What Is the Difference Between Saw and Pruning Saw?

When it comes to cutting branches, wood, or other materials around the home or outdoors, choosing the right type of saw can be confusing. You might wonder: should I use a regular saw or a pruning saw? What works better, and why? This article is here to help you make that decision easily. Whether you're a DIYer, gardener, or professional, we'll break down the key differences between standard saws and pruning saws — and also show you why many people today are choosing reciprocating saws (Sawzalls) with specialized pruning blades like those from EZARC to make their work faster, cleaner, and more efficient.

Difference Between Saw and Pruning Saw

Purpose & Use

Standard Saw (Hand Saw or General-Purpose Saw):

They are meant to cut wood, plastic, and soft metals. They are extensively applied in construction, carpentry, and home renovation works where controlled straight cuts are required.

Pruning Saw:

Pruning saws are designed to cut branches, shrubs, and stems, both living and dead. They are favored by landscapers, arborists, and gardeners to trim trees or remove overgrowth. In modern applications, this often includes using a pruning blade for reciprocating saws to improve speed and efficiency.

Blade Design

Standard Saw:

Normally has a long, broad blade with a fine set of teeth to cut accurately on dry wood or panels.

Pruning Saw:

It was made with rough, sharp teeth and a curved or straight blade to cut natural, irregular objects such as tree branches more easily. Its curved shape enhances control and power particularly when working overhead. Today, sawzall pruning blades are also designed with aggressive curved forms for these same reasons.

Standard Saw:

Usually 6-10 TPI (teeth per inch) to cut processed wood more smoothly.

Pruning Saw:

Has 3–6 TPI, which makes it cut through green wood quicker and cleaner without clogging the blade. This low TPI tooth structure is also found in reciprocating saw blades for trees like EZARC's models, making them highly efficient for pruning work.

Cutting Motion

Standard Saw:

A push-pull action is needed and it is most effective on a supported, flat surface.

Pruning Saw:

Usually nicks on the pull stroke, which minimizes the possibility of binding and makes it easier to control in working on uneven or vertical branches. For powered options, pruning blades for sawzall replicate this motion with motor-driven efficiency.

Portability and Environment

Standard Saw:

Heavier and more workshop or job site oriented.

Pruning Saw:

Light, and usually foldable blades, compact, so they are ideal to be used outside and in the garden. For added mobility and faster results, many opt for sawzall blades for trees which combine portability and performance with power.

Manual vs. Power Pruning — Why So Many Like a Sawzall

Although manual pruning saws are excellent at simple landscaping, most professionals and serious do-it-yourselfers are now using reciprocating saws (also called Sawzalls) to prune thicker branches, dead wood, or dense shrubs.

What is the Purpose of Using a Reciprocating Saw to Prune

● Quicker cutting of thick branches

● Less physical work than manual sawing

● Increased range of awkward or high angles

● Versatility of the tool — simply switch the blade to do other tasks

Nevertheless, pruning with a conventional demolition blade may cause jagged cuts or blade damage. That is where a pruning blade for sawzall or a reciprocating saw tree blade comes in — specifically engineered to make clean, fast cuts in green and dry wood without dulling too quickly.

EZARC Pruning Blades for Reciprocating Saws

In order to get the most out of your Sawzall in pruning, we suggest the high-performance pruning blades of EZARC, which are designed to be durable, fast, and clean.

Key features

● Sharp tooth shape to cut fast in green and dry wood

● Features Blades with Innovative arc edge design and triple-ground offset teeth profile that provides 3 cutting angles

● High-quality chromium-vanadium steel, which is suitable to hard tree work

● Universal application to large brands

Suggested EZARC Sawzall Blades

Tree Trimming/Wood Cutting – Japanese Teeth 6 TPI Reciprocating Saw Blade

29.97 USD

42.95 USD

Professionals & Premium Use - 15-Inch Japanese Teeth Reciprocating Saw Blade.

To do heavy-duty, professional-grade pruning and tree trimming, we strongly suggest theThis blade is designed with 6 TPI Japanese-style teeth arc edge, which provides ultra-fast, smooth cutting action on tree limbs and large wood limbs.

Perfect for arborists, landscapers, and serious woodworkers who require the ultimate efficiency, durability, and precision in the field.It’s one of the most recommended sawzall tree blades on the market today.

Tree Pruning/Wood Cutting – 12 Piece Wood Pruning Reciprocating Saw Blade Set

21.95 USD

Budget Option - Ezarc 12-piece Wood Pruning Reciprocating Saw Blade Set

This budget-friendly sawzall tree blade set is ideal for cutting tree branches and green wood pruning, featuring aggressive, sharp ground teeth for bidirectional cutting, ensuring fast, clean cuts.

This set includes 5 pcs of 6" wood blades 6TPI, 4 pcs of 9" and 3pcs of 12" pruner/wet wood blade 5TPI.

When it comes to cutting tools, understanding the difference between a standard saw and a pruning saw is essential — especially as more users upgrade to power tools like reciprocating saws (Sawzalls). Whether you're a homeowner looking for an affordable multi-use solution or a professional landscaper in need of a durable pruning blade for Sawzall, EZARC provides the tools built for performance, efficiency, and long-lasting results.

Choosing the right tool for your needs not only makes your work easier but ensures safety and precision. With the right sawzall tree blade, you'll be ready to tackle anything from garden maintenance to heavy-duty pruning jobs.

Explore EZARC’s collection of reciprocating saw blades for trees, pruning blades, and more — and equip yourself with professional-grade cutting power.