Bow Saws & Blades

About Bow Saws & Blades

Bow saws are essential hand tools for anyone working with wood outdoors, whether that's cutting logs for firewood, pruning trees, or clearing branches on site. Also known as Swede saws or Finn saws, these frame-style cutting tools feature a distinctive curved or 'bow' shaped frame that holds a replaceable toothed blade under tension. This design makes them incredibly effective for cutting both green and seasoned wood, with the ability to swap blades quickly depending on the task at hand.

What sets bow saws apart from fixed-blade alternatives like pruning saws is their versatility and replaceable blade system. Different blade configurations are optimised for specific cutting tasks - aggressive teeth for green wood with high moisture content, finer teeth for dry seasoned timber, or specialised patterns for particular species. This makes bow saws particularly cost-effective, as you're only replacing an inexpensive blade rather than the entire tool. Professional-grade bow saws from brands like Bahco and Stanley feature robust frames constructed from tubular steel or aluminium, with ergonomic handles designed for extended use on site.

Our range includes both traditional bow-shaped frames and pointed nose bow saws, which offer improved access in confined spaces such as tight branch clusters or when working close to walls and structures. Whether you're a professional landscaper, tree surgeon, roofer working with timber, or a keen DIY enthusiast managing your own grounds, you'll find the right combination of saw frames and replacement blades to tackle any outdoor cutting task efficiently and safely.

Jargon Buster

• Frame Saw: A saw design where the blade is held in tension within a rigid frame, similar to hacksaws and fret saws. This allows blades to be easily changed and maintains optimal cutting tension.
• TPI (Teeth Per Inch): The measurement of tooth density on a saw blade. Lower TPI (6-10) gives faster, rougher cuts ideal for green wood, whilst higher TPI (15-20+) provides smoother, more controlled cuts in dry timber.
• Peg Teeth: Traditional triangular tooth pattern with sharp points and deep gullets, designed to clear sawdust efficiently when cutting green wood with high sap content.
• Raker Teeth: An alternating tooth pattern where cutting teeth are interspersed with shorter 'raker' teeth that clear waste material from the cut, reducing binding in deep cuts.
• Blade Tension: The amount of tightness applied to the blade within the frame. Proper tension prevents blade wandering and ensures straight, accurate cuts whilst reducing blade breakage.
• Pointed Nose/Triangular Frame: A bow saw variant with a narrower, tapered frame design that provides better access in restricted spaces compared to traditional curved bow frames.

Who Uses Bow Saws & Blades?

• Tree Surgeons & Arborists: For pruning, sectioning felled timber, and general tree maintenance work
• Landscapers & Groundskeepers: Managing woodland areas, clearing overgrown vegetation, and preparing logs
• Forestry Workers: Processing timber on site, limbing operations, and firewood preparation
• Gardeners & Garden Maintenance Contractors: Pruning large branches, cutting back shrubs, and general garden clearance
• Roofers & Carpenters: Cutting structural timber, roof timbers, and construction-grade wood on site
• Estate Managers & Park Rangers: Maintaining large grounds, woodland management, and habitat conservation work
• Camping & Bushcraft Enthusiasts: Preparing firewood, building shelters, and general outdoor woodcraft
• DIY Enthusiasts & Homeowners: Managing their own gardens, preparing logs for wood burners, and seasonal tree maintenance
• Agricultural Workers: Hedge maintenance, fencing work, and general farm land management

How to Choose the Right Bow Saws & Blades

Frame Size & Blade Length: Bow saws typically come in blade lengths from 530mm (21") up to 915mm (36"). For general garden maintenance and pruning, a 610-760mm (24-30") frame offers the best balance of cutting capacity and manoeuvrability. Larger frames are better suited to forestry work and processing substantial logs, whilst smaller sizes excel in tight spaces.

Frame Design: Consider whether you need a traditional curved bow frame for maximum blade length and efficient cutting, or a pointed nose design for improved access around obstacles. Professional-grade frames from Bahco feature tubular steel construction with powder-coated finishes for durability, whilst lighter aluminium frames suit occasional use.

Blade Tooth Configuration: Match your blade to the material you're cutting most often. Peg tooth blades with 6-10 TPI work best on green wood with high moisture content, clearing sap and debris efficiently. For seasoned, dry timber, opt for finer teeth (12-15 TPI) that produce smoother cuts with less tearing. Hard point blades offer extended life before requiring sharpening.

Handle Comfort & Grip: Look for ergonomically designed handles with comfortable grips, particularly important for extended cutting sessions. Moulded plastic or rubberised handles reduce hand fatigue and provide better control in wet conditions common to outdoor work.

Blade Tensioning System: Quality bow saws feature reliable tensioning mechanisms - typically either a threaded rod system or lever-action design. Proper tension is critical for straight cuts and blade longevity, so choose frames with accessible, tool-free adjustment.

Replacement Blade Availability: Ensure replacement blades are readily available for your chosen frame. Bahco and Stanley offer extensive ranges of compatible blades, making ongoing maintenance straightforward and economical.

Popular Accessories

• Replacement Bow Saw Blades: Stock multiple blade types for different materials - coarse for green wood, fine for dry timber
• Blade Guards & Protectors: Protect teeth during transport and storage, extending blade life
• Saw Horses & Cutting Trestles: Provide stable support for safe, controlled cutting
• Work Gloves: Cut-resistant gloves from brands like Portwest for hand protection during sawing operations
• Tool Belts & Pouches: Keep your bow saw accessible when working at height or moving between cutting locations
• Sharpening Files: Maintain traditional blade teeth for optimal cutting performance
• Pruning Saws: Complementary folding saws for detail work in confined spaces
• Safety Glasses & Face Shields: Essential PPE for protection against flying sawdust and wood chips
• Log Splitting Wedges & Axes: Complete your timber processing toolkit
• Garden Waste Bags & Tarps: For collecting and transporting cut material

Safety Information

Bow saws are powerful cutting tools that demand respect and proper safety practices. Always ensure blades are correctly tensioned before use - loose blades can buckle and jump, whilst over-tensioned blades may snap unexpectedly. Inspect blades before each use for damaged or missing teeth, cracks, or excessive wear, and replace compromised blades immediately.

Wear appropriate personal protective equipment in accordance with HSE guidelines, including safety glasses or goggles to protect against flying debris, cut-resistant gloves to protect hands from sharp teeth, and steel toe-capped boots when processing larger logs. Consider hearing protection during extended cutting sessions. When working overhead or pruning at height, hard hats are essential.

Maintain a stable stance with secure footing when sawing, and ensure the workpiece is properly supported to prevent binding or pinching. Never position any part of your body in line with the cutting direction. Keep blades sharp - dull teeth require excessive force, increasing the risk of slips and loss of control. When not in use, fit blade guards and store bow saws in a dry location away from children. Always follow the manufacturer's specific safety guidance for your particular model.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between bow saw teeth for green wood versus dry wood?

Green wood blades typically feature larger, more aggressive peg teeth with deeper gullets (6-10 TPI) to efficiently clear the sap, moisture and fibrous material present in fresh-cut timber. Dry wood blades have finer teeth (12-15 TPI) that create smoother cuts in seasoned timber where moisture content is lower and fibres are less flexible. Using the wrong blade significantly reduces cutting efficiency and can damage teeth.

How often should I replace my bow saw blade?

Replace blades when you notice significantly reduced cutting performance, missing or damaged teeth, visible cracks, or excessive rust. Hard point blades typically last longer than traditional teeth but cannot be resharpened. With proper maintenance and storage, a quality blade should handle dozens of cutting sessions. Professional users working daily may replace blades monthly, whilst occasional DIY users might get a year or more from a single blade.

Can I use a bow saw for cutting metal or plastic?

No, bow saws are specifically designed for cutting wood and should never be used on metal, plastic, or masonry materials. The tooth geometry, blade material and cutting action are optimised for wood fibres only. Using bow saws on inappropriate materials will rapidly damage teeth and potentially cause dangerous blade failure. For metal cutting, use a hacksaw with appropriate metal-cutting blades instead.

Why does my bow saw blade keep bending or wandering during cuts?

Blade wandering is almost always caused by insufficient blade tension. Check and adjust the tensioning mechanism - the blade should 'ping' when plucked, similar to a guitar string. Other causes include using a worn blade with damaged teeth, forcing the saw rather than letting the teeth do the work, or cutting material that's moving or inadequately supported. Ensure your frame isn't bent or damaged, as this prevents proper tensioning.

What blade length do I need for typical garden maintenance work?

For most domestic garden maintenance, tree pruning and preparing logs for wood burners, a 610-760mm (24-30 inch) bow saw provides the ideal combination of cutting capacity and manoeuvrability. This size handles branches up to approximately 200mm diameter comfortably whilst remaining easy to control and transport. Professional landscapers working with larger timber may prefer 760-910mm frames, whilst those working in confined spaces might opt for compact 530mm models.