As a woodworker, you may require some different kinds of saws for flawless and detailed work. No doubt, a hand saw is essentially one of them. The expression back saw refers to any hand saw that has a metal spine on the top of the blade, allowing better control and additional precise cutting than with other sorts of saws.
The ideal back saw offers cuts that seem more polished compared to others and can be a great choice both for hobbyists and professionals.
In this composition, we have found you the 5 best back saws to unveil what purposes each saw is excellent for, with an absolute guideline that will help you to specify one of your choices.
Top 5 black saw reviews
Whether you are looking for an effortless hand saw or want a dovetail saw, a tenon saw or a Japanese saw, we have brought out some great options for a backsaw right here to meet your needs.
1. STANLEY Hand Saw with Mitre Box
The STANLEY 12-inch hand saw is a miter backsaw that is beautifully designed with a steel blade containing 13 numbers of teeth per inch to cut wood efficiently.
The black color handle is thoughtfully sculpted with finger buttons for a nice grip and easy delivery of the hand saw from the storage aperture. Several miter slots are fastened and holes in the base are located for attaching it to a workbench.
Apart from that, combined pencil pockets are featured in it. And it can be used with either back or panel saws too.
Top features
- Steel blade with 13 teeth per inch
- Variety miter slots
- Pencil pockets
- Beautiful design
Pros
- Multiple-use can be done by adjusting it with back or panel saws
- precise and straight cut
- Durable handle
- Open interior
- Easeful use
Cons
- Shaky while cutting hard materials
2. Spear & Jackson 9550B Traditional Brass Back Tenon Saw
Back tenon saw from Spear& Jackson is one of our top-rated and reliable collections on the list. A sharp quality blade with universal teeth allows not only general-purpose cuts but also cuts along and across the grain.
Classic wooden handle offers comfortable handling and grip during work. And maximum rigidity of the saw is provided by designing it with a quality brass back.
Moreover, joint cuts and sawing small pieces of wood efficiently enhance the quality of the saw making it worth to have by one.
Top features
- Carbon steel blade with universal teeth
- Comfortable handling
- Standard cutting capacity
- Brass back
Pros
- Classic look
- Sharp blade capacity
- Precise and clean cuts
- Efficient at cutting small pieces
- Rigid and flexible
- Reasonable
Cons
- Improper use can snap or twist the blade
3. GreatNeck BSB14 12 Inch Mitre Box with 14 Inch Back Saw
GreatNeck offers another gorgeous back saw that comes with reinforced steel back and miter boxes for accurate cutting of both soft and hard kinds of wood.
One of the notable things about the saw is its miter box has favorable preset cuts for different angles, offering precise and inch-perfect beveled corner cuts. The miter box includes a built-in ruler edge for quick measurement which is useful for mini-projects.
During the cutting task, its straight back edge holds the blade straight for accuracy and can cut 3-inch depth cut too. And featuring it with a plastic handle ensures comfort all day long.
Top Features
- Miter box
- Preset cutting box
- Ruler edge
- Reinforced back
Pros
- Clean and accurate cuts
- Ruler edge for measurements
- Reasonable
- Angle cuts
Cons
- Not a heavy-duty tool
4. QWORK Multifunction 12” Mitre Box with 14” Backsaw
When you want an impressive yet multifunctional backsaw, it doesn’t get much better than this QWORK 14-inch saw with a 12-inch miter box.
The sharp saw blade is made up of premium steel with double-sided mechanical grinding and is durable enough to meet your working need. The plastic sculpted handle offers ease of grip ad saves labor.
And the thickness of the saw and gap of the chute box is designed beautifully so that you can get accurate and finished cuts every time with utmost safety. It allows for precise 45-degree angle cutting to enhance the quality of cuts.
Top Feature
- Durability
- Quality design
- Sharp blade
- Safety features
- Multifunctional
Pros
- Premium steel blade with 60 TPI
- Precise and beautiful cutting
- Safer to use
- The ergonomic design offers easy handling
- Top-notch quality
Cons
- May requires the use of the adapter
5. Fuller Tool 320-0217 Mitre Box with 14″ Back Saw
Fuller tool 320-0217 is our very last pick from the list and both the quality and performance of the saw are spectacular enough to catch the eyes of woodworkers.
It comes with an ideal miter box for accurate cuttings and cuts up to 4 different angles with utmost precision. A Sharp 14-inch blade can cut through wood efficiently with ease.
The back is made up of durable plastic material that allows for easy grip and handling of the saw. Also, the front lips resting against the work table are designed to reduce the possibility of slippage.
And the best part is you can avail this beautiful saw with a lifetime warranty on an affordable budget.
Top Feature
- Quality miter box
- Durable back
- Sharp blade
- Affordable
Pros
- A sharp blade offers easy and beautiful cuts
- A variety of angle cuts provides ease of work
- Resistant back with easy handling capability
- Accurate cuts with a premium miter box
- Lightweight
Cons
- May find difficulties during heavy-duty
What to look for before buying a black saw
Backsaw style
In terms of style, backsaws include the miter saw, tenon saw; dovetail saw, Japanese saw, razor saw, and so on. Mitre saws allow for cutting miters of any defined angle and tenon saws are well known for ripping and crosscutting over the grain. Dovetail saws typically have an influential number of teeth per inch and are great at rip cuts as well as crosscut.
Japanese saws are frequently used by carpenters as it cuts both straight and narrow cuts systematically. And the razor saws is a very small backsaw having extremely pitched crosscut teeth and one of the all-time favorite picks for hobbyists.
Each style is great enough with its potential but it depends on you what abilities you need.
Blade size and material
The common size of the blade is 12 to 14 inches but it also varies depending on the style. For example, the blade on a tenon saw can be up to 18 inches in extent. Also, the material of a saw will influence greatly how the saw performs. A quality backsaw will be made from durable materials, typically hardened carbon steel for resilience and long-lasting sharpness.
Comfort
As the works of a carpenter are quite hard, they always want to have something that will ease their work as much as possible. That’s why; a fine backsaw must have the quality of easy handling for prolonged use and be sharp enough to cut materials efficiently.
Handle
Handle materials vary greatly. Wood and plastic are the most familiar choices as both are quite functional and comfortable. Some premium composite handles are also available which offer durability and ease of use.
Teeth
Crosscut tooth arrangement is mostly found in the back saw rather than rip tooth patterns. The teeth point up directly for making clean cuts over to the grain. And the smoothness of the cut fully depends on the number of teeth per inch means the more teeth, the cuts will more fine and finished. But it also influences the speed at which the saw cuts.
Type
Functionally there are two basic types of saw you’ll find: crosscut saws and rip saws. Crosscut saws cut evenly across the grain whereas rip saws cut smoothly through the grain. The only difference is in how the saw teeth are sculpted. And it depends on you which one is preferable for your kind of job.
FAQ
Can a backsaw cut metal?
Yes, it can cut metal and it entirely depends on the blade. With a proper and quality blade, it can cut metal or any other materials greatly. But if you use a general wood cutting saw it won’t be able to through cut metal as compared to a premium cutting saw.
Do I need to sharpen my backsaw?
If your saw blade gets dull and gives an uneven finish you might need to sharpen your saw blade. In some other cases, when the pressure of the saw is not sufficient to cut any materials you have to sharpen the blade to cut through the material.
How do I maintain my backsaw?
After each use, make it dry and lubricate both the blade and handle to prevent rust. Store it in a dry place or a toolbox. Sharpen the saw blade if needed.
What is the Difference between a Back Saw and Dovetail Saw?
The dovetail saw is also referred to as a backsaw as both have metal or wooden spines. But dovetail saws commonly have a higher number of teeth than other backsaws and teeth are brushed up in a rip tooth pattern and least set to leave a straight slit.
Final Discussion
There are several back saws you will find available in the marketplaces but what matters the most is the quality of the product and what purpose you will need it for. We have put together a complete basic guideline here with the 5 best back saws to make your decision easier. Before getting one, please carefully continue through the details and then go for it.
Because small details can save you from wasting money on the wrong machine as well as help you to make a considerable choice as per your working project.