Hand Saws for Construction and Gardening

A hand saw cuts without a motor, so it suits precision work, small jobs, pieces already fitted in place, and places with no mains power or where a power tool cannot be taken. On site and in the garden it is often the most practical choice for controlled cuts, including on materials that a disc would damage.

The choice depends on the material. For wood, use saws with large, wide teeth, such as the handsaw. For metal, use a hacksaw with a bimetal blade and a finer tooth pitch. For aerated concrete, a saw with tungsten carbide teeth is suitable, such as the Drees 700 mm handsaw with tungsten carbide teeth. For fine cuts in iron there is the junior hacksaw.

The handsaw has a wide blade and makes long cuts, designed for wood and construction. The junior hacksaw has a narrow blade stretched on a frame, suited to curves and fine cuts. The Japanese saw, such as the Pull 240/F, cuts on the pull stroke: the blade works by pulling towards you, and the cut is cleaner and more precise.

The bow saws with oval tubular frame in the catalogue have blades from 530 to 900 mm. A longer blade gives more stroke and allows cuts on wider pieces, while a shorter one is easier to handle in tight spaces. For the 700 mm handsaw the same criterion applies. In every case, tension the blade before you start cutting.

Clamp the workpiece in a vice or on a bench before cutting, so it cannot move and your hands stay clear of the blade. Start with short strokes guided by your thumb, then lengthen the stroke. Do not force the blade: let the teeth do the work. Wear work gloves and safety glasses, and keep your fingers out of the path of the blade.

Clean the blade after use to remove resin and dust, dry it thoroughly and store it somewhere dry. A blade with blunt or bent teeth cuts poorly and leads to crooked cuts. Replace the blade when the cut becomes uneven. For steel blades, a light coat of oil protects against rust.

Bow saws for pruning and gardening are used to cut branches and green wood without a motor. They are used by gardeners, tree pruners and grounds maintenance workers, and also on site for small jobs. For fresh wood, use a blade with large teeth, and cut with a long, steady stroke without pushing.