Best Hand Saw For Cutting Trees: - Our Top Picks 2024

Searching for a top-notch hand saw to use when felling trees? Here are the greatest ones on the market, their advantages and disadvantages, and how to use them correctly!

In your own backyard, you'll be surprised how rapidly the greenery will take over. You may have observed that the trees along the edge of your outdoor space were starting to grow new branches, but suddenly they’ve pretty much taken over your yard.

So it’s time to cut them down before they may pose a problem on your property. But we know that chainsaws aren’t for everyone. In reality, unless you have experience using a chainsaw, these may actually be highly dangerous pieces of equipment.

A hand saw comes in handy in this situation. Equipment like this can be used to cut down small trees and branches that are growing in your yard.

Hand saws often feature smaller, safer blades than an unwieldy chainsaw, therefore should give you greater peace of mind. However, there are so many models available that making a decision might be tough.

We've done all the hard work so that you don't have to, so there's no need to worry. Hundreds of products have been tested and analyzed to determine the best hand saw for cutting trees.

Our hands-on assessment of hand saws is here to help you make an informed decision.

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Type of Saw

Hand saws aren't all created equal. The same task can be accomplished in a variety of ways by various saws, including pruning and bone saws, as well as pole and rope chain saws.

Pruning Saws

Pruning saws, as the name implies, are used mostly for pruning trees. It is common for pruning saws to have a shorter blade length of between 5 and 11 inches and a curved blade, making them smaller than other hand saws. Branches that are lower to the ground and hence simpler to reach benefit most from the usage of these saws. As an example, cutting off an infected branch with an oddly angled cut is made easier with the reduced blade length of these tools.

Pruning saws are like fine surgical instruments. Pruning saws are best suited for cutting through tough-to-reach or awkward-to-reach regions. To improve the aesthetics of your trees, for example. They aren't designed for tree-felling. Using a pruning saw to cut down an entire tree is possible, but it's more likely that your teeth will wear out before the tree is felled to the ground.

Folding hand saws are a specific kind of pruning saw. Folding hand saws, as the name suggests, have blades that can be folded into the handle like a switchblade. Because they take up more room in your backpack, folding saws are a popular choice for campers and hikers.

Pole Saws

Pruning saws' longer, taller cousins, pole saws, are also called pole saws. You can use a telescopic pole to expand the reach of your pruning saw into difficult-to-reach locations. Consider a pole saw if a ladder doesn't allow you to get to the sides or the top of the trees. Telescopic pole saws allow you to adjust the length, while ordinary fixed-length models do not. Whatever the length of a pole saw, it is usually between 6 and 24 feet.

Pole saws, like pruning saws, are often used in the same manner. The longer the pole, the more effort is required to utilize the saw. This means that the blade must be too thick and the branch cannot be too thick or else, you will not have the strength to saw the blade through the wood. Since pole saws are so long, they need to be used with extreme caution. It will be more difficult to maintain control of the blade if the cutting head is so far away from you. It is possible for someone further away from you to be hit if the blade slips because of the pole's length.

Crosscut – Bow Saws

Bow saws are more versatile than pruning saws. The cutting edge is located where the string should be on this bow-shaped blade. You have more control over the bow saw because of its design. Increased force can be delivered to the saw and thicker blades can be employed because of this change.

Bow saws are like all-purpose kitchen knives if pruning saws are surgical scalpels. Onions can be finely diced or cleaved using these tools. In the same way, a bow saw can be used to thin down branches or thin out trees. Unlike other pruning saws, which only cut when pushed, these saws cut when pulled as well, making them extremely handy.

Bow saws, on the other hand, have a disadvantage: they're large. Since of the design of the bow, you may find yourself unable to access certain regions because the bow is impeding your progress. A tangle of healthy branches surrounds an unhealthy one, and you'd like to remove it. The bow will become entangled in the maze. It's a good all-purpose saw, but it's not exceptional at any one task.

Push VS Pull

This refers to the saw's cutting mechanism. When the blade is pulled away from the body, it cuts into the wood. When the blade is moved toward the body, it cuts through the wood. A greater proportion of pull saws are sold in Japan, Asia, and the Middle East than of push saws in the rest of Europe and North America.

People have different preferences when it comes to using a saw. Some prefer to push the blade while others prefer to pull it. In general, hardwood trees and thicker woods require the use of push saws, whilst thinner woods and softwood trees require the use of pull saws. Pull saws can be used on softwood trees, whereas push saws can be used on hardwood trees. When it comes to pushing and pulling, it's all about personal preference.

Electric Vs Manual

Choosing between an electric or manual hand saw is one of the most important decisions you'll have to make when purchasing a saw for cutting trees. There are both advantages and disadvantages to both types of hand saws when it comes to chopping down trees in your lawn.

Electric hand saws will be more expensive than manual hand saws. People who don't want to deal with chainsaws or other heavy electric machines will also like these saws.

Manual hand saws, on the other hand, necessitate more physical exertion than electric hand saws. Smaller trees and branches can also be handled by them, but only in your backyard.

Using electric hand saws eliminates a lot of the backbreaking labour. However, the price of these devices is substantially higher than the price of manual variants.

People who are intimidated by power equipment, such as chainsaws, may find them unappealing. Consider that these are still hand saws, thus they're best suited for cutting down smaller trees and branches.

Branch Diameter

Consideration should be given to the diameter of the tree trunks and branches when selecting the best hand saw for trees.

This is because, depending on the size and sturdiness of the blade, a hand saw can only handle smaller to medium-sized branches and trunks.

Your desired hand saw's specifications will tell you which branches are appropriate for use with it. The manufacturer will list the blade's maximum diameter in inches.

Extending the blade past this point increases the risk of a break.

Therefore, selecting the proper blade size is essential if you want to efficiently cut through that bothersome vegetation. The rule of thumb is that the longer the blade, the wider the diameter branch it is capable of dealing with.

A Good Grip

For precision and control, you need a handle that's right for the job. Make sure it's the right size and shape for your hand to execute the tasks you need to do.

The large handle, as is customary, causes the operator to lose force and precision, resulting in slower work and lower quality. Having a rubber handle strengthens the grip even if the hand sweats, thus it's recommended.

The Thickness of the Blade

We'll also discuss about accuracy and performance in this section. The hand saw performs better and is more precise when the blade is thicker.

It's possible that furniture, for example, may have a finer cut, and this requires a delicate balance of both tooth geometry and flexibility.

Blade Protection

This is primarily for the sake of the user's safety as well as the safety of those in close proximity to the hand saw. Buying a saw with an easy-to-use design is recommended for increased safety. Most recent design hand saws have a locking mechanism/safety lock as a notable safety feature.

Additionally, blade protection extends the life of the sawblade. This adds an extra layer of security for the user.

Length

The purpose of utilizing a saw determines the length of the blade. The truth is that most people don't use the entire blade length. As a result, I believe that the size of the task has a greater impact.

Blades longer than 20 inches are recommended for chopping branches and logs. A 16-inch shear would be adequate for trimming sparse outgrowth.

A shorter blade will almost always be less expensive.

Teeth

Saws come in two varieties. First-fixed saws and second-fixed saws are the most common configurations.

In terms of teeth per inch, there are significant variances.

Seven teeth per inch is the traditional number of teeth on a heavy saw of the first-fixed type.

As a result, you get a very fast cut, especially when it comes to softwood. You'll get a heavy rough cut in the process, but it'll be worth it.

This type of saw has up to 11, 12, and 13 teeth per inch for a finely completed saw or a second-fixed saw. Of course, the teeth on a hand saw are smaller and therefore less aggressive and quick.

However, the finish you get with these saws is quite smooth. The reason for that is that this style of saw is better suited for decorative or DIY work.

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What Is The Best Tool To Cut Tree Trunks?

Smaller branches up to a particular diameter can be chopped away with hand saws.

If you plan to cut down massive trees, you'll need a powerful chainsaw. For this reason, chainsaws are better suited to huge trees, while hand saws are better suited to smaller trees.

Can You Use A Hand Saw To Cut A Tree?

A hand saw can be used to cut a tree, but its effectiveness will be limited by the tree's size.

For smaller trees, using a hand saw to cut them will be a simple task. Those who aren't familiar with chainsaws may decide to utilize a hand saw for smaller trees instead.

Can the blade be sharpened?

Sharpening the blade is possible when the saw is out of shape, so long as you don't damage the blade. Every tooth on each side of a worn saw will need to be sharpened.

For this, you'll need a hand saw vise and a file. It's critical that you hold the file in such a way that it cuts the tooth's surface. It's also hitting the top of the tooth.

If you're cutting one tooth lower than the other, you'll want to make sure you're not doing any harm.

Make a complete saw by flipping to the opposite side and repeating the same operation.

Do I need a sheath?

The majority of my saws come with scabbards, and I'm aware that this is the same for many others. So, having a sheath for your saw is a good idea because it protects both the saw and you from the blade's sharpness.

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Choosing a saw can be a daunting task at first. How to choose the right saw for a certain work can be a daunting task, starting with the type of saw and finishing with the sort of cut. All of the saws on our list are capable of performing the same tasks. Even though all saws can cut, as you've discovered, picking the appropriate saw makes your job a lot easier. Remember the golden rule of operating with hand saws: Be Safe and Be Comfortable.

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