It goes without saying that power saws are out of the question. Some of these monsters don’t have the gentle touch required not to absolutely obliterate small wood, metal, and plastic projects. What you need is a bow saw – a small, portable handheld saw that is more comfortable, effective, affordable, and more practical for smaller jobs than a chainsaw. So, how do you get the right saw for the job? Key Features to Look for When Buying a Bow Saw a. Intended purpose

They are great at cutting green wood, where other saws may fail, because of their coarse blades that can cut through pretty much anything, once momentum has started. They usually leave a rough finish, which makes them less suitable for fine cuts in wood where precision is needed. Q: How to sharpen a bow saw blade? The heat-treated steel teeth of the bow saw blade can retain their sharp edge for many years of the blade is correctly cared for after use. The blade should be carefully wiped off after cutting green lumber as the plant juices can cause the steel to rust. A light application of thin oil (WD40) will prevent rust and keep the blade lasting longer. Make strong, sure strokes into the trunk of the tree, taking care that you are not cutting at a diagonal, as this will tire you out and ultimately make the cutting more difficult. The Agawa Canyon Boreal bow saw comes in a 15-inch, 21-inch, and 24-inch blade length and is designed to fold away into a compact to-carry pouch. The light but strong aluminum-framed bow saw makes it the ideal partner for camping, hiking, and outdoor adventures.If all the teeth are facing straight up, bend each alternate one to either side so the cut of the saw is wider than the blade. This means it shouldn’t catch on the material you are cutting. Protective sheath – Bow saws have really sharp blades; a sheath covers the blade to avoid minor cuts and injuries to you or your equipment.

The Agawa Boreal features an automatic blade tensioning system, not requiring you to touch the blade when opening or closing it. What To Consider When Buying A Bow Saw Blades are designed for cutting green wood or dry wood, and you can limit your risk by having one blade for each purpose. Summary Bow saws come in a range of blade lengths from 12-inches to 36-inches with modern ergonomics integrated into the tried and tested basic design. The modern bow saw is used from a small pruning version to a compact foldable lightweight camping tool to the full-size bow saw for cutting down trees and branches in the lumber industry. The hassle and injury risk associated with power saws make the bow saw a popular tool for smaller trimming and cutting jobs. If used correctly, the bow saw is efficient at cutting branches up to 12 inches in diameter with ease. No smell of gasoline or loud noise from a power saw is required for these jobs.If you love maintaining a neat, homey yard or garden, you probably have an arsenal of tools in your shed. But what exactly do you use when you need to clear some small branches and carry out some light woodwork? How about cutting through pipes, plastic, and even metal? Depending on the size of the tree, you can cut one down with a bow saw. You need to determine the size of it first – if it is a Redwood size then you won’t stand a chance with a bow saw, you would need specialist equipment. If it is a small sapling then you can cut it down with a bow saw. Bow saw designs exist for traditional lumber works and pruning and also for the general-purpose maintenance toolbox. Compact and foldable designs are popular with hikers and campers. Brands such as Bahco, Truper, and Irwin are well known for the quality of their cutting blade tools. The Bahco and Truper brand bow saws are designed as gardening and lumber worker tools. The traditional design and range of blade lengths make these brands ideal for all jobs, big and small. The time-tested design of the bow saw makes it an excellent hand saw to have in your workshop or as part of your camping equipment. The bow saw is light and compact and can get through cutting an 8-inch diameter green log in less than a minute. Even hard and dry wood is no match for a quality bow saw.