Best Hacksaw in the UK (2023 Reviews & Buying Guide)

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After many hours of research and rigorous testing, we highly recommend the Stanley Fatmax 5-in-1 Hacksaw.

It’s uniquely flexible (though not literally — its lightweight frame can deliver 100kg of blade tension) and has five different configurations, including one as a jab saw.

While any hacksaw can cut plywood, it takes plenty of chassis strength to tackle more challenging materials. We feel the Stanley 0-20-108 has this strength in abundance, and it’s our top pick for the Best Hacksaw in the UK.

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Best Hacksaw Reviews — The UK’s Top 5 in 2023

Whether preparing a pipe, working on wood or moulding metal, a reliable hacksaw is your best friend.

Unfortunately, we found that many hacksaws struggle with anything more challenging than timber and are unsuited for more rigid materials like metal.

To help you avoid these underperforming hacksaws, below are our top three hacksaws for cutting metal, starting with a uniquely versatile product from one of the DIY daddies:

The Stanley Fatmax range extends to hundreds of products, all distinguished with the same canary yellow finish. 

Their oddly-titled 0-20-108 is a multifunctional hacksaw with a removable front section. When removed, the 0-20-108 becomes a handy jab saw. The blade can also be attached to the front of the frame for inside cuts.

However you configure the 0-20-108, it has a reassuringly solid grip handle. Its frame supports 100kg of blade tension, while its blade has 120mm throat depth in its standard 90-degree position. The Fatmax also cuts at 45-degrees for flush cuts. 

There’s storage inside the chunky frame for spare blades, though the 0-20-108 comes with one 30cm 24 TPI blade.

Pros	Cons
Reassuringly robust	Relatively heavy
Supports 100kg of blade tension	Blade changing is not intuitive
Part of the vast Fatmax range

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You might not have heard of Bahco, but this hand tool specialist traces its origins to 19th-century Sweden. 

Among today’s roster of 14,000 products is the 319 — a reassuringly industrial-looking device with rubberised grips at both ends. It’s almost half the Fatmax’s weight, reducing fatigue while slicing through rigid materials, and it’s also well-balanced.

Bahco’s two-component 319 frame has a spring-tensioned blade loading mechanism. 

It also includes a 55-degree mounting position and the standard 90-degree setting. It’s supplied with a 24 TPI blade, offering considerable cutting force.

Pros	Cons
Well-balanced with tactile rubber handle	Not a steel frame
Sturdy construction	Limited configurations
Spring-tensioned blade housing

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Milwaukee’s frame’s vivid red splashes are pretty bold. You won’t have any problems finding this hacksaw in a tool bag while its rounded edges prevent it from snagging on thumbs or other objects.

Despite being the most expensive hacksaw on our list, the Milwaukee 48220050 does little to distinguish itself in any particular area. It offers a solitary 24 TPI blade, weighs an average of 771g, takes 12-inch blades, and has no surprise-and-delight features. 

Instead, Milwaukee’s 48220050 offers quality construction, dependability, and a bi-metal blade that can cut angle iron, brass, pipework, and steel.

Pros	Cons
Robust	Expensive
Hardwearing	It offers nothing to distinguish it from its rivals
Makes light work of iron and steel

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If the Milwaukee looks bold, OX’s P130730 is positively flamboyant, with cyan extending across every body part, including the supplied 12-inch bimetal 24 TPI blade. 

The OX-P130730’s chunky rubber grip handle is framed by release levers resembling stair gate fastenings, while the front end also has a thick handle in situ. This chunky handle makes the OX-P130730 relatively unsuitable for narrow spaces than the more minimalist products on our list, yet it’s excellent for two-handed cutting.

OX claim their high-tension hacksaw has minimal chassis flex for straighter cutting, while the blades’ position can be either 45 or 90 degrees. At 850g, it’s heavier than every product except the Stanley, though the milled blade tension wheel is pleasingly tactile.

Pros	Cons
Very tactile	Quite heavy
Adjustable blade angle	Questions over its longevity
Great for flex-free one or two-handed cutting

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Facom’s 601 makes its two-handed design obvious with a subtle curve to its spine, with moulded hand grips at both ends. 

At just 100g, the Facom 601 is the featherweight of this group. Despite its negligible weight, the Facom is still supplied with a standard 12-inch 24 TPI blade, while the impact-resistant resin-coated steel frame withstands knocks and bangs in a tool bag.

Blade switching and tightening is simplicity itself, while the slash of red across its French-made frame is reminiscent of the Milwaukee hacksaw. The blade pin mountings are perhaps less sturdy than some users might prefer.

Pros	Cons
Extremely lightweight	Basic
Great for two-handed use	Relatively expensive considering its simplicity
Sturdy frame

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Best Hacksaw in the UK — 2023 Comparison Table

Model	Weight	Blade length	Blade angle adjustment?	Blade storage?	Moulded handle?	Rating
Stanley 0-20-108	1kg	12 inch	Yes	Yes	Yes	9
Bahco 319	560g	12 inch	Yes	No	Yes	8
Milwaukee 48-22-0050	771g	12 inch	No	No	Yes	6
OX OX-P130730	850g	12 inch	Yes	No	Yes	8
Facom 601	100g	12 inch	No	No	Yes	7

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Hacksaw Buying Guide

Every hacksaw on our list takes standard 12-inch blades, typically fitted with 24 teeth per inch (TPI). The TPI rating affects a blade’s ability to slice through hard materials like metal, so avoid replacing blades with a lower TPI. 

This Metals4U blog post discusses the advantages of angled blades and why the number of teeth per inch on a blade can make all the difference.

Bi-metal blades tend to be stronger, and several of our shortlisted hacksaws come with bi-metal blades as standard. One even has a dedicated housing for a second blade, which is ideal if you’re (literally and figuratively) chopping and changing on a job.

Flexibility, Size and Weight

Some people need a hacksaw to cut through rigid objects, but others want more flexibility. Three of our shortlisted products have adjustable blade angles, which increase their versatility. 

One of the hacksaws on our list allows you to dismantle it, reducing its weight and size. This feature is super handy when working in compact spaces. Another hacksaw on our list is ultra-lightweight, minimising the arm ache familiar to anyone who’s spent long periods sawing through robust metal objects.

Handle

Hacksaws place a lot of pressure on your fingers and wrists, so choosing a product with a moulded or padded handle for a softer grip is better for your hands. 

Our list’s cheapest product has a basic diecast alloy handle, which is robust and unlikely to crack (as plastic mouldings tend to do as they age) but causes discomfort during long periods of use. However, it’s also the lightest of our shortlisted products.

Several of our recommended hacksaws have twin moulded handles for two-handed slicing. However, materials vary from textured rubber to more rigid plastic, which may begin to chafe after extended use.

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Best Hacksaw in the UK — Final Thoughts

All of the hacksaws in our list do a fine job slicing through soft metals, hardwoods and reinforced pipework. None is expensive to buy, though some are more than twice the price of others. And despite variations in blade attachment mechanisms and overall design, you can expect many years of dependable service from all the hacksaws we tested.

Overall, it’s hard to see past Stanley’s Fatmax 5-in-1 hacksaw. Despite being the heaviest hacksaw, it offers features no rival product can match, like blade storage and jab saw functionality. Dismantling the frame is a unique function, hugely boosting its versatility and lowering its weight.

To learn more about saws, check out our complete guide to 21 types of saws.