20 Best Hand Saw For Cutting 2X4 (2023 Updated)

So yes it is very fast. Quite aggressive and very sharp teeth and I like that they are hardened even though that means they can’t be sharpened. It should stay sharp a long time and it does dull you can get a new one for less than the cost of having it professionally sharpened.

That being said, even using it carefully, it leaves a pretty rough edge. The first photo is one of the first cuts with the brand new Irwin saw. The second is with my old, much used, occasionally abused, Shark pull saw.

The Irwin has 11 teeth per inch and the Shark has 10 where they aren’t broken. Granted, pull saws have thinner blades than pushers, and the Irwin did go through the 2×2 in about two thirds the time it took the pull saw but the Shark WAS old rusty and dull.

The Irwin would be a great saw to keep in your box for quick cuts in a variety of materials and that’s how I will use it but for nicer work the advantage of the speed might be lost to the extra work needed to fit pieces properly.

I watched the video, and it is true, this saw will not bend, and ‘gall’ when sawing wood. I use it with the mitre box on trim and the wood does not ‘fray’ cuts clean. Must be the design of the blade and the angle of the handle grip that makes it so easy.

These are crazy sharp. I love it. No more toy saws for me. Usually I don’t bother getting my power saw out anymore. I don’t think they can be resharpened, so use them carefully.

I use this to cut down oversized pallets, that I then either use as salvaged wood or for burning in a woodstove. Nice to be able to cut without needing access to electricity. Cutting through pine is so easy.

Cuts through oak and other hardwood also pretty simple. I’ve probably spent 90 minutes sawing with this (that is a lot of wood). I estimate that cutting through 1/2″ by 4″ takes 3-4 seconds. Probably 10 seconds for a 2×4.

And that is ordinary sawing. If I was racing, I could get it close to 5 seconds. Anyway, with all of that sawing, no deterioration evident in the sharpness of the blade yet. This is probably ok for precision work.

I’d recommend a Japanese saw for that, however – these teeth are fairly large. But you can make do with this. Enjoy.

I have had one of these Stanley saws since college, more than 20 years. It kept its original edge for an incredibly long time; I only had to resharpen it for the first time within the past year. Now it cuts like new.

Any time I’ve seen the first signs of rust, a little WD-40 brings it right back to full health, and this is only required maybe once a year. The small size is unbelievably convenient; the fact that it fits in my toolbox, taking up virtually no space, is the reason it has stayed with me all these years.

Lots of times, it is quicker and more convenient to whip out this little saw and do a quick cut than to trouble with a power saw. Can’t recommend enough!.

It doesn’t bend easily. That means it is easier to punch through the wall to get a hole started and isn’t going to go wobbly on you when you are trying to put some elbow grease on it. Here is the one watch-out: it is substantially thicker than a standard blade.

Where that matters for one example is when you cut out a piece of drywall and want to use that same piece to patch the hole back up. The gaps between the cut piece and the whole it was cut from are large.

You can still fill them in, but it is just something to be aware of.

I was totally impressed with this little saw the first time I used it. I ordered it specifically because it was advertised to cut Styrofoam. The project that I am currently working on involves the use of Styrofoam and I was having trouble cutting some of the weird shapes.

Boy, this little saw really solved that problem. If for no other reason, I would recommend it for cutting Styrofoam if nothing else. It also does a great job of cutting wood less than 1/4″ in thickness – no split or jagged ends.

Overall, I am really impressed with the quality of this saw and with the many features such as the soft-grip handle, the way the handle is shaped, and the protective sheath which features both English and metric measurements I can see where this little saw will be used for many years.

I find this hand saw to be perfect for me. I live in an apartment with no garage or work shop so a large carpenters saw just isn’t practical at all. There are times where a knife simply won’t cut it (pun intended).

I had to cut 2 tabs off a waste basket that were tearing the bags upon removal when full, but the heavy plastic was just too much for even a serrated knife. This hand saw zipped right through that plastic in a few pushes.

Quite pleased with that and then it slipped right into a drawer. I like the fact the blade is replicable too. I have no need for a big heavy duty contractors saw and no where to store one, but I will find many uses for this saw over time.

Recommended!.

I got this saw for my dad who always uses saws in his day-to-day job. He loved the fact that it was compact. Every job doesn’t need a huge saw, so the size of this one was perfect. It is sharp and offers a precise cut.

The interchangeable heads also is much easier to change out. Instead of actually changing the whole entire saw. This saw is much easier to travel with and doesn’t take up a lot space. I would recommend this tool to anyone who uses regular size saws.

Every job doesn’t require a full size saw, so this would be a great option for them.

This cut much better than my older saws, even the one I had sharpened several times. Only drawback is because there are fewer teeth per inch than my older saws it is harder to keep in position when starting a new cut.

Best handsaw I have ever owned. I bought this 9 months ago because I was tired of trying to make accurate cuts with lesser saws. The quality, speed, and accuracy of this saw cannot be bested. Highly reccomeend.

I use this saw for almost all projects that I have started. I do lots of turning & use this saw for cutting the stubs off the turning while it is chucked in the lathe. Saw is comfortable to use & cuts fast.

Wish I had purchased it sooner!.

Bought this saw for a fence project and wow let me tell ya! What a great saw! It cuts like butter and made ease of the hand cutting portion of the project!

Bahco what have you done to the 244? This used to be my saw of choice. Like their pruning saws the blades used to be thin & flexible & cut through wood very easily. The saw I’ve just picked up from Screwfix is much heavier & more rigid & does not cut anywhere near as well as previous models.

I don’t know if Bahco are pandering to diy enthusiasts who don’t know how to use saws properly & tend to try & force them through the wood rather than let the saw do the work. I can’t see any other reason why they have been made so rigid but it’s certainly not an improvement unless your cack-handed.

I bought this mainly to cut softwood sleepers. I was going to use my circular saw or chainsaw but a few reviews suggested that a handsaw could do the job and I thought that might be neater. Sure enough, this saw made a really tidy job of it.

Each cut through a 200 x 100 mm sleeper took about a minute and was easy work. I never imagined a handsaw could be this good. So much better than my old handsaw.

Bought this after seeing other reviews and I wasn’t disappointed. Had 8 internal oak doors to fit and this saw made light work of cutting them to height. Half way through them now and this saw is still razor sharp, so fully confident it will sail through the rest.

I used this saw to cut lumber. Works fine, stays sharp. Not cutting a ton – just relatively small cuts that the circular saw isn’t right for and minor finishing cleanup cuts. Another reviewer complains that this saw got dull when cutting pine trees.

This saw is not intended to cut trees. Any saw meant to cut lumber will dull rapidly when misused. Might as well complain about a hack saw not working on pine trees. If you are expecting to cut trees or other live vegetation.

use a bow saw or pruning saw. Maybe like the bow saw on the Ace site.

Great little tool – just the right size for my hand and arm. I’ve been able to cut up small downed trees and branches which have also fallen.

My blade has an aggressive profile, and I found it to be exactly what I needed after I purchased it.

Overall this saw is a good value. It cuts soft woods and hardwoods easily. That includes 4/4 hard maple! It fits in a tool box easily. You can toss it in the trunk of your car or slip it behind the seat of your truck.

If the plate gets bent, if a tooth breaks or you lose it, the saw is easily replaced and you’re not out a lot of money. The handle being made out of wood is a huge plus for me. I don’t like plastic handles.

Ergonomically speaking, the 20 inch plate length means you can saw on a bench that is knee high and not drive the toe of the saw into the floor or the ground. The tooth geometry makes for a very aggressive cut.

In soft woods and softer hardwoods like poplar you can saw rip cuts as well as cross cuts. I haven’t tried a rip cut in maple, cherry, walnut, etc. It’s also a good saw for pruning branches that are too thick for pruning shears.

This is not a premium saw. The plate is thick and it is not taper ground. The set on the teeth is really wide which makes for a wide and ragged kerf. The saw’s handle is not ergonomic but it is not uncomfortable to use.

The saw’s teeth are impulse hardened. That’s why they are that dark color. Some people say you cannot sharpen them. Other people say you can. I’ve never tried. I’ve also seen reviews that say the teeth are brittle and break easily.

I’ve never had that problem. As I said at the beginning of this review, this saw is a good value. I’m not a professional so I don’t use it a lot. I first purchased this saw in the 1990s. Here we are in January 2021 and it is showing signs of age but still (fully) functional.

I bought my second in 12/20 before Stanley stopped production of this model in favor of an “improved” model that isn’t as good. I would recommend it to a friend. TIP: Keep a coat of furniture grade paste wax on the saw and it will prevent the saw from binding in the cut.

Can no longer find this saw specific, but this looks like a close approximate. I have owned the Stanley Professional 20″ Short Cut for more than 30 years. Was my first hand saw of any quality when moved into our first home.

Long before I owned any power saws. Have used many times to complete indoor and outdoor projects. Now with circular saw it is important to have a saw with a similar kerf to complete circular saw cuts flush, stair stringers, etc.

Love the wooden handle and easy to grip–brings back great memories of earlier projects. I have several hand saws now and still use this one as my go to when time to “cut it out”. As a home owner over the age of 70 a reliable tool is also judged by its age and reliability.

Rank this saw at top of the list!.

This is a very well made rip saw with an aggressive tooth pattern. Because it’s aggressive, it is just slightly difficult to get started but it REALLY eats through material once it’s going. The steel is good and thick so the blade isn’t too floppy and the handle sits comfortably in the hand.

When using this saw, I feel like a premium quality tool is at work in my hand. Great saw!.

This saw is absolutely fantastic quality, I purchased it to cut a 14″x14″ old solid Teak post in half, the post had been washed up on the beach. I had expected it to take at least an hour to cut through the post, but after 40 minutes the post was in half! The Teak post was absolutely solid heavy dense timber, even after being submerged for years it was still solid throughout so credit to the Bahco saw.

I must admit since purchasing a Bahco socket set I do now go for Bahco tools as my first choice and haven’t been disappointed with a single purchase. Keep up the good work Bahco!.

It’s hard to justify buying a sharpenable saw nowadays when disposable saws are so good. I hate the thought of throwing away a blunt saw but the longevity of this cheap and amazingly effective tool is difficult to beat.

Saw has a quality feel and cuts effortlessly on the pull. Provided blade cuts very well but a little coarse for fine detail work. I bought the 21 tpi blade which gives a much finer cut and suits my needs.

The two blades make this a very versatile little saw that should gives long service. Comes with a handy plastic sheath to protect the blade when stored. Found Toolstation the cheapest on internet for spare blades.

13tpi blade is relatively thick and cut rates are equivalent to bahco push saw. Hence4*. The 21tpi blade is thinner, so cuts across the grain are crazy quick and little effort. Good accuracy. I found the gentle pull induced an almost zen state ( 10 stars!).

I bought this saw several moths ago but thought I would wait until now to offer my thoughts. I had been considering buying a pullsaw for a long time but could not decide which one to buy. If you are in that position too, let me help you decide, this is a lovely saw to work with once you get the hang on cutting on the back stroke.

Will be buying the finer blade soon.

This saw cuts quickly – much faster than other handsaws. The teeth stay sharp. I liked this saw so much I bought one for my father. After about 8 years of heavy use my saw needs replacing. Unfortunately it can only be purchased online.

I’m buying two for me so I have this saw for many years to come. I’m also buying one for my father. He is a retired carpenter and woodworker. He said this is the best saw he has ever owned.

I own 5 “general purpose” panel saws – 4 “Fords” and 1 “Ferrari”. you can guess which is my favourite. This Stanley Sharptooth cuts like a hot knife through butter on the construction S-P-F lumber I use mainly.

Even ripping is much less of a chore. It’s sharp as a razor and so far (a few months’ use) cuts like new. It looks great. has wonderful balance. never binds. and leaves a smooth cut. I’ve read that the induction hardened teeth on these type of saws cannot be sharpened.

I don’t know that’s absolutely true but even if it is, to buy another isn’t going to break the bank. I’m amazed the Sharptooth isn’t more expensive because it’s twice the performer of other saws I own in its price range.

All in all – an excellent product at an excellent price.

I have only used the saw a couple of times. Starting the cut was pretty easy and the cut was reasonably smooth. The handle was not a comfortable as I would like. I only plan to use this when rough cutting boards so it will do what I need done.

Ordering and delivery were fine as usual but the saw is very diappointing. After using for approx 30 no. Toplite Aerated lightweight block cuts the edge is off the saw. At this rate this housebuild will need multiple saws.

All my joinery saws are Bahco which is why I bought the Bahco block saw.

Wanted a really good quality handsaw and this has met all my expectations. It is nicely weighted and cuts smoothly and easily without going all wiggly. Definitely worth the money

This is my third Bahco Plaster over the last 10 years, I use them for everyday DIY woodwork where the saw cuts very quickly with a narrow kerf, can be used as a cross cut and a panel saw. The cut can be made very accurately.

This saw is also very handy for pruning trees and shrubs maintaining a sharp cutting edge for years. Superb all round saw.

Bought this to cut out wooden shelves from a kitchen cabinet (could not dismantle them as they were part of a unit). The saw was extremely good and did a pretty good job – very user friendly for a beginner.

I was a bit hesitant on the packaging but it is actually pretty good. Ultimately we chose to buy a power tool given some of the angles were a bit too deep in the cabinet and just easier to use something electric but that was a specific circumstance.

The one thing to be aware – pretty hard (at least for a novice) to make a plunge cut with this.

Best saw I’ve ever had. I bought this one to replace an identical saw bought 15 years ago which has seen a great deal of use and needed replacing. Excellent product.

Well made and sturdy though handle needed to be tightened after short use, good after that. Cuts exceedingly fast with little effort, the teeth show no sign of wear after extended use. If pushed too hard,the blade will flex but patience will fix that.

Over all, a saw worth having for multiple wood working tasks, of course,a finer cut needs finer teeth.

I bought this saw to break down lumber to fit in my car trunk. To that end, it is a decent enough saw (especially for the price). I also tried for some more refined work just to get a full idea of what it’s capable of.

The blade is fairly narrow for its length which causes 2 problems. The feels very flimsy and it’s much harder to track a line with it. In long cuts, it needs constant adjusting and feels almost like a turning saw.

The teeth are extremely grabby and hard to start until get used to it. The handle is ugly and not the most comfortable out there. As a rough cutting saw, this is fine enough, but it needs some major design improvements to make it good for anything else.

i bought this for a ripsaw, oh shes amazing. i threw away the appalling stock handle and slapped a more sturdy one onto her before i ever used her, but jebus she works. tears through stock like butter, and i love the fact i can resharpen her.

I cut a rip cut across her once and am using her to size up stock from logs, but even then. buh-tur. GREAT blade, – 1 start cause i had to buy that handle. that poor, unloved, piece of plastic that should have never been molded in the first place.

I am a beginner musician and recently decided to pick up “the singing saw.” This saw is very flexible, works great for this purpose, and has a range of about one octave.