Secateurs and loppers are handy pruning tools but for thicker branches a pruning saw is the tool for the job. The last resort before you need a chainsaw, a pruning saw has a toothed blade capable of cutting branches 5cm thick and above and many different shapes and sizes are available, from compact folding saws that fit in the pocket to long, straight, fixed blades that need a holster to keep them safe. All have a high carbon steel blade, and many have been designed to cut a particular type or thickness of wood. As a rule of thumb, the longer the blade the thicker the wood it can cut, but strength of blade, sharpness of teeth and how long they stay sharp, as well as grip and comfort will all affect how easily and well a saw will cut.
If you’re pruning smaller branches, take a look at our reviews of the best secateurs and the best loppers and for help clearing up see our test of the best shredders, best wood-splitting axes and best wheelbarrows.
Best pruning saws at a glance
Best fixed straight saw: ARS CAM24 PRO pruning saw
Best folding saw: ARS PM-21 folding pruning saw
Best fixed curved saw: Felco 640 pruning saw
Best compact saw: Stihl PR16 Handycut folding saw
Our expertise
We reviewed a range of the most popular pruning saws, putting them through their paces on woody branches and stems to bring you a list of the best pruning saws. Each saw has a detailed list of pros and cons for clarity and has been rated according to ease of handling, cutting ability, maintenance and value for money. Each pruning saw has scored a minimum of four out of five stars, so you can buy with confidence.
Jump to:
- Best pruning saws
- Best of the rest pruning saws
- How to choose a pruning saw
- How to use a pruning saw safely
- How we tested pruning saws
In every review we award the outstanding products our coveted Best Buy award. To see these and the others we recommend, browse our pick of the best pruning saws below:
Best pruning saws
ARS CAM24 PRO pruning saw
RRP: £48.86
Our rating: 5 out of 5
Pros
- Very light and comfortable
- Long strong blade
- Cuts smoothly and efficiently
- Handy holster for safety
- Replacement parts available
Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for Best fixed straight saw, this light comfortable pruning saw cuts even thick, dense wood with ease. The high carbon steel blade has a chrome plating for durability and impulse hardened teeth so they stay sharp for longer. It cuts on the pull stroke and the handle has a rubber grip and is hooked to stop the hand slipping even when applying pressure. Best for cutting wood that’s level with the user it comes with a handy holster. All parts are replaceable and it has a lifetime warranty.
Read the full ARS CAM 24 PRO review
Buy the ARS CAM 24 PRO from Tooled up, Amazon and Sorbus
ARS PM-21 folding pruning saw
RRP: £38.95
Our rating: 5 out of 5
Pros
- Very light and comfortable
- Cuts easily and cleanly
- Replacement parts available
- Choice of cutting angles
This light, simple saw was awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for Best folding saw. With a chrome plated carbon steel blade and impulse hardened teeth, which will stay sharp for longer, it’s made from aluminium and has a shaped, rubber grip handle that fits comfortably in the hand as you work. It’s light and comfortable and really easy to use, cutting effortlessly through even thick, dense wood. Every single part is replaceable and it comes with a lifetime warranty.
Read the full ARS PM-21 folding saw review and watch our Best Buy video to see why the the ARS PM-21 folding saw was awarded BBC Gardeners’ World Best Buy status.
Buy the ARS PM-21 folding pruning saw from Amazon, Sorbus and Tooled-Up
Silky Gomboy Curve Professional folding saw
RRP:£47.39
Our rating: 4.8/5
Pros
- Cuts smoothly and very easily
- Excellent quality, durable materials
- Comfortable grip, low-vibration handle
- Replacement blade available
- Long curved blade gives good access and reach
Cons
- Expensive
Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy for the best folding saw for high use, this Silky saw is very well made with excellent quality materials, and although expensive, is well worth it for frequent use. The long, slightly curved blade makes pruning disproportionately easier than with a shorter saw, and it gives good reach, allowing you to get into dense shrubs and awkward spots. The materials are durable, with the teeth set into the blade to give a smooth cut with least resistance, and the blade folds and secures into the handle easily. The handle is shaped for grip and to sit comfortably in the hand and has a micro-textured rubber coating that ensures good grip even when wet. It’s also sufficiently long to use two-handed if a bit more oomph is needed, or when one arm starts to tire. The handle has an ‘eye’ on the end for hanging up for easy storage, and the saw also comes with a plastic case that can be buckled onto a belt. Its bright yellow colour makes it easy to spot if you put the saw down for clearing prunings ,but it is also rather large and could get in the way. Replacement blades are available but they’re pricey at £29.94.
Read the full Silky Gomboy Curve Professional pruning saw review
Buy the Silky Gomboy Curve Professional pruning saw from Amazon and Silky Fox
Felco 640 pruning saw
RRP: £65.99
Our rating: 4.8 out of 5
Pros
- Very light and comfortable
- Cuts easily and cleanly
- Replacement parts and repair service available
- Choice of cutting angles
Cons
- Expensive compared with others of similar quality
This high quality pruning saw won a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award for Best fixed curved saw and is a joy to use. The high-carbon steel blade has a chrome plating to help prevent corrosion and impulse hardened teeth and it cuts cuts cleanly and precisely. The curved handle is hooked with a rubber grip and it feels comfortable and well balanced in the hand. With a holster and belt hook for easy carrying it also has a velcro strap, which wraps comfortably around the leg for added security. Capable of tackling even the toughest wood this saw is a great investment if you have lots of trees and shrubs to look after. It comes with a lifetime warranty and replacement parts and a repair service are available.
Read the full Felco 640 pruning saw review
Buy the Felco 640 pruning saw from Amazon and Felco
Stihl PR16 Handycut folding saw
RRP: £28.60
Our rating: 4.8 out of 5
Pros
- Comfortable and light
- Compact and portable
- Cuts smoothly and efficiently
- Replacement blade available
Cons
- Small cutting width
- Safety catch stiff
Awarded a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award for Best compact saw, this light, comfortable pruning saw has a curved, chrome-plated Japanese steel blade with a cutting width of 65mm. It’s surprisingly sharp and strong with no clogging or sticking and it folds in and out of the handle with the help of a plastic button. The shaped handle has well placed rubber grips that cushion the hand well and our only complaint is the stiffness of the safety catch, although this does loosen up with time. The saw is compact and neat and ideal for sticking in a pocket when you go out into the garden and it comes with a two year warranty.
Read the full Stihl PR16 Handycut pruning saw review
Buy the Stihl PR16 Handycut pruning saw from Amazon, Garden Machinery Direct and Stihl
Best of the rest
Although some models didn’t quite achieve a BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Best Buy award, they still have features that make them worth recommending. Browse our pick of the best of the rest on test:
Darlac Sabre Tooth folding saw
RRP: £21.99
Our rating: 4.3 out of 5
Pros
- Makes good clean cuts
- Locks open and closed
- Replacement blade available
Cons
- Blade catches on handle when closing
The straight blade on this folding saw is made from carbon steel with a rust resistant chrome coating and is strong, sturdy, and sharp with a 90mm cutting width. The soft rubber grip handle is comfortable and hooked to prevent your hand slipping and the blade folds in and out, locking in place both ways for safety. However, you do need to make sure you guide the blade into the handle when closing, otherwise it tends to catch on the handle and overtime, will scuff the rubber. Replacement blades are available at an additional cost and it comes with a lifetime warranty. This pruning saw is ideal if you only have a few trees and shrubs, and would prefer to replace the blade than buy a new pruning saw.
Buy the Darlac Sabre Tooth folding saw from Crocus and Amazon
Wilkinson Sword Turbo folding saw
RRP: £24.99
Our rating: 4.3 out of 5
Pros
- Compact and portable
- Comfortable and light
- Cuts cleanly
Cons
- No replacement blade available
- No rust resistant coating
This compact folding saw has a curved blade made from Japanese steel and triple ground teeth that cut cleanly on the pull stroke. The comfortable handle has a soft rubber grip covering and it’s hooked to stop the hand slipping in use. A gripped, plastic safety catch on the top of the handle locks the blade both open and closed, however, the blade catches on the handle as it closes, scuffing the rubber so you do need to make sure you guide the blade into the handle when locking it in place. A handy size for slipping into your pocket the saw comes with a ten year warranty.
Buy the Wilkinson Sword Turbo folding saw from Amazon and Wilkinson Sword
Spear & Jackson Razorsharp large folding pruning saw
RRP: £30.49
Our rating: 4.3 out of 5
Pros
- Feels sturdy
- Good safety features
- Cuts smoothly and cleanly
Cons
- No replacement blade available
- Unwieldy and large to carry
This is one of the largest pruning saws in the group we tested, measuring 60cm in length, but it feels sturdy to use. It’s comfortable, thanks to a soft grip handle that’s curved to prevent your hand from slipping in use. The safety button is easy to use, unlocking the blade to open or close it, and it also locks in the half-way position, which stops fingers from accidentally catching on the blade. The straight blade is made from SK5 carbon steel and chrome-plated for lasting sharpness, rust resistance, and durability. It also has precision ground teeth for a smooth, clean cut, which comfortably tackle branches up to 90mm wide. In the top price range of the group we tested, it comes with just a 10-year warranty compared to others which have a lifetime warranty. However, it’s a sturdy saw that cuts well, has good safety features and is ideal for cutting living, green wood.
Buy the Spear and Jackson Razorsharp folding pruning saw from Amazon and Toolstop
Corona Max RazorTOOTH 35.5cm pruning saw
RRP: £40.99
Our rating: 4.3 out of 5
Pros
- Strong and sturdy
- Cuts smoothly and efficiently
- Wide cutting width
Cons
- No blade guard or holster
- No replacement blade available
A fixed pruning saw with a long, curved SK5 carbon steel blade that has chrome plating and impulse hardened teeth, this saw cuts even thick, dense wood cleanly and smoothly. The shaped, ergonomic handle has rubber grips for the fingers and thumb, is curved to prevent the hand slipping when cutting and it feels comfortable and light in use. Although the saw comes in a cardboard case it unfortunately doesn’t have a holster or cover for the blade, which could be an issue when carrying it and in storage. Ideal for medium and larger branches, this saw is available in a variety of sizes and come with a lifetime warranty.
Buy the Corona Max RazorTOOTH 35.5cm pruning saw from Amazon and Burgon and Ball
Niwaki GR210 folding saw
RRP: £39.00
Our rating: 4.3 out of 5
Pros
- Light and well balanced
- Choice of cutting angle
- Replacement blade available
Cons
- Handle uncomfortable
- Blade needed tightening for safety
Packaged in a neat cardboard box and cotton bag this simple pruning saw has a straight, narrow blade made from SK4 carbon steel. It has been impulse hardened to ensure the teeth stay sharp for longer and a maximum cutting width of 70mm. It cuts well, tackling dense wood smoothly and the saw feels light and well balanced in use. The handle has a chunky, ribbed rubber grip, which testers found became a bit uncomfortable after time and a safety button on the top allows the blade to fold in and out of the handle. When the blade is open it locks in place but not when it’s closed and in our test the blade was quite loose when closed inside the handle and prone to fall out easily, which felt quite dangerous. Fortunately this was rectified by tightening the large screw on the handle. It’s a great looking piece of kit that’s easy to use plus, replacement blades and a leather holster are available. It comes with a two year warranty.
Buy the Niwaki GR210 folding saw from Crocus and Niwaki
Felco 621 pruning saw
RRP: £54.99
Our rating: 4.3 out of 5
Pros
- Light and well balanced
- Cuts well
- Replacement parts available
Cons
- Handle not as comfortable as some
This well balanced saw has a fixed, straight blade made from high carbon steel with a chrome plating to prevent corrosion and a cutting width of 80mm. The teeth have been impulse hardened to help them stay sharp for longer and it cuts smoothly and easily. The hooked handle helps the hand stay in place when cutting and also has a rubber grip to prevent slipping but compared to others in the test it felt less comfortable in use. It comes with a holster and belt hook for safe carrying, replacement parts and a repair service are available and it comes with a lifetime warranty.
Buy the Felco 621 pruning saw from Amazon and Felco
Silky Pocketboy
RRP: £39.34
Our rating: 4 out of 5
Pros
- High quality materials
- Compact and comfortable
- Folds easily with 2 cutting positions
- Replacement blade available
Cons
- Expensive for size and type of work
- Only suits light work
- Blade comes unfastened on occasion
This compact folding saw has a straight blade made from Japanese steel that’s chrome plated to resist rust and for easy cleaning, and teeth that are impulse hardened for harder, longer wear. It’s designed to cut on the pull stroke. The comfortable handle has a micro-textured, rubber grip and is shaped so it can be be held securely. It folds into the rubber handle simply and easily with a press-down metal fastener and has two cutting positions, although it did come out of its fastening on several occasions during use. This saw is small and easy to slip into your pocket and keep close at hand when needed. The handle has an ‘eye’ on the end for hanging up to store, and it also comes with a plastic case that can be hooked onto a belt. It’s good for light pruning, but it’s expensive for its size and usage. A limited lifetime warranty covers errors in materials or construction, but not wear and tear from use.
Buy the Silky Pocketboy pruning saw from Amazon and Silky Fox
B & Q Magnusson 330mm pruning saw
RRP: £18.00
Our rating: 4 out of 5
Pros
- Light and comfortable
- Hand protection
- Cuts smoothly on most wood
Cons
- Slip-on blade guard only
- Takes up room in storage
With a fixed straight blade made from SK5 carbon steel this super safe saw has a rubber grip handle with a hand guard that protects the fingers. It cuts smoothly and feels light and comfortable to use but the blade guard is just a simple slip on cover in transparent plastic that could be easily lost. However, it’s great value and has a handy hanging hook so you can store this rather large saw safely out of the way.
Buy the Magnusson 330mm pruning saw from B & Q
How to choose a pruning saw
Before you buy think about the following:
- Blade strength. Pruning saw blades are typically high carbon steel, which has either been quench or impulse hardened to increase strength and help teeth stay sharp. Although all types of blade will cut well at first, impulse hardened blades and teeth will stay sharper for longer, so if you have a lot of pruning to do look for saws strengthened this way. Carbon steel rusts unless it has a protective coating or chrome plating so check for this too before you buy.
- Handle. Pruning saws are designed to be used with one hand, so many have an ergonomically shaped handle for comfort and all should have a non-slip grip, usually rubber or TRP plastic, to give optimum control of the saw. Some have a hand guard to protect the fingers. Look for a saw with a hooked shape to the end of the handle, which will help prevent the hand from slipping off the saw as you’re cutting.
- What you’re cutting. The size of branches you’re cutting, as well as their position can dictate the size of saw you need and the shape of its blade. Check blade length and cutting width are suitable for the job and bear in mind that a straight blade is designed for making comfortable cuts between your shoulders and waist, while a curved blade is best for cuts above head height or below your waist. However, if you only want to buy one saw, choose the blade right for the majority of cuts you’ll make or opt for a saw with a straight blade. This will offer the most comfortable and safe cutting position, whatever you’re cutting.
- Is it safe? Compact folding blades are great for tucking safely in the pocket but ensure the push button safety lock is easily reachable by the thumb and that it locks the blade in place. If it doesn’t lock closed check the blade stays securely in the handle and that it can be tightened if it becomes loose. Some saws also lock halfway down as an extra precaution. Fixed blades should have a carry holster or a blade cover to keep sharp teeth out of the way when not in use. After use a hanging hole on the end of the handle is handy for storing your saw safely away.
- Will it last? Some saws have replacement blades and other parts available, which will help extend their life. However these can sometimes cost almost as much as a new saw so check prices before you buy. There are speciality files to sharpen saw teeth but as these are often angled this can be tricky and is best done by a professional. Some also brands offer a repair service for a small fee.
How to use a pruning saw safely
Saws are extremely sharp so always wear sturdy gloves. If pruning above head height wear safety glasses and avoid standing on ladders to prune as you need to be stable and positioned comfortably to cut safely. Always choose the right blade for the job – a curved blade is best when cutting above your head.
How we tested pruning saws
We tested a range of folding and fixed saws with both curved and straight blades, putting them through their paces on the types of woody branches and stems that need pruning throughout the year. They were assessed according to the following criteria with equal marks attributed to each:
- Handling. Looked at comfort, weight, balance and grip, including features like a hooked handle, how well the saw folds and safety features.
- Cutting. Focused on blade shape and material, cutting width and efficiency, and smoothness and precision of cut.
- Maintenance. Assessed strength and sharpness of blade, any hardening and protective features and whether replacements parts or a repair service were available.
- Value for Money. Considered all of the above plus any special features, RRP and warranty.
For more information on our testing process see How we Review
This review was last updated in October 2023. We apologise if anything has changed in price or availability.
from BBC Gardeners World Magazine https://ift.tt/dEsbAlD
