Understanding Different Handsaw Types
Although saws are easy to use, it is crucial to understand the different types and their uses. To begin with, Teeth per inch (TPI or T) is important to understand because it helps determine what type of saw you'll need for the project and material you're working on. With a smaller tooth count, you will have a larger surface area of the individual tooth, but with a larger tooth count that surface area quickly decreases. This is because the tougher material you work with, the larger the tooth count you'll need because you'll need to be able to make many more micro cuts on each pass to be able to cut efficiently. For example if you’re working with wood, a softer material, you'll want something with a smaller tooth count since wood is a softer material and cuts easier so you'd look for a tooth count around 8 to 12 TPI. For materials that are stronger like metals, you'd want a blade with a tooth count between 16 TPI and 28 TPI. The more teeth you have the more micro cuts are made on each pass which gives you more cutting power on those stronger materials.
Standard Handsaw (Tooth Blade):
The Standard Handsaw, also known as a Tooth Bladed Saw, is a great all around tool for many DIY projects. From cutting drywall and wooden materials, to cutting PVC materials, the Standard Handsaw is a great all around saw to have on hand. The Handsaw typically has a lower tooth count between 8 TPI to 12 TPI. This is because when you're working with softer materials, it's easier to cut with a larger surface area by applying a stronger downward pressure which allows each pass to cut significantly deeper than those with a higher TPI because those with a higher TPI have a smaller surface cutting area. Because of this smaller TPI and Larger surface cutting area, the Handsaw is not a good fit for stronger materials like metals like copper and steel.
Unlike other saws, the handsaw does not have a true frame other than a handle. The blade is typically strong enough to handle the cutting pressure needed to cut into softer materials so they are known as a fixed blade tool unlike other saws like the Hacksaw. Because of this tool being a fixed blade and not interchangeable, I’d recommend sticking with a blade with 8 TPI. This is the standard for most handsaw blades and is typically the best bang for your buck deal wise while being able to handle most standard cutting needs.
Hacksaw:
The Hacksaw is a great saw for cutting into tougher materials like PVC and Metals. The reason it is a great tool for cutting those types of materials is because the Hacksaw’s blade is made up of much smaller teeth than that of a standard handsaw blade which allows there to be more teeth on the blade. It is important to note that a hacksaw blade will usually range between 16 TPI and 28 TPI. The tougher the material the more TPI you'd want to look for. This is because you'll be able to have more cutting power behind each pass you make by having more teeth to cut with. However, more TPI isn't always better and can slow down your cut if you're cutting into softer materials like PVC. PVC can be cut with a standard handsaw, however it's almost never a true clean cut and leaves rough edges that you might want to try and sand down a little, so, in my opinion, it is better to use a hacksaw to get a cleaner cut from the start. Because you'd be cutting into PVC, a softer material, you'd want to use around a 16 TPI to 18 TPI blade. This is a nice balance between tooth size and cutting power for the material you're working with.
Since hacksaws are used mostly to cut materials related to piping or metals, the frame of a hacksaw looks like a bridge with a handle. This is because, unlike the standard blade, the blade of a hacksaw isn't strong enough to be able to cut with uneven pressure given how thin of a blade it is to begin with. Because the blade is so thin, the frame had to be made to allow for even pressure. The hacksaw frame looks like a bridge with a handle and the blade is what the bridge goes over. This is so that the frame of the saw won't get stuck or block the blade from going further into a material like a pipe or other metals since the frame is wider than the blade.
They do make a smaller version of the Hacksaw which is also known as a compact hacksaw. This version is basically the blade with a handle with only a 3 inch blade vs the standard 10 to 12 inch blades. These compacted versions are great for using in close quarters situations, however the downfall is the uneven pressure created, so you need to make sure to take your time to carefully cut your material so you don't have an uneven cut.
Composite Saws (Drywall or Jab Saws):
The last saw we will cover today is the Composite saw which is also known as a Drywall Saw or Jab Saw. The Composite saw is a fixed handled saw blade. Easiest comparison is to think of kitchen knives but with a saw blade. These Composite saws are great for quick small jobs. For example if you have a larger hole in your wall that needs to be patched, it is best to use a drywall saw to cut said hole to a square and then use a drywall patch kit to plug and seal off the hole. The Drywall saw has a more pointed tip that allows you to puncture the drywall to get your saw blade in and to begin cutting vs a standard saw that had a larger blade that is harder to cut turns with, like a 90 degree turn, along with it having a flat nose at the end of its blade which will not puncture the drywall properly and risk snapping your blade if you try. I definitely recommend having a composite saw in your tool drawer/box because it will most likely get used frequently if you have kids, pets, renters, or rowdy friends and will help make patching a breeze for you.
If you made it this far through the article, thank you for reading everything. I hope I was able to help better your understanding of different hand saw types so that your projects can go by smoother.