Choosing a Hand Saw For Wood

Whether you’re new to woodworking or are an experienced DIYer, a hand saw for wood can be an essential tool. There’s a huge range of different hand saw types, and it’s important to choose the right one for your needs.

One of the first things you should look at is the quality of the blade. The quality of the steel will determine how long a saw lasts and how easy it is to use.

Blade

The blade of a hand saw is typically a thin strip of alloyed steel. It has teeth that are curved rather than straight and are cut off in a criss-cross pattern.

The teeth are angled in such a way that they act like little chisels, allowing the wood to be sliced through without destroying its grain. Hardwoods are usually cut with teeth angled at 60 degrees, while softer woods require teeth set at 45 degrees.

A ripsaw is ideal for cutting wood, but can also be used to cut out shapes from material such as plywood or drywall. A coarse saw has about five teeth per inch, while a fine saw has eight or more.

When cutting, start the saw by drawing it back toward you a few times to form a groove in the wood. Once you have a nice kerf, use several slow back cuts to make a deep enough cut that you can remove your hand.

Handle

The handle of a hand saw is a crucial part of the tool and plays a significant role in its functionality. It should be comfortable and grip-resistant, as well as providing an ideal balance for the blade.

It also needs to be made of hard, stable material that can withstand prolonged use and reduce friction between the user’s hands and the saw blade. This is important for safe and efficient cutting, as a poor grip can result in slipping or even injuries.

Ideally, the handle should be constructed from apple wood, as it has an excellent hardness and is also capable of receiving a high polish. It is therefore an excellent choice for a hand saw handle and many woodworkers use this as their preferred option.

There are a number of different types of hand saw, and they range in size, style and tooth count. Each of these will be designed to cut a particular type of material, and so you should take this into account when making your decision.

Length

Hand saws come in a variety of lengths. They can range from 6″ to 12″ and 22″ to 24″ plus more depending on the type of saw.

The length of a saw also affects how efficiently it cuts. Shorter saws require fewer strokes, and longer saws require more.

This is all governed by the number of teeth per inch (TPI), also called points per inch. Typically, more teeth per inch means smaller teeth with larger spaces (or gullets) between them.

The tooth count determines how quickly a hand saw cuts wood and how clean the cut is. Larger teeth will make a coarse cut; small teeth will leave a smooth surface.

Weight

Power tools have become a ubiquitous part of the home improvement industry. While they offer convenience and speed, there are still times when a hand saw is the only solution.

Hand saws can be used for cutting a wide variety of materials, including wood, laminate, plastic and ceramic. A good hand saw should be lightweight, easy to use and comfortable.

There are nine different types of hand saws available on the market and knowing which type will suit your needs is important. They differ in length, teeth count and other details such as rake angle which determines how aggressively the saw will cut.

Teeth count is measured by TPI (Teeth Per Inch) or PPI (Points Per Inch). A higher number of teeth will result in a cleaner, more precise cut.