Why Use Hand Saws For Woodworking?
There will be cuts you need to make that simply cannot be done well any other way. Having the best hand saws for woodworking will save you a lot of headaches.
Use these hand saws safely for they are not for general purpose carpentry. These are for fine woodworking, wood art, or furniture making.
The point to their function is to give a clean cut when powered machinery would splinter, break, or blow out small pieces. Likewise there will be flush cuts that no powered tool can make.
In cases such as this, I have seen many woodworkers cut as best they can to then sand flush. This can work in a pinch but also cause problems in finishing.
In my suggestions below I want you to take notice of the handle for each I suggest. They all have a similar profile in the hand saws ergonomics. I will go more into this necessity near the end and why it is important.
Also know I do not profit from my suggestions here. The options I will suggest actually fly in the face of the best brands on the market. There are reasons as to why.
#1 Best Hand Saw – The Coping Saw
I have a more detailed article on the coping saw. It is a great read for understanding problems and frustrations people have with them and why they happen.
Once you have a quality coping saw there is an appreciation for what it can achieve as a wood shaping tool. Its greatest advantage is the ability to cut multiple angles. This is achieved due to its narrow blade and frame profile.
If needed, a drill can make a hole within a board then the blade can be fed through the hole. The blade can then be attached to the frame and a shaped cut be made within the board. In this way it can act like a hand held scroll saw.
I will advise to pay for the best on this saw. Cheaper variations will tend to cause more problems than offer solutions. Do your homework in its selection and stay away from the local hardware store.
If you wish to know my opinion of brand, go with Knew Concepts. It is an easy to use and also keep the blade clean.
#2 Best Hand Saw – The Ryoba
The Ryoba hand saw is a general purpose saw. It traditionally was used to process down lumber to dimensional size. Today we use band saws and table saws for the kind of work this blade does.
The kerf will not leave as clean of a cut as some finer Japanese hand saws. Nevertheless this is a must have blade when you are doing things such as furniture making.
The saw has two cutting edges. One is for rip cut and the other is for cross cuts. Note once again that its blade is more aggressive. It is not a fine finish saw blade.
I place it at number two due to its versatility in processing smaller pieces of wood that may be more difficult with powered tools.
If you are looking for a hand saw which can rough cut but leave a cleaner cut and finish, then look into the Kataba. Really the Kataba and Ryoba go together well in processing wood for projects.
#3 Best Hand Saw – The Dozuki Saw
This saw is like the Ryoba, but the Dozuki is made for fine finish work. The cutting edge is thin with a kerf and a smaller pitch which helps leave a clean cut.
While the blade itself is thin, the top rib or spine of the blade is thicker to give support. This keeps the blade from bending or warping.
Due to this it is not used for deep cuts. Where this hand saw excels is within joinery work. It laughs at box joints, dove tails, and tenons making them childs play.
There are a few notes to look for when considering one of these hand saws. The Dozuki comes in a lot of different formats.
In furniture making, a crosscut saw is a must to have. The Dozuki can also be a replacement for this need. The advantage here is that you are not stuck to one blade design.
Some blades are made for rip cuts, others are for cross cuts. What is interesting is that some also are specifically designed for softwoods and others for hardwoods.
They do have a universal design that can be used for any cut within any wood you need. Yet the specialty blades that are customized is all about the fine finish.
If you are looking for the cleanest possible cut from the hand saw then you may wish to delve into the different blade options which are offered.
#4 Best Hand Saw – Kugihiki Or “Flush Cut Saw”
The name should give away the specialty of this saw. If you use dowels, pegs, tenons, or wedges, then this hand saw is definitely for you.
The key to its success is that it is flexible. The saw blade will bend sitting flush to the wood surface. Then you simply cut the protruding piece of wood flush to that surface.
The teeth are set into the kerf so that it will not leave any marks, scratches, or marring to the surface of the wood. Many of these blades will offer teeth on both sides of the saw.
Pay attention to your blade selection. It helps to have one which allows for hardwood cutting on one side, and then softwood cutting on the other.
If you take advantage of these features in the Kugihiki the end finish will need little assistance from sanding.
I wish to leave an alternative and notable mention. If you cannot find a Kugihiki which suits your needs then look into a Gyokucho.
The Gyokucho is much same in function. The main differences you will find will come down to handle, fit and form, as well as blade materials or lengths.
#5 Best Hand Saw – Mawashibiki Or “Keyhole Saw”
The blade of the Mawashibiki saw is very thin. It also tapers towards its point. The purpose and use of this blade is rather self explanatory and can offer support as a backup to the coping saw.
Many people find it incredibly useful when working with joinery, tight spaces, cutting shapes or dimensional holes in wood boards.
While I personally prefer a good coping saw for most of these functions there are times when the Mawashibiki can do the job better. These two hand saws really go well together in compliment.
Pay Attention To The Handle Profile Of The Hand Saw!
Earlier I mentioned that each saw I would suggest would share a common handle profile. When you look at each of these saws the handles are in line with the cutting edge much like a knife.
Many western saws have grips. As you grip the blade your hand makes a fist which faces the cutting edge of the blade. This causes you to lose dexterity in exchange for power in a push cut.
With the hand saws I have suggested, as you grip the saw you gain a tremendous amount of dexterity and control for it is held much like a knife.
In fine woodworking it is not about power. It most certainly is focused on control, dexterity, and finish. This should be a major consideration when looking at what fits your woodworking needs.
Why Not Use Hand Saws From The Hardware Store?
Hand saws from the hardware store are meant for general construction. The blade design simply is not the same.
In this design are differences found by thickness of blade, kerf, the tpi, and also the steel itself. Big box store blades do not have the same lifespan as these more refined woodworking hand saws.
Each of my suggestions also allow for replaceable blades. Knowing this you could buy one hand saw but then optional other blades for different kinds of cuts if you desired.
The difference between a fine woodworking hand saw, and the saws you find in a hardware store, would be like comparing a sword to a scalpel. They are in no way the same.
Be wary of any saws which come with wood carving kits. Few will be able to hold up for very long and some can be of concern for safety.
Why Do I Recommend Japanese Hand Saws?
Aside from the coping saw, every other recommendation I made was a Japanese hand saw. Why did I not recommend Western versions?
A lot of my desire for these tools goes back to the philosophy behind Japanese woodworking. Yet there are other major benefits to their use besides this philosophy.
What I love about the Japanese versions is how easy they are to use. A beginner in woodworking could start using them tomorrow with great effect and accuracy.
You can use a marking knife to mark the line you wish to follow and the saw should give you no trouble holding that line.
They also are resilient, the blades last, and are easy to replace. Generally speaking most of their hand saws are also inexpensive for what you get out of them in performance.
While much of what I stated is subjective from my opinion, you will find many other woodworkers who suggest the same.
If you wish to compare to Western versions, to get better performance you would need to go to the leading brands. Yet there are other issues which come to mind I will discuss.
How Do These Compare To Leading Brands?
If you look at the popular woodworking vendor brands like Veritas, Lynx, Florip, and Lie-Nielsen are among the names which come to the front. So how do my suggestions compare?
For starters a Lie-Nielsen can easily price in at $150 per saw. This in my mind is insane. Added to this the grip is a traditional Western grip and I personally hate this on these saws.
Lynx and others can also fall into these higher price ranges. Yet they do not offer the same flexibility that the Japanese variations can give.
Make no mistake these brands are among the top in the industry. Their hand saws perform well. Yet I do not need a wall queen that hangs there to look at.
I need a hand saw that will perform at the same level with added flexibility and increased dexterity. I am all for getting the best, when it is warranted. In this case the big brand names is not where the winning play is at.
Cost Of Hand Saws
In my suggested list above you should be able to easily acquire them all for under $250. They are not expensive. Replacement blades are also fairly inexpensive.
When compared to higher end Western brands, my list of hand saws come in at a steal. You could buy three Japanese hand saws for the price of one Lynx.
The best part is that you have not lost any quality nor function. Instead you have actually gained a lot in the choice with the options these alternative versions give you.
If you are wanting to keep cost to a minimum then I would suggest two. The coping saw would be my first. The Kugihiki would be my second.
I do have to admit I would struggle between choosing the Kugihiki over a Dozuki. If I personally had only those three then I would be good for my work.
If money is tight then just start with one. Let the nature of your work dictate the first one you select. Yet I am sure you will be pleased with the outcome.
Storage Of Hand Saws
Hand saws are meant to be hung on a wall. Some do let them rest in drawers yet this is not a good practice. You never want there to be a chance of sustained pressure being applied to a blade over time.
Can You Sharpen These Hand Saw Blades?
No. Do not bother trying to sharpen these hand saw blades. The teeth are tight and while you could try, there is no way to be happy with the outcome. Ultimately you will deform the teeth causing problems in the cut.
It is much easier to simply replace the blade. Typically with normal use these blades should last at least a year. If you are a hobby shop or only use them periodically then they could last a decade.
There really is not a way to explain the difference in these hand saws compared to what most people are accustomed to finding in stores. By the time the need for replacement arrives you will have definitely gotten your moneys worth out of the saw.