How big of a pruning saw do I need
Isabella Browning
Updated on April 19, 2026
Q. What size pruning saw do I need? As a general rule, choose a pruning saw with a blade that’s double the diameter of the branches you’ll be cutting. For example, choose a saw with at least a 10-inch blade to cut branches up to 5 inches in diameter.
What size pruning saw should I get?
A: The ideal length of pruning saw for cutting sturdy branches should be 12 to 15 inches. However, the ability to cut thicker branches also depends on the sharpness of the saw.
What is the best saw for pruning trees?
- Flora Guard Folding Hand Saw. …
- Wilkinson Sword Bow Saw. …
- Draper Expert Soft Grip Pruning Saw. …
- Spear & Jackson Kew Gardens Razorsharp Folding Pruning Saw. …
- Bosch Keo Electric Cordless Li-ion Garden Saw. …
- Grüntek Barracuda Pruning Saw.
How do I choose a pruning saw?
Before choosing a pruning saw, have a look at the type of branches you’ll be cutting. And pick a pruning saw with a blade that is at least twice the size of the branches you’re going to cut. That should not be a problem because most fixed-blade pruning saws are in the 10 to 15 inches range.How thick can a pruning saw cut?
Pruning saws are your choice for wood about 1.5 inches thick or more and your last resort before the very large stuff that you might only be able to do with a chainsaw. As such, they are used to cut a wide range on the large end of wood thicknesses.
Why are pruning saws curved?
Curved blades, as opposed to straight blades, are best for heavy-duty cutting. The curve adds toughness in your cut that will make woods feel like bread. Curved blade pruning saws can also be used to cut smaller branch.
What makes a good pruning saw?
The best pruning saws are super sharp, the teeth don’t snag in timber, the handle is well designed so you can easily hold on firm, especially when wearing gloves, and the blade is nice and firm to assist you in making the cut.
What is the best tool to cut tree branches?
For the cleanest cuts, choose bypass pruners, which cut like a pair of scissors, with a curved cutting blade that slides past a lower broad blade. Also called lopping shears, a lopper is the tool of choice for cutting branches 2 inches in diameter. The lopper label should specify the branch size it will cut.How long does a pruning blade last?
Scroll saw blades tend to last for 15-45 minutes of continual use on most wood types at moderate speeds. Thick or hardwood, high operating speeds, or tension issues (too tight/too loose) all contribute to a short blade lifespan.
Can I use a circular saw to cut down a tree?While its possible to use a circular saw to cut a tree branch I wouldn’t advise it. They’re not meant for trimming trees and because of that, I won’t be adding it to list. Same goes for the other saws designed for something other than cutting trees.
Article first time published onWhat can I use to cut thick branches?
When a branch or stem is too thick to cut with secateurs or a lopper, a pruning saw is what you need. Designed with a variable-toothed blade, this allows for cutting on the pull and push stroke for faster sawing.
How are pruning saws different from regular carpentry saws?
Pruning saws come in a few different shapes and sizes, with some of them attached to long poles and aimed at pruning out-of-reach branches high above your head. … My pruning saw has fewer teeth (just 64) than some of my other saws, but its teeth are also larger and sharper—perfect for handling larger branches.
How big of a branch can you cut with a pole saw?
In terms of cutting ability, this type of pole saw will work best on tree branches between three and eight inches in diameter.
Are Silky saws the best?
Silky Saws: The Best Tree Pruning Hand Saws and Pole Saws. Silky saws have made a huge splash in the tree pruning industry. Silky’s saws cut faster and last longer than traditional saws, and are designed with the professional tree pruner in mind.
Where are Fiskars pruning saws made?
Amazon’s product description (as of 2014/11) now states: “The 9109 Bypass Pruner is made in China.” Along with: “Fiskars is a global company with manufacturing locations all over the world, including several places in the US. Many of Fiskars’ blades are stainless steel.
How do I know if my saw blade is dull?
Look for worn-down, chipped, broken and missing teeth or chipped carbide tips that indicate it’s time to replace a circular saw blade. Check the wear line of carbide edges using a bright light and magnifying glass to determine if it’s beginning to dull.
Why does my circular saw blade smoke?
A Dirty Skill Saw Blade Can Cause Smoke The same goes for your circular saw blade. When you use your saw repeatedly for an extended period, something called pitch can begin to coat the teeth of your blade. This pitch is rather sticky. As a result, it creates friction when cutting and possibly smoke.
What saw cuts tree branches?
A bow saw has a sharp pull-push blade stretched between both sides of a metal bow. It is the best saw to cut tree limbs that are up to about a foot thick. They cut faster than pruning saws because of the size of their teeth and their shape.
What kind of hand saw cuts trees?
ProductPriceBahco 30-Inch Ergo Bow SawCheck on AmazonIrwin 218HP300 12-Inch Combi-SawCheck on AmazonFiskars 7029 21-Inch Bow SawCheck on AmazonBahco #9 All Purpose Bow SawCheck on Amazon
What do you use to cut small branches?
Also called hand pruners, pruning shears are perfect for cutting small twigs, up to 1 inch in diameter. To touch up small, live branches, look for bypass pruning shears. The tool resembles a pair of scissors and is good for trimming twigs at awkward angles.
Why do tree saws have a curve?
Curved blades, however, are designed for work where to you need to reach up into the tree or below the waist. If you prune material between the range of straight blades (i.e. hip to head height region) then you tend to automatically sway or curve the saw to meet the curvature action of the blade. So there you have it!
What can you cut with a pruning saw?
A pruning saw is a tool with the same sharp teeth as saws used for cutting lumber. But pruning saws are intended for trimming live shrubs and trees. There are many types of pruning saws, each intended for a particular type of branch or stem.
What do you put on a tree after cutting off a limb?
Pruning sealer, or pruning paint, is simply a petroleum-based waterproof product that is “painted” onto the exposed area of a limb or branch after it has been pruned. The idea is that the application works as a kind of “bandage”, which once painted on allows the tree to heal underneath it.
What is the difference between a branch and a limb?
A limb is a primary division of a stem or bough which bears foliage. A branch is a large, medium, or small division of the main axis of the stem or another branch, equal to or greater than four (4) years (or full growing seasons) of age. As tree parts above ground are further divided, branchlets and twigs are defined.