If your a spoiled tool guy like me you would never even think of using a hand saw for any project, hand saws are for grampas right? Well that’s what I used to think until I used the new IRWIN Universal Hand Saw. This saw can give any powered reciprocating saw a run for its money cutting through a 2X4 . The saw comes in 2 flavors a 15″ and a 20″ model.
5 years of development really paid of from IRWIN they have developed a hand saw that is light weight and screams through material leaving a nice finished edge. I thought to myself when I received this saw “Wow a handsaw how cool can that be” little did I know. Looking at the saw it has a thin flexible blade profile with laser cutouts for 90 and 45 degree angles that provide a reliable straight edge. The tool has an ABS plastic handle with a nice rubber comfort grip which accommodates both righties and lefties. When you first use this saw you are amazed at its speed. Yes, this saw is fast very fast. I felt superhuman that I could cut a 2×4 so fast.
Something about this saw just feels cool when your cutting, once it digs in, its like a turbo charger kicks in, starts cutting deep and effortlessly. This is where the development comes in and the patented universal tooth grind gives course cutting speed with fine cut results. The saw is ergonomically designed to prevent binding, we did not experience any binding in our tests. The cuts on our PVC pipe was clean and precise.
I am constantly playing with this saw in the shop I saw everything, including Eric’s work bench which he wasn’t to happy about. I love the speed and the power at which it cuts through material. Its a great saw that I will always have in my arsenal of tools. I would like to thank IRWIN for getting me excited about using hand saws .
We always like to hear back from our readers on their experience with these tools – good or bad. Do you have experience with these tools? How has the long term use been? What applications have you used the tool for? Is this a DIY or professional grade tool? Let us and other readers know.
I have the Irwin 15″ Universal Saw it’s a great little saw. Carry it on my quad when out
working nothing worse than getting whacked in the face with a low hung branch.
Ya don’t have to check if the battery is dead and no worry when ya drop the saw in the mud. Great little saw for cutting limbs or plastic or 2×4’s etc.
The Irwin saw is an excellent saw. s a builder I always have hand saws around.
There is one negative with the saw. Over time the plastic lug with in the handle mold breaks down with the action/stress of the blade moving with in the handle.
This small plastic pin needs to be replaced with a stainless pin.
I’m sure that it can be done