Hacksaws at Last Best Tool: The Good, the Bad, and the Outdated

Doc at Last Best Tool discusses hacksaws with particular attention to handles, blade retention, features, and preferences. Highlighted are Snap On, Craftsman, Stanley, Kobalt, and Milwaukee.

[@shieldcracker]

That SnapOn hacksaw was also sold as a Craftsman Professional (BK/GD) for about $25 the oem is (was) Bahco, it's a very well balanced saw but somewhat one dimensional. I still use the Craftsman square tubular frame hacksaw which was top of the line before the Bahco came out, I think is still in production since that model has been oem'd by many tool brand. I also bought the new Dewalt model it feels very solid but is heavy and therefore stays on the garage.

[@luciusirving5926]

Lennox is my favorite hacksaw blade brand by the way and is the only Made In America sawblade for me. 18 tpi for heavy steel, 24 tpi for sheet metal.

[@drengskap]

That Snap-On hacksaw is identical to the Bahco 319 hacksaw, except it probably costs three times as much...

[@---Michael---]

Also identical to the German Hoffmann Garant Hacksaw

[@jjrock5]

14:06 could you please provide a part number for that Milwaukee hand saw?

[@rocklobster4094]

I think the twisting mechanism activates the cross pin that secures the blade. Old file handles used a wedge/screw combination. The Milwaukee seems to just lock the blade, not actually grab the blade with friction. At least that’s how I remember my Sawzall works.

[@TylerSnyder305]

I had a Starrett like that tubular style Craftsman. It was an excellent saw but I traded it to my grandmother for a swedish made KLEIN. The Starrett was a nicer saw but I logged so many hours with that KLEIN as a kid and I didn't want have to inherit it. It would be a sad occasion and I'm not sure I'd really be able to enjoy using the saw at that point, and I'd rather be using it already. In fact I just used it and do multiple times a week.

[@luciusirving5926]

A panel hacksaw with micarta frame and thin spring steel (which you can get from recycled handsaws) is the best for your money. Able to cut tires, cars and bedframes tirelessly. No finicky frame is needed. Hacksaw blades are cheap and good quality, but everyone knows that. In my country, finding a 24 tpi sawzall blade is very difficult and even if I can buy one, it would be very expensive.

[@pieces94]

Thanks for the comparison of several small hacksaw handles. I’ve been considering that Snap On but don’t use them often, however, since when was need a condition to get a tool?

[@dragonrider93]

@14:06 The Milwaukee handle reminds me of a high end file hand.......Pinchs the blade in there.

[@littlejimmy7402]

Those little guys I always considered for PVC.

[@_P0tat07_]

I dislike the mini hacksaws. There’s no tension applied to the blades so they like the twist a lot. I do like the idea of the snap on one, having the locking mechanism on the handle end. Have you had any issues with your thumb loosening that thumbscrew on the snap on mini hacksaw? That would be my concern with it.

[@lastbesttool]

The Snap On mini hacksaw hold the blade solidly. I've not had any loosening either by my own thumb or time sawing. But it is also such a hand knob that checking it and adjusting as necessary is totally convenient.

[@sandy_knight]

I never realised that hacksaw blades are directional (I rarely use them except for cutting carbon handlebars occasionally). When using them in a small hacksaw couldn't you just run the blade backwards (as a pull saw) if you want to make use of the loose end of the blade? FYI, those small hacksaws are commonly called a 'junior' hacksaw in the UK. Also, worth mentioning, Bosch make a Sawzall blade handle (BSH000495), it's not folding but it does store a couple of blades in the handle.

[@drengskap]

Those mini hacksaw frames aren't junior hacksaws - junior hacksaws take special thin 6" blades, whereas these frames take full-size blades.

[@LordPondscumXIV]

You can, I usually run the blades as a pull saw rather than push.

[@fa-ajn9881]

Wish the snap on had blade storage.

[@shannonmcstormy5021]

From an EDC perspective, is there a Collapsible saw that can use both Silky saw blades and hacksaw blades, or just a compact and light tool that can be fitted with both wood and hacksaw blades ? I'm looking for a compact, light tool set where tools can fit multiple roles, similar to the direction that bit drivers have gone?

[@xlXTBUSXlx]

Look at milwaukee jab saw, might be what you're looking for

[@muxmurki1497]

Not from Silky (to my knowledge), but from WILPU. It takes all sorts of Sawzall blades and has also a ¼“ Bit driver and stores 7 bits in the handle.

[@hjohn2]

Yes! Look at the Gerber Freescape Camp Saw. It comes with a tree cutting blade, but is easily swapped with a hacksaw blade.

[@dennisfabian2570]

You should have never shown me the Milwaukee Fixed place reciprocating blade hacksaw.. don’t want any other one now

[@62Cristoforo]

I still swear by the classic hacksaw; simple, durable and effective. Throw away every other design that followed, even up to today’s gimmicks.

[@prasadvn524]

Round or square handles for a saw all blade is not comfortable.A rectangular or oval handle is better

[@barrypitts8388]

Take the blade out and flip it around