From gardening, and backyard DIY woodworking projects to fine carpentry or cabinetry, a crosscut saw is a must-have. You can’t imagine getting a fast and accurate cut while cross-cutting wooden material if the saw is not meant for it.
On the other hand, cutting delicate workpieces requires extra care and attention while crosscutting for trimming. So, the term crosscutting has a different meaning for different professions.
We are here to help you get the finished result on your woodworking by helping you pick up the right crosscutting saw. From soft and fine cuts on carpentry to fast and rough cuts for felling or limbing, every purpose will be served from our list of top-quality crosscut saws.
The Qualities One Should Look for in A Crosscutting Saw
The Hardness of the Blade
As the blade is cutting against the wood grain, the blade has to be hardened with a deep glutted teeth pattern. Otherwise, the blade will wobble, making the cut less accurate and slow. Besides, it may cause the blade to bind up more frequently. High carbon steel blades or precision hardened blades are excellent choices to cut through hardwood.
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Size
Of course, the size of the saw depends on the size of your workpieces. Get a larger saw for cutting thick lumber and a smaller saw for branch cutting or dovetail cutting. If your job requires cutting various large and small sizes, then it is better that you get more than one saw of different sizes.
Clean or Aggressive Cut
Crosscuts can be required to cut off thick branches or fall trees or trim a wooden picture frame and so on. So, the need for an aggressive and fine cut is different in woodworking, gardening, carpentry, and so on.
The crosscut saws are also available in different designs for a specific level of fineness of the cuts. Get the right saw for the finishing you expect on your workpiece.
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Reusable/Disposable
For long-term use, reusable saws are great as you can sharpen the teeth, change the pattern as you like, and make it useful for a longer period of time. The disposable ones are handier, less pricey, and suitable for various cutting needs on different materials.
Versatility
Some cross-cutting saws are good at cutting plastic, metal, and similar materials too. If you want a multipurpose one, then consider getting one of the versatile saws that are good at cross-cutting as well.
View Our Top 8 Crosscut Saws, Below-
1. GreatNeck Crosscut Hand Saw
- Blade Length: 15 Inch;
- Blade Material: Alloy Steel
- Frame: Composite;
- Power Source: hand powered;
- TPI: 9.
It is an old-fashioned saw which can be customized according to your needs. The blade is made of hardened high-carbon steel and has factory-sharpened precision set teeth. Usually, this saw retains its sharpness quite well.
Besides, you can resharpen it or change the pattern of the teeth with a sharpening stone. I found the teeth to be way too densely set for cross-cutting hardwood. So, I chose to reduce the tooth point and make it work. The cuts are clean and accurate on even hardwood material. But don’t expect it to be too fine. In fact, the finished result is neither too aggressive nor too fine.
However, there is nothing I can claim to have a flaw in this saw. But it is a saw god for backyard projects or limbing or tree felling. For professional carpentry, there are better saws on this list.
Advantages
- Rough and aggressive cuts;
- Made to be resharpened;
- Lifetime warranty.
Flaws
- Not any found.
2. BAHCO Professional Cut Timber Saw
- 24 inches long saw with 3 1/2 teeth per inch blade;
- 3 sided ground tooth includes a tooth protector.
It makes rough cuts but cuts very fast due to its 3 sided ground tooth design. This is why it is a great addition to a gardener’s toolbox who is looking for a crosscut saw for tree felling or cutting put branches and limbs. No matter which wood you are cutting, soft or hard, this one is very efficient to slice them up swiftly.
Don’t expect this saw to cut clean and smooth. The 3 ½ per inch tooth setting is not meant for a clean cut. But you can sharpen the saw when it loses its efficiency. Resharpenable crosscut saws are more expensive than disposable ones, so this one is. Other than the price, there is nothing to complain about this Bahco crosscut saw.
Advantages
- For rough crosscuts;
- Very sharp;
- Fast and straight cut.
Flaws
- Overpriced.
3. Stanley ShortCut Saw for Universal Use
- 26-Inch, 12 Points Per Inch saw blade;
- 3-sided tooth design for fast and aggressive cuts.
To DIY hobbyists and homeowners, this saw is a jack of all trades. From wood to plastic, metal or any other hard material on this planet can be cut easily and effortlessly with this amazing saw. When it comes to cross-cutting, it cuts through wood like butter.
You can get it to rip-cut as well, but the cut will be much slower and less clean. That is what a crosscut saw does, right? So, for a fair price, if you are looking for a crosscut saw that can be used on other jobs as well, this is the saw one should get.
Apart from the high-quality blade, the wooden handle is also of superior quality. The large opening on the handle makes the groping comfortable for large hands and gloved hands as well. Still, confused? For your relaxation, it is backed by a lifetime warranty.
Advantages
- Universal saw;
- Suitable for various materials;
- Teeth stay sharp up to 3-to-5 times longer;
- Large handle for comfort and stability.
Flaws
- Not found.
4. WilFiks Pro Hand Saw, Perfect for Sawing, Gardening, and Cutting Various Materials
- 16-inch saw, 9 TPI HCS blade;
This one is a solid saw for cutting, feeling, and climbing big trees. It is not fine crosscutting saw carpenters use in their workshops. In fact, it makes a fast and aggressive cut with its bi-directional teeth setting. It works like those cross-cutting saws that two users can use and cuts in both pull and pushes strokes. This results in a faster cut with less effort.
The good thing is, the saw blade is easier to clean compared to other cross-cutting saws. It is important to choose a saw that is easy to maintain. Because, compared to ripping, the blade tends to bind up with sap, sawdust, and chips. It reduces the cutting speed. Thanks to the sap gloves of the blade. For rough cross-cutting, this is a solid saw which can be sharpened over and over again to outlast its price.
Advantages
- Versatile;
- Easy to clean;
- Bi-directional blade;
- Resharpenable.
Flaws
- Flex and bend a little.
5. Lynx One-Man Crosscut Saw for Large Scale Cross Cutting
- 1.5 mm thick blade;
- Auxiliary handle for two-man operation.
When another cross-cutting saw fails to cut a thick timber, this one makes the job done like a miracle. There are two handles on this that require two-person to cut thick and hard logs with push and pull strokes. This saw is handmade and needs to be sharpened before use.
The blade is thick, so it doesn’t bond up or get stuck in the middle of the cross-cutting job. Again, the feature and price of this saw will not suit small or medium woodworkers.
Rather, it is more suitable for people who have to cut large trees quite often. Because the price is ridiculously high to use this for minor cross-cutting projects. If the auxiliary handle is the main reason for you to invest in it, then for your information, the handle is also sold separately here and you can attach it to any other saw as well.
Pros
- Suitable for crosscutting thick logs;
- Can be operated in two;
- Bi-directional blade for a fast cut.
Cons
- Very expensive.
6. Gyokucho Razorsaw for Fine Crosscutting
- Suitable for material up to 1-1/2” thick;
- 21 TPI, 9-½-inch long and 0.012˝ thick blade.
For super fine and accurate cuts, you can never go wrong with a Japanese-style saw. Have a look at this Razor saw from Gyokucho. It has a 21 TPI blade which makes any cut on any wood material apparently seamless.
The blade length is only 9 inches, so you can’t cut material more than 2 inches thick with this. For cross-cutting, the 0.012-inch kerf works excellently without any binding or leaving a trace behind.
All these qualities don’t come for free, right? So you have to spend a lot on this saw to achieve an unmatched finish on your wood-based projects. But trust me, the control you will have on this saw and the precision you get from it is worth every penny.
Pros
- Suitable for fine crosscut dovetail cuts;
- Includes spline for accuracy and stability;
- Hardened, long-lasting saw blade.
Cons
- Pricey.
7. Stanley Sharptooth Saw for Affordable Crosscutting
- 15-inch hardened blade with 12 points per inch tooth;
- Three cutting surfaces for faster cuts.
As long as you don’t intend to use this saw on a professional basis, performance against the piece will keep you satisfied. This cuts like a razor out of the box and on softwoods, it cuts clean and straight.
The sharpness is claimed to retain 4 to 5 times longer than any other cross-cutting saw, but I can’t guarantee it. However, one thing I can guarantee is, this saw is backed by a lifetime warranty.
The handle has a large opening so that the grip is more secure and stable on it. The welded screw works wonders in putting all the parts together, but may not last if abused. I recommend using a scabbard with this saw when not in use. It will save the teeth from going dull sooner due to poor maintenance.
Pros
- Budget-friendly price;
- Welded sturdy handle;
- Long-lasting sharpness;
- Backed by a lifetime warranty;
Cons
- Not for heavy use.
8. SUIZAN Japanese Folding Pull Saw
- Pull saw with 15 TPI and 19 TPI edges;
- 7-inch replaceable blade.
The saw design is so exclusive that it will save you from purchasing two separate saws for hard softwood materials. On one edge, the blade is 19 TPI for cutting fine crosscuts on hardwood and 15 TPI for cutting softwood. All the cuts will be undoubtedly accurate and effortless.
Its long handle is comfortable to hold but very large in size to make room for it for storage. So Suizan decided to make a folding design that works perfectly without sacrificing all the goodness of a samurai-style Japanese saw. This 7-inch saw should suffice to cut dovetails and crosscuts on materials up to 2 to 3 inches thick.
The only problem is its heavy handle. The wooden and bamboo handle somehow causes a lack of balance in the raw performance, but it should not be a problem for people with large hands.
Pros
- Space-saving and portable folding design;
- Two sharp edges for various cutting needs;
- Protective cover included.
Cons
- Heavy handle.
Final Verdict
We tried to ease your mission to find a good cross-cutting saw in this article. Crosscutting demands are different from user to user. For homeowners, a finer finish is more desirable and for gardeners or woodchoppers, a faster one is preferable.
So, no one label saw good or bad in the cross-cutting performance. The performance you are looking at from a saw is what matters most, nothing else.
So we recommend reading the review carefully before going to a conclusion. The review should help you to know the usability and specification of each saw we have listed here. It will help you to decide which one is going to serve your purpose.
Another thing I want to mention is, a tool lasts not because of its quality, but also the maintenance as well. No matter which saw you choose for cross-cutting, don’t forget to clean and oil the blade and use a protector before storing it.
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About This Writer
Hello, I am David Rowan. I am a professional contractor with 10 years of experience in home building, different tools used, construction, home remodeling, and other home improvement work. I have already built many custom homes and continued to do several woodworking projects along with how to deal with all categories of tools.