A hand saw is a great addition to any workshop or tool kit. They are an ideal hand tool for making precision cuts and can be used for a variety of tasks.
Whether you are a professional or an at-home DIYer, a hand saw is perfect for cutting wood and plastic down to size.
There are lots of different choices and not all saws are equal in quality or ability so finding one that best suits your use and budget is important.
We’ve reviewed the best hand saws below so you can easily find one that is reliable and high quality. If you’re not sure what type of hand saw you need, use the buying guide at the end of the article to help narrow down the selection.
1. WilFiks Pro Hand Saw (Top Pick)
The WilFiks Pro Hand Saw is great for handling a vast range of jobs whether you are a contractor or gardener or you’re simply looking for a quality saw to use for your hobbies. This saw can cut through materials like wood, wallboard, plywood and plastic pipe.
The induction-hardened teeth stay sharp for longer meaning you can make smooth, quick cuts with ease time after time. The high-quality handle has an anti-slip super grip which feels comfortable to hold and prevents slipping. The handle is also designed in a way that lessens fatigue and encourages an effective cutting angle.
The Wilfiks 16 inch Pro Hand Saw works on push and pull strokes and has 3 cutting surfaces to make sawing quicker. This is a rigid long-lasting and effective hand saw that produces clean cuts every time.
What We Like:
- Can handle a wide range of jobs
- Sharp, induction-hardened teeth
- Comfortable, anti-slip grip
What We Don’t Like:
- The blade bends slightly under pressure
2. Spear & Jackson Traditional Brass Back Tenon Wood Saw
The Traditional Brass Back Tenon Wood Saw is one of the best hand saws to choose if you are going to be sawing wood based materials, small pieces of wood, or joint cutting.
The saw has universal precision ground teeth meaning it can be used for general use and can cut along or across the grain. The teeth have not been hardened and are able to be resharpened when they become blunt. This means this saw can last a lifetime as you simply need to resharpen it when needed and it’s as good as new.
The blade is high carbon steel, the brass back adds rigidness for better control and the traditional wooden handle is comfortable to hold. This universal hand saw produces precise, clean cuts and is resharpenable so you can keep it in top condition for years to come.
What We Like:
- Best for sawing small pieces of wood
- Resharpenable teeth
- High carbon blade
What We Don’t Like:
- Heavier blade (585g total weight)
3. Irwin Tools Marathon 15-inch ProTouch Saw
The Irwin Tools Maration 15 inch ProTouch Saw is best suited to general woodwork. This saw is coarse cut meaning it is great for cutting softwood with the grain.
The saw has extra-fine front teeth to provide a rapid, accurate and easy start when cutting. It also has a tapered-pitch nose that improves clearance and stability. When using this saw you feel in full control thanks to the durable, comfortable handle that fits nicely in your hand.
The Irwin Tools Marathon ProTouch Saw is a great all-purpose wood saw that has a thick body blade for added control as well as deep gullets to remove chips quickly. The M2 tooth technology provides advanced shape and arrangement, they are also tri-ground so are fast and efficient when cutting.
What We Like:
- Extra fine front teeth that make starting a cut quick and accurate
- Best for general woodwork
- Good weight
What We Don’t Like:
- May not be the best hand saw for cutting hard wood
4. Dewalt 20″ Hand Saw
The Dewalt is a large, easy to use hand saw that can make light work of big jobs. It’s best suited to handle a variety of wood cutting tasks.
The teeth are three-sided meaning they can cut faster than traditional saws. They are also induction hardened to ensure they stay sharp for longer. The handsaws toughcoat protection provides a low-friction coating that results in less drag.
This handsaw also has a convenient metal angle gauge for marking 90 and 45 degree angles when working.
What We Like:
- Three-sided teeth for faster cuts
- Low-friction coating
- Metal angle gauge
What We Don’t Like:
- Cannot be resharpened
5. Kincrome 500mm TruCut Hand Saw
This all-purpose fine cut hand saw offers great value for money. It has a strong SK5 steel blade that is rigid and high quality.
The TruCut hand saws have an integrated square guide that makes marking 90 and 45 degree angles easy. The big grip aluminium handle has an index finger guide to ensure accuracy when cutting.
The teeth on this fine cut saw are triple ground and hardened to make cutting faster and more precise.
What We Like:
- Value for money
- Steel blade
- Index finger guide for accuracy
What We Don’t Like:
- May lose sharpness quicker than other options
6. Shark Corp 12-Inch Carpentry Saw
This carpentry saw from Shark Corp is a great all around option. It’s the kind of saw you can have in your toolbox for cutting everything from wood to PVC and ABS plastic piping.
This handsaw has 14 TPI which makes cuts smooth and fast. It can effectively cut all wood types from lumber to thick plywood and wallboard.
If the blade becomes worn and blunt you can simply replace it using the user-friendly release dial on the handle. This saw is lightweight, versatile and easy to handle. It’s a great option for anyone carrying out DIY or woodwork.
What We Like:
- Best for cutting all types of wood
- Blade is replaceable
- Lightweight
What We Don’t Like:
- The shape and cutting action of this saw may take a bit of practice to get used to
7. Stanley Sharpcut Hand Saw
If you’re looking for budget hand saws that are sharp and long-lasting this is a great option. The Stanley Sharpcut Hand Saw is a low-cost option that is reliable and easy to use.
The 2 sided teeth are hardened and tempered and they are universal so can cut across and along the grain. The blade is induction hardened so you can expect it to last and withstand lots of use without becoming blunt.
The soft-grip handle gives you control and feels good in your hand. This universal hand saw is one of the best low-cost options if you need a good all-around saw without spending too much money. If you are looking for a handsaw that you will only be using occasionally for home DIY, this is worth a look.
What We Like:
- Great budget option
- Soft grip handle
- Hardened, universal teeth that can cut across and along the grain
What We Don’t Like:
- 7 TPI is best for soft wood rather than hard wood
Hand Saw Buyer’s Guide
A hand saw is an important piece of kit for any toolbox. Whether you are a professional or a DIY enthusiast doing some home renovation, finding the best hand saw will make carrying out jobs quicker and easier. The best hand saw is one that is durable, sharp and long-lasting. This buyers guide takes a look at the important features of hand saws and will help you find the best option for your needs and budget.
Type
When you are comparing handsaws you may notice the teeth type is listed in the specifications. Different options suit different types of carpentry work. The most common tooth design types are:
- Rip saw – rip saw teeth are designed to cut along the grain when cutting wood. Rip teeth push through the wood like a chisel.
- Cross-cut – a crosscut saw is designed to cut across the grain. The cross-cut teeth are shaped like tiny knife blades and they are able to cleanly cut through wood grain.
RELATED:
Teeth Per Inch (TPI)
TPI is also sometimes listed as points per inch (PPI). The number of teeth per inch gives you an indication of how fine the cut will be, the number can vary from around 4 tpi up to around 15 tpi.
It’s important to select the right tpi number for what you will be using the saw for as it can have a considerable impact on the end result.
For example, creating a fine cut will be difficult if the saw you choose has a lower tooth count per blade inch. If you’re not sure, the tpi is also usually stamped on the saw plate.
- Lower TPI – this refers to large hand saw teeth which are great for cutting quickly but they will produce a rough cut. This tends to be the best option when cutting soft wood as saws with a higher tpi can become more easily clogged when it comes to soft wood.
- Higher TPI – this refers to small hand saw teeth which are finer and are great for getting an accurate cut but aren’t ideal for larger jobs. This is the best option for carpentry tasks involving hardwood.
The higher the number, the more teeth per inch and the cleaner the cut will be. It’s also important to know that the more tpi a saw has, the slower it will cut.
Hardpoint vs Resharpenable
- A hardpoint saw has impulse-hardened teeth that stay sharp for longer. The downside is that when they do become worn and blunt they cannot be resharpened so the blade will need to be replaced or a new saw will need to be bought.
- A resharpenable saw can be resharpened as and when it is required meaning it can last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance. The downside to a resharpening option is that the initial cost is much higher than a hardpoint saw.
Push vs Pull Stroke
Some hand saws can work on push and pull strokes but some are designed to work just on one stroke. Pull saws tend to be more effective than push saws as the push stroke put compression on the blade. If you choose a push stroke hand saw make sure the blade is thicker or has a reinforced spine so it can handle the force of being pushed.
Other Important Considerations
- Blade thickness – a thicker blade tends to be more precise and easier to control. If you are looking to make thinner cuts or you require more flexibility then hand saws with a thinner blade will be more suitable.
- Blade protection – a blade guard is an important aspect of safety as well as blade care and maintenance. Having a cover for the blade is important for portability, convenience and storage.
- Handle – the handle should be ergonomically designed and nonslip. The handle design and material vary but you can generally expect the saw to have a rubber or hardwood handle that feels well balanced and fits comfortably in your hand.
Hand Saw FAQs
Some hand saws are created to be resharpenable but many are designed to be replaced or disposed of when they have become worn. For example, those with impulse-hardened teeth cannot be sharpened. Sharpening a saw is time consuming but is worthwhile if you are going to be using the saw a lot.
The most common reasons are because the cut is not straight, the saw teeth are too fine for the material you are cutting and wood fibers are getting caught up in the teeth or the material is pinching the blade.
