12 Different Types of Hand Saws & Their Uses

Further maintaining different types of hand saws being handy are quite tough. But it is awesome for functional application and the best part is, never powered down. A typical hand saw is used for general carpentry, But steel manufactured ones are used to cut and join the pieces together.   

Different types of hand saws offer several acts including cutting. Without the proper knowledge, you might have ruined cuts by Including the wrong stuff in wrong tasks. Let’s give it the right start.

Hand Saws: The Most Popular Ones (with Pictures)

Hand Saw is an operator with a thin-wide steel blade. The best part about hand saws lies in its application. In case of fine woodworking and carpentry, as a panel saw does. As well as cutting pieces of wood in several shapes. 

Hand saws are great as anti-vibratory, unlike the electric or else powered ones. Hand saws are safe to use, But the TPI on blades is very sharp. Even to cut a 2×4 sized plywood or, sawing a straight line by hand, hand saws are really handy.

Choosing the right hand saw with the right size is difficult to accomplish a job, in particular for newbies. 

Coping

Worried about molding installation? Or, carpentry and lightwood works? A coping saw’s handle makes turning cuts after reaching tight curves. While its U-shape frame helps in curved areas for a precise look as well as conjoining corners and edges. 

Useful for: Shaping and curving into thin materials.

Fret 

OMG! It looks like a coping saw. Already used a handheld coping saw? Then it is easy to run a fret saw for fretwork. The thin blade and high back create angled cuts in narrow wood pieces.

Useful for: Paneling materials and thick wood.

Flooring 

Popular for their accuracy and not much different. Similar to western saws, flooring saws need actual push-strokes. You will get faster cross-cuts as a miter saw. With at least 12-15 TPI, a tensioning system can stop before taking every strike to replace floor panels.   

Useful for: Thick hardwood flooring.

Crosscut

Crosscut saw, regarding the term rip cut. Elevates the sawing level by incentive techniques. Its teeth angle backward, holds a beveled edge and cuts on both sides with a reciprocating blade. It generates an accurate and clean notch at every stroke.

Useful for: Vertical rip to the wood grain. Else, saw hook utilizes in tandem.

Hack

If you have not picked a hack saw yet, get prepared for a shock. Holding 14-32 teeth in an inch on a thin, wide and narrow blade. Also, it has an adjustable metal frame of C or U shape. The panel, junior and powered ones remain though.

Useful for: Ripping pipe, PVC, strap, metal, cast-iron, steel rods and bolts. Aluminum hacksaw uses for providing different metal forms.

Bow 

Wondering how to use a bow saw? Wonder more with its maneuvers as a pruning saw. Also, moves for precise trimming that a crosscut saw delivers. It delivers Ideal cuts dense woods in an efficient way, unlike other hand saws.

Useful for: Working on shrubs, thick vines and tree limbs. Also, on low branches as a closed-loop tool. 

Back

Consisting of a thick brass or steel spine. Adds a stiff and stable blade. Like a thumb rule, blade rigidity limits rip depth. A miter box not only solves this problem, but creates a variety of cutting angles at fixed degrees also. One can feel a series of sawing motions in hand.

Useful for: Smoother and sharp edges. Normal use in fine woodworking. Such as cutting miters and dovetails in joinery and cabinetry works.

Pruning

A pistol grip saw, inflated from a single handle. More popular among homeowners, landscapers and professionals. In fact, to hobbyists like tree surgeons. For its wide carbide blade having 13-15 TPI. Rips the material in both forward and backward directions.

Useful for: Intend to cut lumbers. Also, it trims green shrubs and trees. 

Japanese 

Known as a Japanese Pull Saw. A Japanese saw provides small and sharp teeth. With a crosscutting blade. A single handle requires pull-strike moves into smaller pieces. Unlike traditional western saws depending on pull-push strokes. 

Useful for: faster customization on wooden projects.

Keyhole

Worthy of a remark from the name. Yes, used to make holes in wood projects. Instead of powered tools, wall interiors need a hand saw like keyhole saws. To replace a small section from the operating drywall. A round handle keeps assisting with a single blade.

Useful for: Drywall smooth replacement.

Wallboard

A little bit confusing saw to differ from the keyhole saws. Both continue on the same applications. But the wallboard saw has quite a thicker and shorter blade. Holding fewer varieties of TPI. The wider cutting depth can drop proper design through boards at ease.

Useful for: Used to paneling and punctures through drywalls and boards.

Veneer  

One from the perfectionist category for specialized jobs. A double-edged short blade consists of around 13 TPI. Its blade moves with the pull stroke. So the teeth point can crop towards the workpiece. 

How Can Different Types of Hand Saws be Used with Various Wood Veneers?

Different types of hand saws are essential for working with different types of wood veneer. A fine-toothed backsaw is perfect for precision cuts in thin veneers, while a coping saw allows for intricate curved designs. A crosscut saw is ideal for cutting across the grain of thicker types of wood veneer.

Final Thoughts

Time flies but the necessity of hand saws has not changed yet. The above-discussed ones are there to use in the right jobs. These are the ones that the powered saws cannot go through. 

Each type of tool has its cutting instructions. Follow them and do not forget to measure your safety,  like wearing a safety mask, glasses, and required PPE.

Read more:

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• Can You Cut Laminate Worktop With Hand Saw?