If you are going to be sawing some wood apart, then there are many different types of saws at your disposal. As far as manually powered ones are concerned, two of the most popular ones are buck saws and bow saws. Now, both may be similar, but they do have quite a few differences between them.
Let’s take a closer look at buck saws and bow saws to see which one is best for your next job.
Buck Saws and Bow Saws: The Basics
Before we start talking about similarities and differences, let’s first figure out what both buck saws and bow saws are.
What Is a Buck Saw?
We first have the buck saw, which is very similar to the bow saw and is a type of crosscut saw, which means that it is designed to cut across the grain of the wood.
A buck saw features a C or H-shaped frame, combined with very coarse teeth. The blade of the bucksaw is held between the frame under constant tension, with the frame most often being made of wood.
Buck saws, due to their large size and coarse teeth, are best used for working with large lumber, such as for cutting down large trees or sawing apart large logs and other such pieces of wood.
There are smaller and more portable versions of buck saws, particularly ones that are foldable and designed for camping, although most buck saws are fairly large, heavy, and cumbersome.
What Is a Bow Saw?
We then have a bow saw, which is another type of crosscut saw that is designed to cut across the grain of the wood.
Here we have a saw that features a lightweight metal frame that is in the shape of a bow, or in other words, the frame features a fairly long and flat portion, with the two arms being bent away from each other, effectively forming a trapezoid.
The bow saw features a blade with fairly coarse teeth that is held under tension by the frame and is designed for crosscutting branches and firewood that are up to 6” in diameter.
Similarities of Buck Saws and Bow Saws
Now that we know what both buck saws and bow saws are, let’s figure out what makes them similar to each other.
1. Manually Powered
The biggest similarity that both of these saws share is that they are manually powered. In other words, they have no motors or any moving components. All of the parts of both saws are stationary, and the only thing that powers them is the human holding the saws.
2. Coarse Teeth
Another similarity shared by both of these saws is that they have very coarse teeth. Both the buck and bow saws are designed to work with fairly large pieces of lumber and to make quick work out of any wood when sawing. The coarse teeth of these tools allow for this to be possible.
3. Replaceable Blades
What can also be said about both the buck saw and the bow saw is that the blades on them are replaceable. Both saws feature mechanisms that allow you to loosen the blade so it can be replaced, and then tighten it to the proper tension. On that note, both saws do allow you to adjust the tension.
4. They Are Crosscut Saws
The other similarity here is that both saws are indeed crosscut saws. This means that both of these saws are designed to cut across the grain of the wood, not with or against it, which is why both are ideal for cutting down trees and processing firewood.
Differences Between Buck Saws and Bow Saws
Now that we know what makes them similar, let’s figure out what makes these tools different from one another.
1. Size and Weight
One of the primary differences between these two types of saws is that a buck saw is a good bit heavier and larger than a bow saw. A bow saw’s metal frame is not only more compact than that of a buck saw, but due to the fact that it is made of hollow metal, it is also much lighter than the wooden frame of a buck saw. For many people, the smaller size and lighter weight of the bow saw make it easier to use for prolonged periods.
2. One or Two-Handed Operation
Due to the size and weight of buck saws, they generally require the user to use both hands during operation. On the other hand, because bow saws are smaller and lighter than buck saws, they may be used one-handed.
3. Blade Design
Although both of these saw types are crosscut saws, the buck saw has a large blade with coarser teeth. This allows the buck saw to saw apart large pieces of wood much faster than the smaller blade of a bow saw.
4. Frame Material
The bow saw generally has a frame that is made out of hollow metal, whereas a buck saw generally has a frame made out of solid wood. That said, due to this, bow saws are also less durable than buck saws.
5. General Applications
Buck saws can be used to saw down whole large trees and to process lumber. The smaller bow saw is better suited for cutting down small trees and firewood that is no thicker than 6” in diameter.
Buck Saw vs. Bow Saw: Which Should You Use?
If you are processing large pieces of wood and cutting down large trees, then the buck saw is the way to go. If you are sawing down trees or processing firewood smaller than 6” in diameter, it is the bow saw that you need.
Summary
Now that you know the similarities and differences between these two tools you can make an informed choice as to which one to use for your next project.