same parameters. The marking indicates the number of teeth per 1 inch (1`` = 25.4 mm) and denotes this indicator as TPI.
The TPI indicator indicates the number of teeth per 1 inch of blade
The higher the TPI indicator in the marking, the cleaner and smoother the wood cut will be
There is a common expression “middle tooth”, but in the documents the TPI value of the middle tooth is not recorded anywhere, but people popularly refer to this direction as hacksaws with a TPI of 5 to 8.
Tooth pitch is far from the only parameter when choosing a hacksaw
| Hacksaw tooth diagram | Explanation |
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Made in the form of an isosceles triangle, sharpening is done on both sides. |
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Here the triangle is beveled towards the cut and the cutting edge of the tooth becomes perpendicular to the wood. Sharpening is performed only from the working (perpendicular) side; as a result, the tooth bites into the mass like a chisel. Designed to dissolve wood along the grain. |
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An excellent solution if you are buying a hacksaw “for all occasions in life.” The triangular tooth is slightly beveled towards the cut, while sharpening is done on both sides of the tooth. As a result, when cutting along the blade, the tooth works like a chisel, and reverse sharpening also allows you to effectively cut wood across the grain. |
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This kind of sharpening is sometimes called triangular, but in reality it is not so. More often a dagger tooth is used as a basis, but sometimes a universal one is also sharpened. The top of the triangle is slightly cut at an angle and further sharpened. This approach allows you to work with wood in any direction and at any angle. |
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Complex sharpening allows you to do without setting the tooth, but only a professional can do it. The triangular tooth is sharpened on both sides and beveled towards the handle, plus the top is cut and also sharpened. When working with a hacksaw, the cut occurs only while the tool is moving towards the worker. The Japanese were the first to use this technology, so the name was taken from there. |
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Here, several types of teeth are assembled on the canvas, but the essence of a wolf tooth is the presence of gaps between sectors. This hacksaw is designed for cutting tough and damp wood, so it’s hard to find models shorter than half a meter.
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Models of hacksaws with replaceable blades are classified as semi-professional tools
Piranha hacksaws with Teflon coating and laser sharpening are particularly durable and easy to move
French hacksaws have been famous for their high quality for more than half a century
The special configuration of the cutting edge in hacksaws from Irwin Xpert allows you to work equally successfully with both raw and hard dry wood
Swedish hacksaws produced under the domestic brand “Tyosha” are famous for their excellent quality
Now let's figure out how to choose an electric hacksaw for wood; in the language of professionals, such a tool is called a reciprocating saw. Compared to hand tools, the selection criteria are slightly different. So, in addition to the reciprocating motion, the reciprocating saw also has a pendulum stroke.
For pruning trees with a reciprocating saw, the tool has a pendulum operating mode.
Vibrations of the blade based on the pendulum principle allow you to work much more efficiently, for example, when pruning trees or other rough work. And the standard mode is good for unraveling sheets of different densities.
IN in this case The question of which hacksaw is better for wood will not be entirely correct, because in reciprocating saws the effectiveness of the tool depends on the correct choice of blade. There are blades designed for working on wood, metal, stone, drywall, etc.
Each replaceable blade reciprocating saw is designed to work with a specific material
But the choice of a reciprocating saw does not end only with the purchase of a high-quality blade for the appropriate material; there are also a number of subtleties:
A reciprocating saw with a battery, compared to corded models, has less power, but it is more convenient to use.
Based on the recommendations given above and the video in this article, choosing the right hacksaw for wood will become much easier for you and keep in mind that wasted money is not the worst thing, a poor-quality tool will take a lot of time and effort, and most importantly, such hacksaws can be dangerous. If you want to add something to what has been said or have any questions, welcome to the comments, let’s chat.
In the arsenal home handyman 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, but there is no time or desire to deploy and connect the unit. In these cases, a hand saw is a great help. But let’s look at how to choose a hand hacksaw for wood so that it is easy to use and can easily “gnaw” through any type of wood.
Saw is rightfully considered the ancestor of a large family hand tools. Since the creation of the first type of tool from iron, the saw has undergone many changes, having acquired numerous “sisters” capable of performing dozens of jobs.
IN household It’s impossible to do without “toothed helpers”: they are indispensable for garden pruning, small carpentry and joinery work
Hand saws for wood differ in many ways: blade size, steel grade, tooth shape, handle design. Let's look at each parameter in more detail.
The main part of the tool is the hacksaw blade. The first thing you should pay attention to when choosing a product is the length of the canvas. The possibilities of its application largely depend on this parameter. At the same time, the longer the blade, the more springy it is, which also complicates the process, especially when working with hard wood such as ash, maple or oak.
The long stroke makes it possible to apply less effort, since in one stroke the cut is performed by a large number of teeth
To cut small elements such as plinths, bars or narrow slats, you can get by with a hacksaw with a blade length of 25-30 cm. Planning to use the tool when performing more serious construction work, choose a product with a canvas of 45-50 cm.
When determining the length of the hacksaw blade, follow the rule that the length of the saw exceeds the diameter of the elements being processed by 2 times. Failure to follow this recommendation will only make your job more difficult. The teeth of a short hacksaw will jam inside the wood, and everyone will have to make a lot of effort to move the tool to free it from sawdust. Uncomfortable work will cause premature fatigue.
Traditionally, the width of the product blade varies in the range of 10-20 cm. Models with a narrower blade are not allowed for technical reasons, since they fail at the slightest bend. But it is worth considering that too wide canvases are inconvenient for manual work.
The material used to make the blade, which is most often alloy steel, as well as its degree of hardening also play an important role.
For hacksaws, tool alloy steel with a high content of silicon and carbon grades is used:
Hardening of metal is carried out due to the influence of variable magnetic field, at which it appears electricity high frequency. Spreading over the surface, it heats the surface layer of the metal, which is hardened after cooling.
The standard parameter is considered to be a metal hardness of 45 HRC, but it is still preferable to choose products whose blade hardness is 55-60 HRC. A hacksaw with a blade of high hardness will have sufficient flexibility, but at the same time high stability of the teeth. Upon external inspection, such a tool can be identified by the darkish tint of the sharpened teeth.
The determining indicator of the tool’s performance and the accuracy of cutting wood is the size of the teeth.
The teeth of a hacksaw for woodworking perform a dual function: they cut the wood and, at the same time, remove sawdust
Sawing accuracy is determined by the “TPI” indicator - the number of teeth per inch.
Between these technical parameters there is an inverse relationship:
When determining required size teeth should be guided by the type of material being processed. For example, for working with chipboard, where high cutting accuracy is required, choose a tool with a high TPI of 7-9, and for sawing logs and garden work, where the cleanliness of the cut is not so important, choose a TPI of 3-6.
When choosing optimal option hacksaws, follow the rule that minimum thickness the log should in any case be larger than a pitch of three teeth
If we compare a hardened and a regular tooth, the difference is that in the first option, provided household use The product does not dull for a long time. But a hacksaw with a hardened tooth cannot be sharpened again. When it starts cutting badly, you just have to throw it away.
An ordinary tooth can be sharpened. This can be done periodically using a special file marked with an accident (for sharpening saws). To sharpen the blade, it is enough to perform several movements on each tooth.
Depending on the type of teeth used, there are three types of hand saws:
Some types modern instruments equipped with teeth that are made in the shape of a trapezoid. This solution makes the fabric more durable and wear-resistant.
But it is worth considering that sharpening such a blade is very problematic, since it is difficult to give the trapezoidal teeth the desired shape. This significantly reduces the service life of the product, after which it is necessary to change the blade or purchase a new tool.
For sawing fresh branches, it is more convenient to use blades equipped with triangular teeth processed by parallel sharpening, in which each element is sharpened only on one side and in a checkerboard pattern.
You can often find a modernized type of hacksaw on the market.
Modernized hacksaws can be easily distinguished by the teeth located on the blade in groups, between which the spaces are clearly visible
Retrofitted hand saws are effective for cutting raw wood. Wet chips easily come out of the cut through the spaces between the teeth during the cutting process, without impeding the movement of the tool.
A small narrow saw is a structure that consists of a straight flat blade and a handle. It is used to perform delicate work: through cuts, sawing out curved parts.
This type of tool is designed for cutting wooden blanks, the thickness of which does not exceed 8-10 cm, cutting small branches and minor works in the garden
When making narrow models, manufacturers install blades with triangular double-sided teeth, or with parallel sharpening. The disadvantage of the tool is that when pressed during operation, the blade can deviate from the given direction.
A standard hand saw can be equipped with any type of teeth and often comes with replacement blades various types and execution.
To be able to cut workpieces at a certain angle using a standard hand saw, you have to purchase special miter boxes
But despite the stated versatility of their use, it is not advisable to use saws of this type in the manufacture of furniture.
Both narrow and regular saws tend to bend as the hardness of the material being processed increases. In these cases, it is effective to use canvases equipped with a backing, which acts as a kind of stiffening rib.
Hand hacksaws equipped with a backing are designed to create shallow cuts in wooden surface any thickness
The presence of a backing prevents the saw from making a cut deeper than the width of the blade, since it prevents the cutting blade from passing further into the tree.
Bow-type saws are more bulky devices that act as an analogue of a jigsaw.
The main purpose of saws of this type is to create an accurate cut when working with surfaces located at any angle.
Thanks to the solidity of the design and threaded connections handles, bow-type saws are able to easily overcome knots, cutting along radii and curved patterns.
Depending on the purpose and constructive solution saws can be:
Only with a bow-type hacksaw can you cut the material lengthwise and crosswise, sawing workpieces with complex lines and doing the work alone without the involvement of an assistant.
The procedure for choosing a hand saw for wood is quite simple:
Conventional handles are made of plastic. Prefabricated plastic handles, made of two halves, do not have sufficient rigidity. It is much more convenient to work with a tool that has a one-piece handle, which is equipped with a rubberized backing for the fingers. The presence of a rubber insert allows for a tighter grip, preventing the formation of calluses on the palm.
Pay attention to the design of the tool handle: it is desirable that it has an ergonomic shape that allows you to correctly transfer force to the blade
There are products on sale with standard and reversible handles. The second option is convenient because it allows you, if necessary, to replace the worn blade with a new one.
Keep in mind that not all hand saws come on sale already sharpened. And this seemingly trifle largely determines how quickly you can get to work.
There are many companies producing hacksaws on the market. Judging by the reviews, they have proven themselves well: the domestically produced Zubr hacksaw, the Gross Piranha of joint German-Chinese cooperation, and the Irwin Xpert made in the USA. They are famous for their decent quality at a low price, which varies between 10-20 USD.
Finally, we invite you to watch a video with tips for choosing:
Wood saw, which one is better, this is the question asked by all those who need a good tool for their work.
In addition to expensive models, you can find a simpler version of a hacksaw for wood, but this will be an ordinary hand tool.
The simplest tool is well suited for small-volume work, but if you constantly have to cut something, it’s better to purchase a modernized version of the tool.
There are several types of wood hacksaws, and they are divided into groups depending on the type of teeth.
The first group includes hacksaws for longitudinal sawing. They are designed for cutting material along its grain. This group of instruments has teeth made in the form of an oblique triangle.
The second group includes hacksaws designed for cross cutting. Their tooth shape differs from that of hacksaws for longitudinal sawing. Here we will see teeth in the shape of an isosceles triangle.
The third group of hacksaws is more versatile and allows you to cut material in almost any direction. These hacksaws have teeth shaped like a right triangle.
In addition to the shape of the teeth, when purchasing, you need to pay attention to the quality of the hacksaw blade.
Note: When inspecting a tool, we must not forget that it arrives on the counter already sharpened, so it must be handled very carefully.
The service life of a hacksaw will depend on the quality of the metal used in its manufacture, so it is also necessary to pay attention to this nuance. The inconvenient shape of the handle can make working with the tool very difficult, so you also need to pay attention to it.
Inspection of the selected tool must be carried out in the following order:
1. First, a knife blade is selected, and first of all, you need to pay attention to its length. The types of work that can be performed with this tool depend on this.
2.The next selection criterion is the shape and size of the teeth.
3.Handle shape.
As for the canvas, for minor work around the house a canvas with a length of up to 30 cm is sufficient. For construction work - up to 50 centimeters.
The most popular and accordingly sold are the following models:
For example, the Stanley Jet Cut hacksaw has a very comfortable handle and a blade 50 cm long. Made of high quality steel. It can be used effectively for most types of work, so the price of 1,300 rubles is quite justified.
The same can be said about the other listed models. All of them today are the best examples, which can be found on the construction market. You can verify this if you read the reviews of people who are already using this tool.
