Best Overall Handsaw
If I could only keep one handsaw in my shop, it would be the Stanley Fat Max. I’ve owned a Stanley Fat Max for more than a decade and I love it.
Most often, I use the 15-inch blade to rough cut hardwoods before joining and planning cabinet parts. I always have it with me for adding blocking on framing or drywall jobs, and I drag it to the bonfire for cutting up branches and logs. I’ve even cut piles of plastic and PVC with it.
To this day, its induction-hardened teeth (which I have never sharpened) are still strong enough to get through boards quickly without much effort. The Stanley Fat Max is all the best in one place — inexpensive, sharp, comfortable to use and well constructed.
Type: Panel saw.
Best for: Wood, wood products, plastics.
Blade length: 15 inches.
Teeth per inch (tpi): Nine.
Pros
- Affordable;
- Well-made;
- Comfortable handle;
- Versatile;
- Maintains its sharpness.
Cons
- Play develops over time in handle’s rivets.
