Not every concrete cut gets a big machine. Inside a villa bathroom, a riser cupboard, a plant room or a narrow corridor, there’s often no room to bolt on a wall saw track or wheel in a floor saw. That’s where handheld saws take over. The two you’ll hear about most are the standard hand saw (a handheld power cutter) and the ring saw. They look similar, but they cut very differently. Below, you’ll find a quick profile of each tool, then a simple yes/no flow to pick the right one for your job. Tool profile: the hand saw What it is: A handheld power cutter with a diamond blade fixed at its centre. The motor drives the blade through a central arbor, the same way a cut-off saw works. Cutting depth: Limited by the hub. A traditional power cutter reaches roughly half the depth of a ring saw (Husqvarna), which in practice means around 100 to 150mm depending on blade size. Best for: Watch out for: Tool profile: the ring saw What it is: A handheld saw with a ring-shaped diamond blade driven from its outer edge, not its centre. With no hub in the middle, the blade can sink much deeper into the concrete. Cutting depth: Up to 270mm with a 370mm ring, and 325mm with a 430mm ring, for one widely used model (Husqvarna). That’s enough to cut through a typical wall from one side. Weight: Around 14kg for the same model, so it’s still a one-person tool. Best for: Watch out for: Side by side Hand saw Ring saw Typical depth About 100 to 150mm About 270 to 325mm Cuts thick walls from one side No Yes, up to around 300mm Set-up time Minimal Minimal Precision Good Good Blade cost Lower Higher Best job Shallow cuts, chasing, trimming Small openings in walls and slabs Which one? Answer these questions 1. Is the concrete deeper than about 150mm? 2. Can you cut from both sides? 3. Is the element thicker than about 300mm? 4. Do you need sharp, square corners with no overcut? Working in tight spaces safely Small spaces make concrete cutting harder, whatever saw you use. Need a cut in a tight spot? Scan and Core handles small-access concrete cutting across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, from villa bathrooms to tower risers. We scan first, pick the right tool for the space and leave the area clean. Contact Scan and Core for a site visit, or call +971 56 861 9006.