The Best Hand Saws
A sharp hand saw is faster than a circular saw for cuts under three feet and produces a kerf that does not need a dust collection system, an extension cord, or ear protection. The best hand saws are filed to a specific geometry -- rip teeth for cutting with the grain, crosscut teeth for cutting across it -- and made from plate steel hard enough to hold an edge through thousands of strokes.
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How to Choose
Rip saws have fewer, larger teeth (4-6 per inch) with a chisel-like geometry that tears fibers along the grain. Crosscut saws have more, smaller teeth (7-12 per inch) with a knife-like geometry that severs fibers across the grain. Using a crosscut saw for ripping is slow; using a rip saw for crosscutting tears rather than cuts. A panel saw (22-26 inches) handles most general work. A back saw (12-16 inches with a rigid spine) is for joinery and dovetails.
Gyokucho Razorsaw 372 Crosscut
If you only buy one, make it this one. Read the full guide below for alternatives at every price point.
Find on Amazon arrow_forwardWhat to Look For
Rip teeth for with-grain cuts; crosscut teeth for across-grain cuts. Using the wrong saw for the direction makes the work slow and the cut rough.
Rip saws: 4-6 teeth per inch; crosscut: 7-12 per inch. More teeth per inch produces a finer cut but cuts more slowly.
Thicker blades resist bending but require more force. Thinner blades cut with less force but can wander on uneven surfaces.
The handle should be comfortable for long periods of use. Test in hand if possible -- ergonomics vary significantly by maker and style.
A good saw ships razor-sharp and can be resharpened. Hardpoint saws cannot be resharpened but stay sharp for years of moderate use.
Panel saws (22-26 inches) for general work; back saws (12-16 inches) for joinery; Japanese pull saws for fine detail cuts.
Good, Better, Best
$15-30
Stanley Hardpoint, Ace Hardware Basic Saw
Hardpoint saws that ship sharp and cannot be resharpened. Good for occasional use and homeowners who do not sharpen tools.
$30-80
Gyokucho Razorsaw, Vintage Disston D-8
Professional-quality saws that can be resharpened. Japanese pull saws offer superior cutting speed and control.
$80-200+
Lie-Nielsen Back Saws, Wentworth Saws
Top-tier handmade saws with superior steel and hand-filed teeth. Joinery-grade precision for serious woodworking.
The Picks
Gyokucho Razorsaw 372 Crosscut
A Japanese-style crosscut saw that cuts on the pull stroke. The thin kerf and impulse-hardened teeth cut faster and with less effort than a western push saw of the same length. The 372 is a 9.5-inch blade with 17 teeth per inch -- fine enough for joinery, fast enough for general woodworking. The blade is replaceable when it dulls.
A Japanese pull saw with impulse-hardened teeth cuts three times faster than a dull western saw and twice as fast as a sharp one.
Find on Amazon arrow_forwardLie-Nielsen Toolworks Dovetail Saw
Lie-Nielsen makes their dovetail saw in Warren, Maine from hardened steel plate with a brass-backed spine that keeps the blade rigid. The saw is filed crosscut at 15 teeth per inch and cuts without tearing end grain. The handle is curly maple. It is the right tool for dovetail and tenon work where the kerf must be precise and the cut must be clean.
A back saw with a rigid spine cuts to a line. A flexible handsaw wanders. This distinction defines the difference between joinery and rough carpentry.
Find on Amazon arrow_forwardDisston D-8 Panel Saw
The Disston D-8 is the classic American panel saw: 26 inches, 8 points per inch (7 teeth), applewood handle, medallion. Disston made saws in Philadelphia from 1840 to the 1970s; vintage D-8 saws are still widely available and preferred by restorers who know how to joint and file a saw. A properly sharpened D-8 crosscuts 2x lumber faster than a modern panel saw.
The Disston D-8 is the benchmark American handsaw. A well-restored vintage example cuts better than most new saws at any price.
Find on Amazon arrow_forwardStanley 20-526 15-Inch Hand Saw
The Stanley 15-inch hand saw is a hardpoint saw with impulse-hardened teeth: it ships razor-sharp and cannot be resharpened when it dulls, but it will stay sharp through several years of moderate use before replacement is needed. Eleven teeth per inch produces a smooth crosscut in hardwood and softwood. The handle is comfortable for extended use. This is the saw for someone who needs one sharp saw in the toolbox.
A hardpoint saw ships sharp and stays sharp for years of moderate use. For someone who does not want to learn to sharpen a saw, this is the honest choice.
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