Hand saws are among the most difficult tools to store well. They’re long, they’re sharp, they’re thin enough to flex in storage and develop a set, and most wall hooks designed for them either stress the handle, expose the teeth, or both. A well-stored hand saw presents its handle naturally for retrieval, has its teeth protected during storage, and doesn’t contact other saws in a way that can nick or dull the edges. Eight reader solutions that all achieve this in different ways.
The traditional saw till (three submissions) – A slotted rack that holds saws vertically, handle-up, teeth protected by the slot itself. The oldest solution is still one of the best. Our reader variants ranged from a simple drilled-hole plywood rack to an elaborate cherry case with individual leather-lined slots for each saw. All three work excellently. The key dimension: the slot needs to be slightly wider than the saw plate – 1/16 inch of clearance is ideal. Too tight and the saw binds. Too loose and it rattles and risks contact damage.
The horizontal peg system (two submissions) – Horizontal pegs through the handle hole, saw hanging with the plate vertical and the teeth pointing down. Simple, takes minimal space, and the handle-hole mount puts zero stress on the blade. Works perfectly for saws with a hole in the handle. Fails for saws without one (older or specialty saws). Best paired with a leather or rubber tip cover over the toe of the saw.
The wall hook with blade guard (two submissions) – A standard J-hook or bicycle hook holding the saw by the heel of the plate, with a custom-made plastic or leather blade guard covering the teeth. The guard is the key – without it, open teeth at arm height are a genuine safety concern. Two readers made their guards from leather straps and Chicago screws; one used strip magnets to hold a thin plastic cover that snaps on and off.
The eighth solution – one reader’s “never mount saws on the wall” philosophy (everything in a dedicated saw till box at floor level) – generated the most discussion. His argument: mounted saws collect dust on the teeth, the teeth are at risk of contact with anything moving through the shop, and floor-level storage is more accessible because he’s usually kneeling or sitting at the bench when he needs a saw. His point on dust is correct. How do you store your hand saws?