7 Best Hand Saw for Cutting Trees Review and Buying Guide

Getting the best hand saw for cutting trees makes trimming, pruning, and cutting jobs around more convenient. It’s a woodworking staple, an essential toolset for every gardener or contractor.

Compared to other cutting tools, a hand saw is lightweight and easy to handle. It is also a cheaper, more portable and versatile, and easy to maintain cutting tool compared to a chainsaw.

In terms of getting the best hand saw for cutting trees, our smart-buy pick is the curved pruning saw from WilFiks 16-Inch Pro Hand Saw. Its unique curved blade design makes the entire cutting tool well-balanced for more ergonomic and efficient cutting.

Best Hand Saw for Cutting Trees

WilFiks 16-Inch Pro Hand Saw

Features:

• 16-inch 9TPU carbon steel blade for optimum cutting flexibility
• Three cutting facades for 2x cutting pace than typical hand saws
• 5x-long base teeth than in regular hand saws for sharper and more efficient cutting performance
• Handle features anti-glide and tight grip ideal for angle cuts
• Quickly cuts through thickest trees and logs
• Thin and tiny but sharp blades for best cutting accuracy

What We Like

The WIlfiks 16-inch Pro Hand Saw has a unique blade design that is known for its high-productivity capacity. It has long and razor-sharp blades that cut through various materials of different sizes.

This hand saw features a 9TPI high carbon steel blade for optimum control, rigidity, and long-lasting performance with impressive results.

This cutting tool has incredible three cutting surfaces as well, which makes the job done faster and with more efficiency.

It can cut through the thickest of trees 50% faster than standard hand saws with Deep Gullets for rapid wood chip removes. It can handle different materials such as dovetails, tenons, miters, wallboard, plywood, wood, and plastic.

The induction-hardened teeth of this Wilfiks Pro Hand Saw are excellent in retaining its teeth sharpness. It stays razor-sharp five times longer than a standard hand saw for quicker, sharper, and smoother cuts.

Aside from its terrific steel blade material and design, this cutting tool’s favorite feature is its ease of use and safety functions. It has a Super Grip handle technology with an ergonomic design for reduced fatigue, an advantage for making angle cuts. The rubber handle is soft and non-slip for maximum comfort and safety.

What Can Be Improved?

Although the blade quality of the Wilfiks Pro Hand Saw can handle different materials, it’s small and thin for cutting large trees. It will wilt or break when used in heavy-duty and rough cuttings.

Bahco #9 All-Purpose Bow Saw

Features:

• All-purpose saw
• The ¾-inch thick blade cuts trees with impressive precision
• Hardened steel blade for optimum durability and strength
• The 36-inch edge is suitable for larger pieces of wood
• Steel tubular handle construction keeps the bow saw lightweight and easy to handle
• Includes tension lever
• Steel handle comes with finger and handguard functionality for protection
• Maintenance-free tool

What We Like

The Bahco #9 Bow Saw is ideal for all-purpose use, which offers optimum precision and durability. It has a hardened steel blade that is excellent in terms of strength and durability. This blade material is also impressive in retaining sharpness, so there’s a less frequent need for sharpening the blades. The 36-inch blade is long enough to cut through large pieces of wood without issues, and at ¾-inch thick, this blade cuts with impressive precision.

One of the great features of this all-purpose bow saw is its lightweight construction, thanks to its steel tubular handle design. The Bahco #9 Bow Saw is only 1.9 pounds heavy, lighter than other hand saws, making it easier to maneuver with minimal effort.

Another significant part of the Bahco #9 Bow Saw is the tension lever that provides an ergonomic and secure grip. It also makes blade replacements more convenient. It has a finger and handguard as well, for safer and secure sawing.

Overall, Bahco #9 is a dependable all-purpose bow saw and requires little to no maintenance.

What Can Be Improved?

Although the Bahco #9 Bow Saw blade material is robust and long-lasting, the handle has a flimsy plastic material. It tends to fall off when sawing, which is an inconvenience. The handle’s knuckle guard isn’t safe and secure as it occasionally separates from the saw when used.

CRAFTSMAN Hand Saw CMHT20880

Features:

• Sturdy handle and exclusive tooth geometry
• 15-inch sharp and smooth blade length to saw forward and backward
• Offers 45-degree and 90-degree angles to align easy
• Easy and affordable hand saw
• Small size for convenient storage
• Able to cut wood, plastic, and laminate

What we like

Owing to the compact design with a sturdy handle and exclusive tooth geometry, this CRAFTSMAN hand saw is an ideal tool for small projects requiring cutting wood, plastic, and laminate.

Moreover, it’s also a great choice if you want to remove branches and brambles.

With a blade length of up to 15 inches and straight tines, this item allows you to see in both directions, forward and backward.

Additionally, the ergonomically designed bi-material handle attaching 45-degree and 90-degree angles brings easy alignment while cutting.

Thanks to its compact size and sharp blade, even users with limited upper body strength can use it without any trouble.

This cutting saw is small enough to be stored in narrow garages but strong enough to cut large branches effectively. Better still, it is a budget-friendly and easy-to-use option.

What can be improved

The saw blade is quite sharp, and no safety cover fits it, so you must be very careful during use and storage.

And if the saw blade were designed to be thicker to avoid bending, it would have been the best hand saw for cutting trees.

SOG Folding Saw F10N-CP

Features

• Removable steel blade that works well on green and hardwood
• Has a powder coating to prevent rust and prolong the lifespan
• Equips a blade-lock mechanism
• Convenient to carry thanks to the compact folding design
• Includes a sturdy and nice case

What we like

If you have never owned a folding saw that is convenient to operate and carry for camping and carpentry projects, this SOG item is a must-have.

Storing in a nice case, this 9.2 ounces compact folding saw is the best tool for any huntsman, camper, and outdoor work.

With a high carbon steel blade measuring 8.25 inches in length, it worked well on green and hardwood of approximately 5 inches in diameter like a hot knife through butter.

In particular, the blade is removable and has a powder coating to prevent rust, which allows you to use this saw regularly from year to year with excellent quality.

Additionally, this saw equips a blade-lock mechanism when stowed and extended, ensuring minimal space in the backpack so you can carry it anywhere conveniently and comfortably.

What can be improved

The downside of this tree-cutting hand saw is its thin blade prone to bending and possibly snapping. And if an extra saw blade is included, this saw will be worth every penny.

Corona RS 7245 Razor Tooth Folding Saw

Features

• Easy-to-use for any doers
• Ergonomically designed for convenience
• Made from premium materials to cut 3-inch in diameter stuff with ease
• Integrates many safety features for users: a saw block mechanism, a pistol grip, and a latch blade lock

What we like

Regardless of your proficiency in using a saw and your body strength, this saw will do all your cuts as well as it can.

Thanks to it being extremely ergonomically comfortable, you don’t need to spend much effort seeing small to medium limbs.

Made of high carbon Japanese SK5 steel, this 7-inch blade can cut branches from 3/4 to 4 inches in diameter without any problems.

Furthermore, with high-quality material, the saw blade will not be stuck even when you cut the wood that has not yet dried totally.

And yet, this saw is very safe and convenient to use or carry. That is because it can be locked while open and closed; it has a pistol grip to minimize hand slipping on the handle and a latch blade lock to avoid injury for users.

What can be improved

If you use this saw blade with high intensity or do not clean it regularly, the blade can dull and rust, causing the saw to slow down noticeably.

Truper 30255 Steel Handle Bow Saw

Features

• Lightweight with simple design
• Includes a cam-lever tension system and a knuckle guard for safe and comfortable use
• The blade is easy to assemble and disassemble
• Has a sharp, light but sturdy blade
• Features vivid and eye-catching color to find easily in the dark

What we like

In case you are seeking a lightweight, effective, and affordable saw for cutting trees with a simple design, this Truper saw is what you need.

This saw is equipped with a cam-lever tension system to prevent the blade from slipping while working in the field. Additionally, it also has a knuckle guard for a comfortable and secure grip.

And yet, this saw blade is easy to assemble and disassemble without much effort. The weight is a bit heavy, and the size is bigger than other foldable saws, but when the blade is disassembled and stored in the blade cover, it does not take up much space.

The blade is sharp, light, but sturdy enough to saw 4-inch tree limbs quickly and safely. Finally, thanks to its vivid and eye-catching color, you can find it easily in the woodlot, even in low-light conditions.

What can be improved

For those who do not have much experience using a saw, the cut can curve significantly when cutting dry wood. The heavier and bigger size than other foldable saws is a minus.

Irwin 218HP300 Combi-Saw

Features

• All-purpose saw
• Lightweight and compact design
• Works well on both wood and metal materials
• The blade is made from premium materials to ensure durability and sturdiness.
• Includes super-handy tension
• Ready-to-use saw with no assembly required

What we like

If you need a compact saw that can cut both wood and metal, don’t miss out on this Irwin’s saw.

Owning compact design for easy handling and storage, and the premium steel handle provides excellent stability to the saw without bending during work; this is the best hand saw for cutting down trees for many users in any gardener’s shed or garage.

Additionally, the super-handy tension keeps the cutting saw edge straight on the vertical cut, creating clean, smooth cuts as your expectation.

Not only that, this is a ready-to-use saw without assembly required. And the excellent wood and metal blade allows cutting of both green and dry wood of medium size or a bar of about ½ inch with relative ease.

The blades are made of high-quality material, stiff enough to not twist or flex while cutting. Furthermore, this is the best hand saw for cutting wood for the price, a perfect item for a wide variety of small jobs – from tree limbs to metallic tubing.

What can be improved

A weakness of this product is that the wingnuts are very tiny and easily lost during disassembly. However, with a bit of care and attention, this drawback can be overcome easily.

Buying Guide

Before buying the best hand saw for cutting trees, do consider several factors that make a hand saw ideal for its intended use.

Types of Hand Saw for Cutting Trees

There are a wide variety of hand saws, with some of them better at pruning branches while others can handle cutting large diameter trees. When buying a hand saw, choose the type that is ideal for the intended use.

Bow Saw

This type of hand saw is ideal for all-around use like trimming and pruning trees to cutting logs. A bow saw uses a pull-and-push motion to cut trees and are often fast in doing the job. However, its design isn’t the most convenient when pruning trees in tight spaces.

Pruning Saw

Pruning saws usually feature a curved blade, either fixed or foldable, which is efficient in cutting or trimming branches. Blade length for pruning saws ranges from six inches to 12 inches that can handle different materials.

Depending on its blade length, a pruning saw can handle logs with up to eight inches thickness. Its cutting performance will depend on the blade size or TPI, which differs depending on the model.

Crosscut Saw

This type of hand saw can be one-person or two-man. It cut trees manually using the same pull-and-push operation as the bow saw. However, while bow saws are best for trimming branches, crosscut saws cut down timber.

This type of hand saw is ideal for cutting massive tress and processing lumber.

Pole Saw

A pole saw is a bit similar to a pruning saw, but it’s attached to a pole for trimming hard to reach branches. There are manual pole saws, while others are electric or gas-powered.

Handlebar Design

In terms of design, the vital part to consider is how ergonomic the handlebar is, which determines its ease of use and comfort. A well-designed one is the best hand saw for cutting trees, which will let you work for a more extended period with minimal effort or tension.

The handlebar design features that make a hand saw better than other models include a non-conductive and non-slip grip for optimum safety and comfort. A lightweight handle will also offer ease of use and won’t strain the muscle as fast.

For this, a steel tubular design is the best option as it’s not only lightweight but has better performance and grip as well.

Blade Material

The quality and effectiveness of a hand saw blade would first depend on its material used. Most hand saws have stainless steel blades, which are durable but affordable. However, they are only rust-resistant and doesn’t have extra features, even with a protective coating.

For optimum strength and greater longevity, carbide and tungsten blade materials are the best option. However, this blade material is highly expensive.

Blade Length

The blade length in hand saws vary, and it determines the kind of work or the size of trees it can cut efficiently. A smaller hand saw usually has around 17 inches of blade, which is ideal for light maintenance tasks in the residential areas and pruning trees. Meanwhile, more robust hands saws with 30-inch blades or longer are better for cutting giant trees and logs faster.

The rule of thumb when choosing the ideal length of the blade for a hand saw is to consider its intended use or purpose of purchase.

Blade Thickness

For hand saw, thicker blades are not always the best choice. Blade thickness is a primary factor in the cutting tool’s ease of use and cutting efficiency.

Thin blades are lightweight, which are easy to maneuver and wield. They also give more precise and smoother cuts and are only best for light-duty cutting jobs as they will stop with too much force when used on hard surfaces.

Meanwhile, thicker blades can hack into most types of materials without risk of bending or breaking. They are durable and long-lasting as well. However, a thicker edge adds to the hand saw’s weight and has a problem with precision cutting.

The rule of thumb in blade thickness for a hand saw for cutting trees is to pick one that is compatible with the intended use.

TPI

Another vital feature to consider for a hand saw is the TPI or teeth-per-inch. The TPI number will indicate the type of materials that a hand saw can handle. More prominent teeth can work faster but produce rough surfaces while smaller teeth work slowly but achieve delicate cuts.

2TPI to 8TPI is best for cutting through softwoods, while 10TPI to 20TPI blades can tackle moderately harder materials, which is ideal for crosscutting. Those with the thinner teeth or have 20TPI to 30TPI feature can produce extremely precise, detailed, and smooth cuts on hard surfaces.

Blade Change Efficiency

Although hardened steel blades are robust, they will still lose their sharpness after constant and heavy-duty use. Even the best hand saw for cutting trees will need a blade replacement eventually. When that happens, a quick blade change will get you back in cutting trees with minimal downtime.

Safety Features

A hand saw can attract accidents if not careful when handling it. For that, safety features like a non-slip grip would be an advantage. That eliminates the risk of the hand saw slipping away while using it and result in an injury.

A knuckle or handguard in the handle is also terrific to have in hand saw for extra safety. Blades are sharp and should be tucked away inside a secure sheath when not in use. A hand saw with a protective covering for storage will help reduce the risk of getting minor cuts while carrying the tool.

In this video, Lance shows you how to use a Silky Katanaboy to cut down trees in no time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dntuAzO-TS8

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

A hand saw is a must-have in everyone’s toolbox, and the Tarvol Curved Hand Saw is our overall smart-buy pick. It has a well-balanced design with a premium-quality blade for more comfortable and efficient cutting performance.

It’s an all-purpose cutting tool but ensures that when buying the best hand saw for cutting trees, it has top-notch blade quality, first and foremost.

Last update on 2024-04-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API