Craftsman Hand Saws: Which One Cuts What You Need?

The CRAFTSMAN Hand Saw model CMHT20881 is an essential manual tool designed for carpenters and DIY woodworkers. Built as a dedicated craftsman saw for wood, it centers around a 20-inch high-speed steel blade with a rectangular profile. The blade features induction-hardened teeth engineered with an exclusive tooth geometry that delivers rapid, clean cuts through softwood and hardwood boards. Craftsman pairs this blade with an ergonomic bi-material handle that provides balanced comfort and control during repeated sawing strokes.

• Twenty-inch high-speed steel blade designed for clean wood crosscuts
• Induction-hardened teeth engineered for long-lasting sharpness
• Bi-material ergonomic handle for balanced comfort and control
• Handle profile integrates 45-degree and 90-degree square and miter layout guides

This craftsman hand saw 20 inch fine finish model suits woodworkers, remodelers, and property owners who need reliable cuts on framing boards, studs, and wood paneling. Weighing just 14.4 ounces, the tool has a lightweight profile that reduces fatigue during repetitive sawing. The handle’s integrated square and miter feature incorporates pre-measured 45-degree and 90-degree reference angles, allowing you to mark lumber faces without retrieving a separate square from your craftsman socket set storage box.

While this tool excels at straight carpentry cuts, it yields to other tools when materials change. It cannot cut metal hardware, conduit, or masonry without tooth damage. For cutting metal stock, you must step over to the brand’s dedicated hacksaw, while compound trim cuts require a specialized miter box.

Best for
Property owners trimming small tree branches

The CRAFTSMAN V20 Mini Cordless Chainsaw (model CMCCS320D1) brings motorized efficiency to outdoor yard maintenance. Engineered as a handheld craftsman pruning saw, this compact tool utilizes a 6-inch guide bar and chain powered by the Craftsman V20 battery system. The package includes the cordless pruning chainsaw, a 2.0Ah V20 lithium-ion battery, a charger, a bar sheath, and a wrench. Craftsman reports that the system delivers optimal cutting power capable of completing up to 85 cuts per charge across branches up to 4 inches thick.

• Six-inch guide bar and chain with up to four-inch cut capacity
• Includes V20 2.0Ah lithium-ion battery pack and dedicated battery charger
• Delivers up to 85 cuts per full battery charge
• Integrated tip guard for enhanced control during upper cuts

This motorized pruning saw suits homeowners and gardeners who need to trim tree limbs, thin dense brush, and shape overgrown hedges without manual sawing fatigue. Built to be 50 percent more compact and 14 percent lighter than the CMCCSL621B model, this tool offers excellent maneuverability inside tangled canopies. An integrated tip guard provides control during upper cuts, while a bolt-lock tensioning mechanism keeps the chain seated. Users who maintain their property with a craftsman weed eater will appreciate that this saw shares the same V20 battery platform.

While the CMCCS320D1 eliminates manual effort for yard trimming, it is not designed for indoor woodworking. The chain leaves a rough kerf unsuited for finished carpentry, and its 4-inch capacity cannot fell large trees. For straight carpentry, manual hand saws or corded circular saws remain the appropriate choice.

Best for
Campers and gardeners needing portable pruning

The CRAFTSMAN Folding Hand Saw (model CMXMCBA2300) is a portable manual cutting tool tailored for outdoor recreation, pruning, and trail clearing. It features an 8-inch alloy steel blade equipped with triple-ground teeth designed to slice aggressively through green wood, tree branches, and brush. The blade folds cleanly into a 10-inch handle featuring an ambidextrous soft-touch grip that provides a secure, non-slip hold. An easy-to-latch safety lock secures the blade firmly in both the extended cutting position and the folded storage position.

• Eight-inch alloy steel blade designed for trimming outdoor vegetation
• Aggressive triple-ground blade teeth for fast cutting through wood
• Ten-inch handle equipped with a comfortable, soft-touch grip
• Integrated safety lock mechanism secures the blade when open or closed

This craftsman folding hand saw suits campers, backpackers, hunters, and homeowners who need a compact pruning saw that stows safely in a pocket, pack, or glove compartment. Because the sharp teeth fold completely inside the handle cavity, there is zero risk of the blade snagging gear or causing accidental damage during transport. The triple-ground teeth cut efficiently on the pull stroke, slicing quickly through fibrous, sap-rich branches that would bind a standard carpentry hand saw.

Despite its efficiency outdoors, this folding saw gives way to larger tools when framing or finish projects arise. The aggressive tooth profile creates a coarse finish unacceptable for trim installation or furniture building. When you need square, splinter-free cuts on dimensional lumber, switch to the 20-inch fine-finish carpentry saw.

Best for
Carpenters cutting decorative molding and trim

The CRAFTSMAN Mitre Saw model CMHT20600 is a dedicated manual angle-cutting kit that pairs a 12-inch hand miter saw with a clamping miter box. Engineered specifically for precision joinery, the included hand saw features a high-speed steel blade outfitted with 80 fine teeth that deliver clean, splinter-free cuts across wood and plastic trim. The accompanying miter box features a rigid honeycomb base and includes specialized twist-and-lock cam-shaped pins that firmly secure workpieces against the guide walls, preventing shifting while sawing.

• Twelve-inch high-speed steel saw blade equipped with 80 fine-cutting teeth
• Clamping miter box with honeycomb base and twist-lock cam-shaped pins
• Precision guide slots for 45-degree, 90-degree, and 22.5-degree angled cuts
• Molded-in storage compartments designed to organize cam pins and marking pencils

This craftsman miter saw and clamping box setup suits finish carpenters, picture framers, and DIYers installing baseboards, coving, shoe molding, or door casing. The box features pre-slotted guide channels for cutting 45-degree and 90-degree miters, as well as 22.5-degree face angles tailored for octagonal frames. An extended lip along the base catches against the workbench front to prevent slippage during strokes, while a built-in saw stop protects the honeycomb base from blade contact. Molded-in compartments keep cam pins and pencils organized directly on the box.

The limiting factor of this system is physical capacity. The fixed width and height of the miter box channels restrict workpiece dimensions, making it impossible to cut wide shelving boards or thick framing studs. For large dimensional lumber, you must use a standard hand saw or transition to a powered circular saw.

Best for
Builders cutting framing lumber and plywood

The CRAFTSMAN Circular Saw (model CMES500) represents the high-output powered cutting option in the Craftsman lineup. Powered by a 13-amp corded electric motor operating at 1,500 watts, this saw spins a 7-1/4 inch 18-tooth carbide-tipped blade at 5,300 RPM to deliver rapid, aggressive cuts through lumber and sheet goods. The tool features an adjustable bevel shoe that pivots up to 45 degrees, allowing users to make accurate angled bevel cuts for roof rafters, framing joints, and decking boards. A convenient spindle lock button enables fast, simple blade changes using a single wrench.

• High-performance 13-amp corded electric motor operating at 5,300 RPM
• Seven-and-a-quarter-inch 18-tooth carbide-tipped blade for fast cutting
• Pivoting beveling shoe supports accurate angle cuts up to 45 degrees
• Integrated spindle lock mechanism facilitates quick blade changes

This circular saw suits home builders, framing contractors, and DIY remodelers who need to process large volumes of dimensional framing timber, plywood subflooring, oriented strand board, and composite decking. Weighing 8 pounds, the tool features a compact frame and a contoured over-molded handle that reduces fatigue during prolonged cutting tasks. When breaking down heavy plywood sheets or cutting dozens of framing studs, this corded saw completes jobs in a fraction of the time required by manual hand saws.

However, this heavy-duty circular saw gives way to manual hand tools when fine precision, quiet operation, or intricate angles are required. The fast-spinning 18-tooth blade produces tear-out on delicate interior moldings and cannot navigate tight curved cuts or flush plumbing applications. For decorative molding, the manual miter box remains superior, and for metal conduits, the 12-inch hacksaw is the proper tool.