What do a dedicated gardener and a DIY enthusiast have in common? A bow saw, of course! If you have branches in your yard that you need to chop down or if you’re working with metal in your home, you have got to check out the best bow saws. At the top of our list is the Bahco Bow Saw. It’s a compact, portable, inexpensive, and effective tool that you can rely on for a wealth of projects. We also put together a buyer’s guide that includes everything you need to know before making a purchase.
Our Top Picks For Bow Saws
The Best Bow Saws
Best Overall
Bahco Bowsaw Frames and Blades are built to withstand the rigors of construction sites and farm settings. It is ideal for both homeowners and campers. Lightweight, heavy-duty bow saw manufactured high-quality steel with a high impact enamel paint covering to prevent rust and corrosion.
For forceful cuts on pull and push, the blades include triangle set teeth with high-frequency hardening. It’s a monster of a saw with a blade that’s 30 inches long. You’ll be able to finish the majority of the assignments. For bow saws, a 30-inch saw is regarded to be on the bigger side.
Pros
- Blade protector is made of plastic
- Snaps into place with ease
- Comes with knuckle protection
Cons
- Hard to cut through green wood
Runner Up
The Truper bow saw features a robust frame that is not the heaviest bow saw on the market. It takes our vote for the best value bow saw since it has knuckle protection while being reasonably priced.
This model is especially appealing since it has a high-quality tensioning mechanism, which ensures that your products are cut accurately. You should be informed, too, that this bow saw only comes with a blade designed for cutting fresh wood; it does not include a blade designed for cutting dry wood.
Pros
- Exceptionally lightweight and easy to use
- Sold at a reasonable price point
- Mainly intended for cutting greenwood
Cons
- Saw is only 21 inches long
Honorable Mention
The Spear Jackson 24 Predator Bow Saw is a high-quality bow saw with an oval section tubular steel frame for strength and stiffness and an ergonomic soft feel handle with a built-in hand guard for added safety. The user may adjust the blade tensioning mechanism to create quicker, cleaner cuts for extended periods and quickly change blades.
The Spear Jackson Predator bow saw blades are 4tpi and composed of hard pointed carbon steel for maximum effectiveness and longevity. This Predator bow saw blades had been shown to cut faster and for longer than other brands in cutting tests.
Pros
- Faster, cleaner cuts with tension adjustment
- Blade replacement is simple and quick
- Teeth cut quickly and easily
Cons
- Twisted blade makes straight cuts hard
Most Reliable
The Fiskars Bow Saw is an incredibly useful and versatile tool for any project involving softwood logs, large branches and more. The fixed blade of the saw is made from hardened steel and can provide efficient sawing and clean cuts, making it ideal for professional and DIY applications. The ergonomic handle ensures a firm and comfortable grip, which also comes with a finger guard for added safety.
One of the great features of this saw is its ability to pull and push cuts, as well as its easy blade replacement. This metal bow saw can make precise and accurate cuts even when faced with large branches. It also comes with a plastic blade guard for secure storage and includes a Finnish design made to last. The bow saw is light yet strong enough to tackle even the toughest jobs. Also, the black/orange finish of the bow saw is visually appealing, providing an attractive finish to any toolbox or garage. This reliable saw is suitable for both right-handed and left-handed users, making it one of the most convenient tools on the market.
Pros
- Lightweight yet strong enough
- Can make precise cuts
- Easy blade replacement
Cons
- Blade might not be sharp enough
A Buying Guide: The Best Bow Saws
If you are looking for a new saw in the market, you will have many options when it comes to the many types of saws available. While some are designed to cut metal, others are more specialized, making them perfect for tasks such as cutting young wood and trees in your yard.
If you have to choose one saw for your garden, it has to be this one. A bow saw is just like frame saws that have a thin blade that is held in tension by a frame. We have come up with various options, which happen to be the best bow saws.
All of these different bow saws have their key features and the choices listed will surely help you choose the best bow saw for you. However, because many of you may want to learn more about bow saws, we have put up a comprehensive purchasing guide for the finest bow saws.
What Are the Things To Think About Before Buying a Bow Saw?
When shopping for a bow saw, there are a few factors to keep in mind, just as with any other gardening tool.
Green-wood or seasoned wood
Different blades are better suited to soft young wood, while others are better suited to dead or seasoned limbs. Bow saws for green wood feature wider rake-like teeth to reduce clogging with softer fibers but saw blades for dry wood have sharper, sharper teeth for shearing through harder materials.
The length of the blade
Smaller activities, such as cutting tiny branches, pruning small trees and decorative shrubs, are better suited to short bow saws of approximately 17 inches in length. Longer bow saws are better for harder operations like tree felling and firewood production.
Handle
The handle must be pleasant to hold, give enough grip and assistance, and have a built-in hand shield to keep your hand. This will hold your hand in place as you saw it, even if you start sweating, and will protect your knuckles as you work.
Tension adjuster
The strength of bow saw blades varies with time, based on use, dampness, and warmth, making it unstable and potentially dangerous to operate. A tension adjuster can help you avoid problems like these by keeping the blade firmly attached to the bow. An automated tension adjustment is available on some bow saws.
Shape
Some bow saws, especially the smaller ones, have a triangular form rather than a bow. This makes navigating them into narrower spaces to cut trees or shrubs much easier.
What Characteristics Should You Look for When Purchasing a Bow Saw?
Portability
If you wish to transport your bow saw to different places for whatever reason, you should think about its mobility. One simple method to determine this is to weigh the bow saw; a 400-500 grams bow saw will be far more practical than 800 grams one. Aside from being lightweight, certain portable bow saws may also include collapsible designs, making them ideal for use on the move.
Frame
You won’t be able to effectively chop down branches without the frame of your bow saw, especially if they are fairly powerful. As a result, it is critical to check that your bow saw’s frame is robust and solid before purchasing one.
You may do so by looking at the materials utilized in the manufacture of your specific bow saw. Except for some lightweight aluminum-framed bow saws, virtually every other option has a tubular steel frame that guarantees your bow saw is robust.
Warranty
Like any other gardening item in your garage, you will want your bow saw to keep working even after a lengthy amount of time. As a result, double-checking your bow saw’s guarantee is always a good idea.
Apart from the standard 1-year guarantee given by most bow saws, there are other alternatives to incorporate a lifetime warranty for considerably better durability and peace of mind.
Color
Bow saws come in a range of shades, but one with a richly painted handle is worth looking for because it will be easier to locate on the grass or in the trees as you go, which is incredibly significant if you deal in thick forests.
What Are the Safety Tips for Bow Saw?
Bow saws are extremely sharp and maybe quite hazardous when used improperly; therefore, always follow basic safety procedures, such as:
Carry it with caution
Saw blades come with a hard blade, wire, or chain with a toothed edge. So, always keep the saw in the metal frame’s middle, with the teeth facing down to the earth. Offer the handle end of the saw to someone else to pass it on to.
Wearing protective gear
Heavy-duty sealed shoes or work boots are also necessary, as are heavy-duty gloves and thick, robust long pants.
Remove the protective sheath and replace it
As soon as you have completed sawing, put the protective sheath over the blade.
Make sure the area is ready
Small children and pets should be kept out of the work area. Do not leave the saw on the ground where it might be tripped over or stood on.
How To Use a Bow Saw
- Carefully cut the branch from the top-down, applying pressure to the push and pull movements and ensuring that you are located above the plant.
- Hold the blade vertically against the wood, working from waist height if feasible.
- Use your dominant hand to operate the saw while your non-dominant hand settles down the tree limb. Keep your palm on the wood, away from the blade, and tuck your thumb under the limb.
- The bow saw can snag or stick here, causing it to bend or skip. Be cautious on the first few cuts. Before adding further pressure, work carefully until the blade is well beneath the surface layers.
- Using the whole length of saw blades is more feasible when cutting without leaning your arm very far.
- On your push stroke, press down and then forward at a 40-degree tilt. This helps you to cut more quickly.
This video from Herve Del Norte will teach you all the basics about a bow saw, if you’d like to learn more:
People Also Asked
How tight should a bow saw blade be?
The blade of your bow saw should be solid and not slide out onto the pins, but that should have enough flex in the core to bend somewhat. The mechanism at the end of your bow saw may be used to tighten your blade.
What Is a Bow Saw and What Does It Do?
For fast jobs or mobility, a bow saw is ideal. You won’t want to use a bow saw for fine-tuning crafts like furniture making, but a decent saw can quickly clear logs or trees that need to be moved or turned into firewood.
What’s the best way to sharpen a bow saw blade?
Bow saw blades are easy to sharpen and maintain. Hold the blade vertically, sharpen the teeth with a flat-file, then use a three-sided file to give each tooth one last sharpen and verify the teeth’s base is flat.
