Best Crosscut Saw Buying Guide And Reviews

Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast or a professional craftsman, the chainsaw is arguably your most favorite tool. After all, it’s powered and can saw through thick logs in seconds. But you’ll also agree with me that it’s neither practical nor economical to unleash these beasts on every single project.

For instance, trimming young tree branches could end in disaster with a power tool. And if you’ve ever tried to cut through construction timber or work plywood with a chainsaw, then you already know what rough, unfinished and wasteful cuts look like.

In this case, using a crosscut saw will give you much smoother finishes for both fine woodworking and coarse log bucking. Crosscut saws have teeth angled in alternating patters that allow it to act like a knife edge and slice seamlessly across the grain.

Key Considerations When Buying a Crosscut Saw

a) Good Grip

In essence, the grip of your crosscut saw is what gives it control and precision. For optimal performance, make sure you pick a saw with an ergonomic handle that also macthes your hand size. Too large a handle will cause you to lose force and throw some accuracy away as well.

b) Blade Thickness

Generally, a thick blade offers more stiffness when cutting. This provides more power as well as improved sawing performance. However, a thinner blade will make thinner cuts and give woodworkers more flexibility. It’s all about finding the right balance for the intended task.

c) Blade Protection

To keep your crosscut saw from being just a pointy accessory, it’s important to get one with a user friendly design. Likewise, blade protection helps keep you and your sorroundings safe while making your saw last longer.

The Best Crosscut Saw Reviews

1. Tajima MG300FB”Magnum” Contractor Saw

 

Offering users a stiff, rigid and fully controled cut, the Tajima MG300FB”Magnum” Contractor Saw is becoming a household brand among professional woodworkers. Looking at the vibrant red and black design, you can tell it’s meant to stand out against both a natural green background and even in a pile of wood.

Everything about the MG300FB screams premium including the thick blade complete with great 9 TPI Fluoro Coat. This is joined firmy to an ultra comfortable, two component aluminum handle with an optional thumbhole at the top. Overall, the entire saw only weighs slightly over 500g. Purchase includes safety containment in the form of a blade protector that covers all the edges.

What I like about it:

  • Robust, premium look and feel
  • Vibrant design that stands out from the background
  • Comes with full safety containment

2. Irwin Xp2049-325 Crosscut Saw

 

Looking for an affordable handsaw that will help with all DIY projects and yard work? Well, the Irwin Saw takes things a step further and manages to get a tooth into the professional league. This basic saw comes with the traditional hand saw design that we’ve all come to love due to its reliable combination of power and performance.

The Xp2049-325 Crosscut saw comprises of a high quality C75 steel blade with a 1mm thickness for stable power transfer. No matter what kind of wood you’re working with, the deep 3.5 inch teeth with rugged triple sharpening will go through easily. The entire blade has been covered in lacquer to protect against corrosion and rust. But unlike your basic handsaw, Irwin added a rubberized grip to the handle for more comfort while sawing.

What I like about it:

  • Affordable price range
  • Deep rugged triple sharpened teeth
  • Ergonomic dual material handle with welded joint

3. RazorSaw Dovetail Rip Saw

 

At first glance, you’d be forgiven for mistaking the Dovetail for either a small butcher’s cleaver or a big toothed chisel. That’s because this particular saw has a very unique design meant for woodworkers who know exactly what they want from their crosscuts. The RazorSaw Dovetail Rip Saw is engineered for quick, long and highly accurate cuts.

Due to the rigid spine that allocates more control of the blade, this saw can make extremely long cuts in thin materials with unmatched accuracy. What’s more, the teeth are impulse hardened which allows them to go through small limbs and wood in couple strokes. While you won’t be felling trees with this small handsaw, thiner timber and plywood sheets can be shaped and cut with such a smooth finish they’ll seem sanded.

What I like about it:

  • Incredibly smooth and accurate cuts
  • Specifically designed for thin materials
  • Ribbed handle that extends into a rigid spine on the blade

4. Silverline 633518 Crosscut Pull Saw

 

Silverline is well known all over UK for their thousands of power and hand tools. But what makes them a common household brand has to be their unbeatable guarantees. All Silverline hand tools are guaranteed for life. So you can rest easy knowing that this particular crooscut saw comes with a lifetime guarantee despite being the cheapest on this list.

If you’re low on funds and just want a handsaw that will get the job done, then the Silverline 633518 Crosscut Pull Saw fits the bill perfectly. The 230mm blade is made from tempered, hardened steel with teeth that are designed to cut on both the push and pull strokes as well. This allows it to cut quickly and accurately through all types of wood including hard, soft, and man made. The blue handle offers a solid grip thanks to the finger notches and a curved shape.

What I like about it:

  • Most affordable saw on our list
  • Suitable for both general use and woodworking
  • Cuts on both the pull and push motions

5. Z-Saw H-150 Dozuki Ultra-Fine Crosscut Saw

 

The Japanese are known as the kings of fine cutlery. So when they set out to create handsaws, you just know that the results are going to be unique and efficient. The Z-Saw H-150 Dozuki ultra-fine crosscut saw has a name that says it all.

The Z-Saw is a fantasic piece of craftsmanship meant exclusively for detailed work and seamless finishes. With a 0.3mm thick blade, the cosscut saw can slice through thin materials almost effortlessly. The manufacturer incorporated a TPI of about 25 teeth per inch on this blade which makes for one of the smoothest cuts on wood. Like all Japanese saws, this one also cuts on the pull and push strokes. The handle also extendes to become a blade spine for more precision and control.

What I like about it:

  • Ultra thin blade (0.3mm)
  • Smaller blade length for detailed woodwork
  • 25 teeth per inch for extra fine and smooth cuts

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How to sharpen a crosscut saw?

  • A crosscut saw is designed for heavy work, and it is made of soft steel so you will probably notice that they will require a lot of sharpening.
  • Clamp the saw into a bench vice, holding it as close as possible to the bottom of the teeth to minimise the vibrations from the sharpening.
  • Using a saw file, stroke each tooth at a 60 degree angle, filing the back and front at the same time. 3-4 strokes per tooth should be fine.
  • When you first purchase your crosscut saw you may notice that it already has burrs and machine markings, so it may be an idea to get it in a vice and give it a once over before you even begin to use it.
  • Once you have finished your sharpening, rub the saw blade over with a rag dipped Iubricating oil to prevent rust.

Q: What is a crosscut saw used for?

Crosscut saws are large, heavy duty tools that are used for sawing up large chunks of wood, and for cutting down trees. They come as one-person versions, with very large, deep teeth, or as a two-person saw with a wooden handle at either end. They are usually extra strong and good at cutting, compared to other saws, as they are designed for cutting across the grain of the wood, rather than with it.

Q: What is the difference between rip saw and crosscut saw?

Crosscut saws and Rip saws are similar in that they both have teeth that are bent away from the blade.

Crosscut saws’ teeth are angled on the blade, whereas Rip saw’s teeth are straight, meaning that the Crosscut saw will slice through material easier, like a set of little knives.

Rip saw teeth are designed to cut with the grain and act like chisels, scraping away the wood, while Crosscut saws are meant to cut against the grain and are therefore pretty heavy duty and more suitable for heavier cuts.

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