Tips about saws

The right tool matters. Which model is good for which purpose and what to look out for when using it? We will tell you which saw is the fastest – and comes with no damaged saw blades and minimum stress.

Whether it is in the autumn when you are in the garden trying to cut a bough or you are inside the house working on an interior design project. The right tool matters. Which model is good for which purpose and what to look out for when using it? We will tell you which saw is the fastest – and comes with no damaged saw blades and no stressed nerves.

The classics of hand saws

The foxtail

The length of the foxtail is between 35 and 50 cm and mostly has an open or closed handle made of wood or metal. The foxtail is best suited for wood but also for ACC (with carbide tipped saw blade).  But it can be difficult even for sawing branches and boughs. When pushing, the saw blades often bend out of shape, because the wood pieces get entangled between the blades. The saw is generally suitable for rough tasks. When working in the workshop, a mitre box is brilliant to saw with precision.

The japan saw

The saw is the Asian equivalent of the foxtail. In contrast to its European counterpart, this saw however works exclusively by tension. The blade is stable, but can also bend, making it good to saw off old dowels. The Japan saw’s handle (also called Nokogiri) is attached in line with the saw blade.

The dovetail saw

The shorter dovetail saw comes to use when skirting boards, picture frames or precise angles. With a reinforced back and simple handle, it is the right saw for fine tasks. A mitre box is also helpful here, especially when making precise cuts.

The handheld hack saw

This saw can cut wood, plastic and even metal. The saw blade is clamped or mounted. The jags are always to the rear of the handle, because it saws on tension. You can work quickly and effectively with this saw, especially in the garden and also in confined places. The bigger version of the handheld hack saw is called metal hack saw. They start with a length of 15 cm. According to the type of the saw blade mounted, the saw can be used on different materials.

In all saws, hardened teeth are an advantage. The blades stay sharp for longer time and let you work better. It is not worth going after inexpensive products but look for quality.
Our DIY tip for you

Socket power for the saw

As already mentioned, for many tasks electric tools such as hack saws or chain saws are indispensable. You can still perform small tasks on branches with hand saws, but for larger gardens it becomes a mammoth task. To help you save time on your gardening or renovation projects, we present four electric tools.

The circular saw

These saws come to use especially in interior design or renovation projects. Wood, plastic and even metal can be cut with high‐quality hand‐held circular saws. You can quickly cut thick wooden boards to the desired shape.

The chain saw

Chain saws are especially used for jobs in the garden. Pruning thick branches, felling small trees or cutting up logs for firewood are no longer time consuming but can be done quickly. All models feature kickback protection with mechanical instant chain brake. It protects from kickback of the saw and stops the saw instantly.

The all purpose saw

All purpose saws are available both with battery as well as electric cables. If the head of the saw can be rotated, you can also work in hard‐to‐reach spaces. Buy an all‐purpose saw only if you can change its blade easily without needing a tool. It is especially suitable for wood and plastic.

The jig saw

The jigsaw belongs to the genus of hand saws and is especially recommended in model making or smaller woodwork. This device can saw out curved shapes easily, as well as expanding smaller openings. Medium‐thick wood panels or smaller laths can be also cut with this type of saw. Thanks to the different saw blades, it is also possible to saw through different materials, such as plastic or metal.

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Picture of the author Monika Aigner.
Written by Monika Aigner
Published on 05.02.2018

Monika Aigner is a Project Manager for Media & PR at Einhell. Through regular internal product training, she possesses extensive knowledge of the functionality and application of various Einhell tools and garden equipment. Combined with clear instructions, she imparts this knowledge in her blog posts.