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Best Hand saw for Cutting Wood Australia (2023 Buyers Guide)

Hand saws, or carpentry saws, are an essential tool for anyone that is a carpenter, DIY fan or who works in construction. However, with so many different options on the market, it can be hard to decide which is the best hand saw for cutting wood in Australia.

Hand saws come with thin blades that are wide, and they work by cutting as you push, giving you the ability to saw downwards while resting your wood on a stool or bench. There are a number of different types of hand saws available to buy, and it is important to find the best quality option for the budget you have available. 

Take a look at our top selected handsaws so that you can buy a new one knowing that it will perform well for you.

Best Overall

Bahco 2600-22-XT-HP 550mm (22″) Ergo Superior Hand Saw

When you want to cut with the best stability and accuracy, the Bahco 2600-22-XT-HP 550mm (22″) Ergo Superior Hand Saw is a great choice. It has NXT teeth that provide a smoother and straighter finish, as well as offering teeth that will last for longer than ever before.

How to Find The Best Hand Saw?

Image Name Features
Best Overall Best Overall Bahco 2600-22-XT-HP 550mm (22″) Ergo Superior Hand Saw
  • Weighs 540g
  • Length 55cm
  • Perfect for medium material
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Best On A Budget Best On A Budget OX Tools 500mm (20″) 8TPI Wood Hand Saw
  • 50cm hand saw
  • Low price
  • Excellent finish
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Bahco PC-12-14-PS 305mm (12″) ProfCut General Carpentry Pull Hand Saw
  • Weighs just 265g
  • 30.5cm long
  • Comfy handle
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Bahco NP-22-U7/8-HP 550mm (22″) PrizeCut Universal Wood Handsaw
  • Weighs 420g
  • 55cm long
  • Ergonomic handle
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Hand saws come in a number of sizes and are made from a number of materials. To get the best one for your needs, you need to look at the blade, the handle, and the materials that are used to make the saw.

The Blade

Each hand saw comes with a blade that has jagged teeth that are able to bite into a piece of wood and cut through it with a downward action. The best types of blades are thin and flexible, meaning that they won’t snap or bend when you put them to use.

How to choose a hand saw for beginners? We’ve briefly discussed to help you out.

The Handle

Equally important to your sawing needs is the handle that comes with the hand saw. They can be made from cheap or expensive materials and should be well bonded to the blade when in use. Getting the best quality handle will not only make you more comfortable as you work, but it will also produce a better finish when you get to work.

handsaw on the ground with pieces of wood

The Materials

Quality hand saws are made from strong and durable materials that will not give up after a couple of uses. They may cost more, but when you compare the life span of a cheap hand saw to a more expensive version, you will find that the better quality the saw is, to begin with, the longer it will last.

Our Hand Saw Reviews – Our Top Four Choices

Take a look at our four reviews to help you find the best hand saw for your individual needs.

1. Bahco 2600-22-XT-HP 550mm (22″) Ergo Superior Hand Saw – Best Overall

Specifications

  • Weighs 540g

  • Length 55cm
  • Perfect for medium material
  • Developed using the ERGO™ Process

When you want to cut with the best stability and accuracy, the Bahco 2600-22-XT-HP 550mm (22″) Ergo Superior Hand Saw is a great choice. It has NXT teeth that provide a smoother and straighter finish, as well as offering teeth that will last for longer than ever before.

The blade is thicker than you may typically expect from a saw, but it does offer the precision that you will want to achieve as well as offering a low-friction solution. The blade is also coated to stop it from rusting, making cutting easier for longer.

The handle is comfy to use whether you are wearing gloves or not and is made from three separate parts that are expertly fused together. When you need a marking guide, you can use the handle to get a 45° and 90° angle with the precision you need. All in all, this hand panel saw comes highly recommended.

2. OX Tools 500mm (20″) 8TPI Wood Hand Saw – Best on a Budget

Specifications

  • 50cm hand saw

  • Low price
  • Excellent finish
  • Comfy to use

If you are on a budget but need a hand saw that will provide you with a precision finish and comfortable grip, then the OX Tools 500mm (20″) 8TPI Wood Hand Saw is a great choice and our favourite option for anyone that needs a cheap solution.

The handle is ergonomically designed so that you can enjoy maximum comfort as you work, and the saw comes with 8tpi dual-angle teeth to achieve the excellent finish you need when working on a project. It’s a great saw for hobbyists and professionals as you will be able to depend on it when you need a quality outcome. 

The saw blade is made from high-quality steel and will work on materials that include both wood and PVC, giving you plenty of uses. It’s a great budget option and is ideal for anyone who doesn’t need a hand saw on a daily basis.

3. Bahco PC-12-14-PS 305mm (12″) ProfCut General Carpentry Pull Hand Saw

Specifications

  • 30.5cm long

  • Comfy handle
  • Weighs just 265g
  • Blades can be easily replaced

When cutting wood is an integral part of your job, you are sure to want a high-quality, reliable hand saw that will withstand everything that you throw at it then the Bahco PC-12-14-PS 305mm (12″) ProfCut General Carpentry Pull Hand Saw is an exceptional choice that will revolutionise your work.

This hand pull saw is not just comfortable to use, but it offers the capability for fine, angled, and cross cuts to help you get the finish you need.  The blade is fully replaceable and is just 0.6mm thick, meaning that you will need to use less force and can expect a better result. The teeth use a triple-edged JT tooth design, and when you combine this with the thin blade, you can look forward to a closer cut when your materials are close to a different surface. 

The handle is made from high-quality plastic and comes with two screws that hold the blade in place. A real effort has been made to keep the handle as simple as possible so that it feels great to hold and helps add to your professional tool kit.

Bahco NP-22-U7/8-HP 550mm (22″) PrizeCut Universal Wood Handsaw

Specifications

  • Weighs 420g

  • 55cm long
  • Ergonomic handle
  • Great for all wood

If you need to cut a wide variety of wood thicknesses and types, then you will need a hand saw that can perform well no matter how tough the task is. The Bahco NP-22-U7/8-HP 550mm (22″) PrizeCut Universal Wood Handsaw is a good choice as it is versatile and durable, offering you the support you need to get the job done.

The handle has been designed to offer a comfortable and ergonomic finish that will last for a long time. It also comes with hardpoint teeth that promise to stay sharp, even when you use them for the toughest jobs. It feels light to use, and as it is 55cm long, it is easy to get through sawing jobs at speed.

The handle also supports well, enabling you to get a 45° and 90° angle with the approximate marking guide. Whilst this may not be at the top of our list, it is definitely deserving of its place in our top four and is well worth considering!

The Verdict

When it comes to picking, each of these hand saws offers something special that is well worth considering. However, our top pick has to be the Bahco 2600-22-XT-HP 550mm (22″) Ergo Superior Hand Saw as it offers the best precision and comes with NXT teeth that produce the smoothest and straightest finish you’ll ever enjoy.

Whilst it does come with a thicker blade than you may expect, we were shocked at how this added a greater level of precision and less friction. Ultimately, if you want a comfortable hand saw that offers a top-quality outcome, this has to be the one you buy.

Hand Saw FAQs

Finding a hand saw is not as easy as it seems, but there are certain things that you can look out for to get the best outcome for your needs. First, check that the teeth are sharp and the blade is straight before checking if the saw feels balanced and comfy in your hand. You should also check that the blade offers the right level of thickness for your project and that it gives enough flexibility to work well for you. (1)

While it is possible to sharpen the teeth on your handsaw, you may find that this is a time-consuming task and prefer to replace the blade or buy a new saw depending on the tool that you currently own. If you do choose to sharpen it yourself, you will need a metal file, a vice and a lot of patience! (2)

In short, rust is not something that can be ignored! Not only will it make your work messier and less precise, but it will also make your blade more likely to break, causing damage and even injury. If your saw is rusty, take it as a sign to invest in something new. Always remember to keep the sheath that comes with the saw covering the blades, and keep your saw in a dry location.

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