Saws & Hacksaws

Saw + Hacksaw Selection — Quick Reference

Hand saws + hacksaws = essential workshop tools for cutting where powered tools are OVER-ENGINEERING + access is RESTRICTED + finesse matters. AIMS stocks hacksaws + handsaws + junior saws + replacement blades.

Critical: Match TPI (teeth per inch) to material thickness — 3+ teeth in workpiece minimum. Coarse on thick; fine on thin. Cut on PUSH stroke (Western saws) or PULL (Japanese saws). Maintain tension on hacksaw frame. Brands: Excision, Sutton Tools, Bahco. Companion: hacksaw blades, band saw blades, hand tools.

Saws and Hacksaws for Australian Trade and Workshop Use

Hand saws and hacksaws remain essential workshop tools — for cutting where powered tools are over-engineering, where access is restricted, where mains power isn't available, or where the precision of a controlled hand cut is the priority. AIMS Industrial supplies hand saws, hacksaws, and replacement blades for trade and industrial customers across Australia.

The saw types we stock

• Hacksaws (full-size) — 300mm blade frame for general metal cutting; the everyday workshop choice
• Junior hacksaws — 150mm blade frame for tight access and detail metal work
• Adjustable-frame hacksaws — accept multiple blade lengths for varied work
• Pad saws (compass saws) — narrow blade saws for cutting curves and openings
• Hand saws (timber) — crosscut and rip saws for timber and joinery work
• Tenon saws and back saws — for fine joinery and precision cuts in timber
• Pruning saws — for outdoor and arboriculture work
• Replacement blades — for all the above, in HSS, bi-metal, and specialist constructions

Hacksaw blade selection

Hacksaw blade selection is driven by tooth count (TPI — teeth per inch) and material:

• 14 TPI — coarse, for thick steel and stock removal
• 18 TPI — general-purpose for medium steel
• 24 TPI — fine, for thin steel, copper, brass, and stainless
• 32 TPI — very fine, for thin sheet, tube, and conduit

The general rule for sawing: have at least three teeth in contact with the material at any time. Coarser blades (lower TPI) cut faster but tend to skip on thin material; finer blades (higher TPI) handle thin material cleanly but cut slower. For general workshop use, 24 TPI bi-metal blades are the everyday choice — they handle 90% of typical work cleanly.

Bi-metal versus carbon steel blades

Bi-metal blades have HSS teeth welded to a flexible spring-steel back. The HSS teeth stay sharp through harder materials; the flexible back tolerates the bending and stress of hand sawing without breaking. Carbon steel blades are economical but dull faster on harder materials and break more readily. For trade workshop use, bi-metal is the right specification; carbon steel suits occasional and light-duty use.

Where hand saws earn their place

• Workshop fabrication — cutting stock to length where powered tools are unsuitable
• Plumbing and electrical work — cutting pipe and conduit on site
• Maintenance and repair — cutting in tight access or where powered tools can't reach
• Joinery and woodwork — fine cuts requiring control and precision
• Field work and remote sites — where mains power isn't available

Brands stocked at AIMS

Bahco covers the hand saw range with strong product depth across hacksaws, junior hacksaws, and replacement blades. The Bahco range is widely used by Australian tradies because the build quality holds up to daily use, the blade tensioning systems work reliably, and replacement blades are widely available.

Companion ranges at AIMS

Saws and hacksaws sit alongside our broader cutting tool range — see pipe saw blades, holemaking tools, cutting tools, and scrapers for related products.

Need help with saw selection or replacement blade specification? contact our team — we'll match by material, blade type, and TPI.