Even in today’s world, where you see every woodworker, construction worker, and DIYers using electric saws, one thing that hasn’t lost its usability is a bow saw.
Yes, we are talking about the bow saws that you have seen your father or grandfather using.
But we are here to talk about the bow saw blades. No matter how great your saw is, the blade eventually fades out, and you need a replacement.
Today’s market will certainly provide you with lots of varieties, but that also translates into a real challenge while choosing one.
Thankfully, we have prepared a list of some of the best bow saw blades that give you quality and ease of use. This concise article would also walk you through some of the fundamentals of the universal tool.
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Also Read: 5 Top Quality Tool Roll Bag Bags for Organizing Your Tools.
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Our Top Picks
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Top 5 Best Bow Saw Blade in 2022
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1. Bahco 23-30 30-Inch Raker Bow Saw Blades for Green Wood
Most people don’t trust the replacement blades for their bows, thinking it won’t last as the one that came with the bow. But the Bahco Bow Saw Blades is here to prove the myth wrong.
This Bacho blade model comes in 30 inches long, a standard size that sure to fit your bow saw in your garage. Also, the brand makes the blade in different sizes for you to choose the one you need.
The blade is made of high-quality steel that is tampered with and toughened. It also has a rust prevention treatment, which means you will get to use the blade for a long time without worrying about rust or corrosion.
Now, the tool is designed for cutting green woods, but the material makes it robust enough to use for light-duty dry cutting as well. If you look at the blade closely, you can see after every four triangular teeth there two rakers. This design makes it exceptionally good while cutting through green woods.
And it’s very quick. Just attach it to your 30-inch bow saw, and you will have your entire pruning and other gardening cuttings in no time. Also, the graphically drawn text on each blade’s sleeve makes it easier for you to choose the correct blade.
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2. Truper 30263 Bow Saw Replacement Blade for 21-Inch Bow Saw
When it comes to a global company like Truper, you get the insurance that the products are of high quality. And the Truper 30263 Bow Saw Replacement Blade hasn’t disappointed its customers yet.
The 21 inches long blade fits the 21-inch Truper saw, and with the close cam lever on the saw, it fits tight. The tight fittings also ensure the blade is tensioned correctly and deliver fast and straight cuts.
Removing and changing the blade is effortless, too, as the saw features a lift cam-lever.
The hardened teeth, having rakers after every four triangles, make it really good for cross-cutting through dry wood. You can cut down a Christmas tree in a matter of minutes.
If you are up for cutting light to heavy logs, the replacement blade serves great. However, we wouldn’t recommend using it for green woods, as the teeth are not designed for that.
And as you will be doing drier woodcutting with the blades, for long, trouble-free operation, clean it after every use. Also, to prevent rusting and corrosion, it’s wise to oil it.
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3. Bahco 51-21 Bow Saw Blade, 21-Inch for Dry Wood
Moving on, we have another product from the brand Bacho, Bahco 51-21 Bow Saw Blade. The peg blade is designed for heavy-duty dry cutting, and if you already have the Bacho raker, we think this will make a great combination, one for green wood and one for dry wood.
With five teeth per inch, the 21 inches long blade swiftly cuts through any hard or dry wood, whether maple, oak, pine, or others. You can also cut through green wood if you like; however, that might cause some trouble like a moist clog and lots of sawdust.
But if you don’t intend to buy two blades, the blade’s slightly different teeth configuration makes sure it is suitable for both wood types.
The product is an excellent buy when it comes to cutting down whole trees after hurricane days or just clearing out the deceased or dead ones. You will be surprised to see how swiftly and quickly you can have the job done.
The rust prevention treatment of the blade makes sure it doesn’t encounter any rust or corrosion over the life span of its use.
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4. GreatNeck BS21 21 Inch Bow Saw Blade for Green Wood
The GreatNeck BS21 Bow Saw Blade is not one of the fanciest but works reasonably fine while cutting hardwoods and logs. The pointed teeth make it easier to cut through dry woods.
The 21-inch-long blade fits most standard saw frames of 21 inches. And it’s a raker blade, which means you can use it to cut green woods as well.
It’s always a concern for you that whether a tool like a saw blade that you use regularly will last long enough or not. Well, let us assure you that the instrument is made of rugged steel and comes with a lifetime guarantee. You just need to report to the company if there is any trouble with its performance.
Besides, the tool features easy-to-setup and with the vibrant gold-color finishing, it is easy to find it among other sets of tools in your garage.
However, with a fair design, the blade requires somewhat more effort to cut through a log piece, making it inconvenient for long-time cuttings at once. Nevertheless, it’s a great tool to have at home to meet all your requirements around.
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5. Fiskars 70256935J Bow Saw Replacement Blades
Finally, we have a tool that you can use for both dry and greenwood. The Fiskars 70256935J Bow Saw Replacement Blades come in 21 inches long and fit any 21-inch bow saw you have.
The blade tooth consists of triangles and fishtail rakers. This configuration helps to achieve a fine finishing while cutting through the greenwood. And the tooth count makes it suitable for cutting logs and other dry woods.
The blade that comes with your bow saw will inevitably fade out. Now, you may think of buying a new saw, but that is sure to cost you a lot more than just buying a replacement. And this product will fit the saw you already have provided that the length matches. It’s made of heat-treated tin, making sure it doesn’t rust easily and lasts a long time.
There is nothing much to say about this basic tool other than it makes good quality woodworking bow saw blades.
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Bow Saw vs Folding Saw
With some bow saw having a folding feature, you might get confused between the two types of saw. However, the two tools are very different in terms of construction and purpose.
A folding saw can be as long as 10 inches, and since it can be folded, it is very portable. It also makes an ideal cutting instrument for campaigning. It’s almost similar to a pocketknife, but it has cutting teeth that make it useful for pruning and other gardening tasks. But if you intend to cut logs, dry wood, or larger green woods, these handy tools can’t offer much.
So, when it comes to cutting larger branches or getting down a whole tree after a storm bow saw is the way to go. Though electric saws are available now for these kinds of tasks, a hand tool is always a safer option. They come in various lengths, from 21 inches to 36 inches or more. You can find dedicated tools with raker teeth for green woods and others for dry wood. And some saws are just too good for both types of wood.
Nowadays, several bow saws come with a foldable frame which makes them easier to store and carry.
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How to Sharpen a Bow Saw Blade?
A hand saw that you use frequently needs sharpening from time to time. You can either go to a shop and pay for pointing your hand tool or do it at home by using some fundamental tools. We think you would prefer the second, and we are here to guide you through the process of sharpening your bow saw blade at home.
Before you begin the process, you must clean the instrument properly and remove the blade from the bow. Next, you need a small tapered or triangular file that matches your saw teeth. Make sure you know the blade’s tooth per inch count and select a suitable file for the operation.
To fix the blade securely, you can use a saw vice. A bow saw blade has either a combination of triangle teeth and raker or triangular teeth only. The two tooth types are sharpened differently, and the goal is to keep all triangle teeth at the same height. So, start by lightly filling the top of the pointed teeth to achieve the same height. Don’t bother about the fishtail raker teeth now; they have a slightly lower height than triangular ones, and we will get to the part later.
To sharpen the triangular teeth, use a slim taper or flat file to file at a 70–75-degree angle and alternate sides while focusing on a single tooth. Count the strokes on each side and maintain a uniform stroke number on both sides. After you are done sharpening all the teeth, check whether all the heights are the same or not. If not, use some strokes on the longer ones to get to the same size.
Now, it’s time to focus on the raker teeth if your blade has those fishtail teeth. Using the same technique to file each raker, but the strokes should be at a 90-degree angle. And after finishing the process, ensure all the rakers are about 0.5 mm shorter.
And finally, it’s time to check for bent teeth. Commonly, the teeth get out of shape while sharpening. Using a plier, push them out in an alternate fashion to set the teeth. Keep in mind that the fishtail rakers don’t need a setting.
And that was all about how to sharpen bow saw blades, the process seems somewhat challenging for beginners, but to have your blades functioning for a long time, we think it’s worth facing the challenge. To make sure your sharpening was correct, you can run a test cut; you will feel it if additional adjustments are required or not.
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FAQs about Bow Saw Blades
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Why should I buy a bow saw and not a chainsaw?
Bow saws are preferred over chainsaw for several reasons. The hand saws may not be very versatile but lightweight, portable, great at cutting both green and dry woods, and, most importantly, a safer option than a chainsaw. Also, chainsaw comes at a much higher price, and maintaining the tool is also high-end.
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Are blades for cutting dry wood and green wood different?
Yes, sometimes. The tools designed for cutting green woods are mostly raker blades and have one or two fishtail rakers after every four or five triangle teeth. And dry wood blades are mostly peg blades. However, some blades can be used on both dry wood and greenwood.
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Are more teeth on a blade better?
Typically, it is assumed that the more teeth a blade has, the better it cuts. In practice, it is the speed that increases with decreased teeth on the blade. However, speedy cuts are not always finer, and for fine, smooth cuts, you need a higher tooth count blade.
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What saw blade should I use for ripping and crosscutting?
A general-purpose blade with 40 to 50 teeth can be used for both ripping and crosscutting of wood. However, it may not be the best option for either case. Generally, a bade with 10-30 teeth works best for rip cutting as you are cutting along the grain. For cross-cutting, blades with teeth count 60-80 are considered best as you will be cutting across the wood grain.
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Final Words
We have reached the end of the reviews of the best bow saw blades. The handy tool, a bow saw, is very useful when it comes to cutting wood and doing pruning around your garden.
As you frequently use it, the blades lose their sharpness and need a replacement every now and then. And looking for a replacement won’t be that hard, especially if you have gone through the article. Good luck in finding the best replacement!
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