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13 Types of Hand Saws for All Your Projects

Valerie Albarda

By Valerie Albarda
Updated March 22, 2024

Handheld saws are specialized tools that are helpful for all sorts of projects and DIY tasks. This guide will help you find the right type of hand saws for wood and metal. Plus, find maintenance tips on how to store your hand saws for long-lasting use.

A person using a hand saw to cut copper pipe.

Types of Hand Saws

Each handheld saw has its own uses and benefits. Some, including the backsaw, pull saw, keyhole saw, drywall saw and hacksaw, are necessary for specific applications where a standard hand saw may not work as well. Here’s an overview of the various types of hand saws available.

1. Ripping Saw

An Irwin rip saw.
  • Used for cutting wood with the woodgrain
  • Usually 24 to 26 inches long with 4 to 7 teeth per inch (TPI)
  • Cuts very aggressively and leaves a slightly rough edge

2. Crosscut Saw

A Fat Max cross-cut saw.
  • Used for cutting wood across the woodgrain
  • Usually 24 to 26 inches long with 8 to 11 TPI
  • Doesn’t cut as aggressively as a ripsaw and leaves a much smoother edge

3. Panel Saw (Shortcut or Box Saw)

A Kobalt panel saw.
  • Used for cutting wood across the woodgrain
  • Usually shorter than regular crosscut saws for easy portability

4. Coping Saw

A coping saw.
  • Used for finely cutting wood, specifically coping moulding joints
  • Has deep steel tension frames and very thin blades to make intricate cuts at extreme angles

5. Back Saw

A Kobalt back saw.
  • Used for finely cutting wood for moulding and trim
  • Has a rigid piece along the back to prevent the saw from kinking during use

6. Pull Saw

A pull saw.
  • Used for finely cutting wood for moulding and trim
  • Cuts on the pull stroke to give greater control and eliminates the possibility of the saw kinking in the kerf

7. Dovetail Saw

A Stanley dovetail saw.
  • Used for cutting wood joints
  • Has a rigid back like a backsaw but is usually smaller with finer teeth

8. Keyhole Saw

Two Kobalt keyhole saws.
  • Used for cutting circles and curves in wood
  • Has a very thin, pointed blade for cutting small, tight-radius curves and holes

9. Compass Saw

A compass saw.
  • Use for circle and curve cutting in wood
  • Has a longer, coarser blade than a keyhole saw for slightly heavier work, such as cutting holes in subflooring for plumbing or electrical wiring

10. Drywall Saw

A drywall saw.
  • Used for cutting wallboard, gypsum and backing board
  • Resembles a compass saw but has coarser teeth for quickly cutting through wallboard

11. Hack Saw

A hacksaw.
  • Hand saw for metal
  • Has very fine teeth and thin blades held under tension in a steel frame

12. Door Jamb Saw

Kobalt door jamb saws.
  • Used to create clearance for flooring under door jambs and other obstacles
  • Rear handle is offset to allow the blade to cut close to the floor

13. Laminate Saw

A Kobalt laminate saw.
  • Used for cutting moulding and plastic pipe
  • Front of blade is rounded to start plunge cuts
Tip

Not sure what type of cut you’re making? Check out our video What’s That Cut Called? for answers.

Hand Saw Care and Maintenance Tips

A person holding a hand saw.

  1. Store your hand saw in a safe, dry place or a toolbox to avoid rust.
  2. Do not store it near other metal tools that might dull the saw blade.
  3. Most blades come with a blade guard. Ensure you cover the blade before storing.
  4. Lubricate the blade to prevent rust with hardware lubricants, which can be easily applied with a rag. 
  5. A medium steel wool or a 320-400 grit sandpaper can be used to scrub off spots of rust. Make sure to wipe off the rust with a soft cloth and lubricate the blade to protect against rusting.

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