Hand Saws

Precision, quality and control

Hand saws are an indispensible part of any true handyman’s equipment. Whether it’s the traditional man-powered wood saw, the heavy-duty, hydraulic-powered cement cutter, or the artfully crafted and exotic Japanese saw, hand saws run the gamut of design and functionality. Here are a few of the different types.

Antique Hand Saws

As owners of antique hand saws will tell you, they don’t make ’em like they used to. Produced back in a time before plastics and mass production took the artistry out of tool making, quality antique hand saws were crafted from durable, expensive materials and built to last. Many collectors of antique tools seek them out regularly to display them, but the best of the antique hand saws can still be used for more than simple display after a good sharpening.

Concrete Hand Saws

There are two basic sorts of concrete hand saws: the traditional man-powered ones and the artificial ones (electrical, hydraulic or compressed air). Traditional man-powered concrete hand saws are used to cut porous concrete but lack the power to cut through more durable types. Artificially powered hand saws, by contrast, are able to cut through all forms of concrete and even some forms of steel.

Japanese Hand Saws

Japanese hand saws are truly different than their western counterparts. Light and thin, Japanese hand saws produce a thinner kerf; they make a smaller cut, produce less sawdust and generally use much less arm strength. Their secret is in the design of the ultra-thin blade (almost one-quarter the size of western saws). Japanese hand saws are designed to cut on the pull stroke, which keeps them straight and allows for their thinness. They won’t cut through the hardest wood products without breaking a few of their teeth, but the blades are made to be replaceable and are priced accordingly. For precision and fine cutting, there’s nothing like a Japanese hand saw.

Electric Hand Saws

Electric hand saws make life simpler all the way around. They provide the power so that you don’t have to, which makes your work move that much faster. The power they provide also allows you to cut through coarser and stronger materials than a traditional saw. Whether it’s hard wood, plastic, concrete or even steel, there’s an electric hand saw that’s designed to make cutting it a snap. Best of all, newer electric hand saws are beginning to come with attached vacuum suction hoses to clean up the dust that would normally be left behind when cutting.

Circular Hand Saws

Circular hand saws take the ease of electric hand saws one step further. By implementing a round blade, circular saws produce a steady flow of cutting that removes less wood and leaves a smoother, cleaner cut. Used mostly for woodworking, circular hand saws do have a selection of different blades available for cutting through other materials.