The Novolari folding saw made a very good impression in our test. This product is a folding saw with two different saw blades. The silver saw blade with coarse cutting teeth is suitable for wood, while the black saw blade with fine teeth can be used for metal and plastic. With the silver blade, even thick wood can be sawn quickly and with little effort. Sawing metal and plastic is also possible, although the saw blade jumps slightly with metal and produces an uneven cutting pattern with plastic . Thanks to the high blade, very straight cuts can be made with both saw blades, but if the saw is set at an angle from the start, this can hardly be corrected. The folding mechanism allows the saw to be stored compactly, but the folding mechanism is not noticeable when sawing.
Advantages
✅ Sturdy construction
✅ Sharp wood saw teeth
✅ Very straight cuts
✅ Only little effort required
✅ Practical folding mechanism
✅ Two saws in one housing
Disadvantages
❌ Chipping possible when attaching to metal
❌ Rough cutting pattern with plastic
The first impression
The packaging and labelling
ℹ️ Here we take a closer look at packaging. Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important factor. In addition, adequate protection of the product must of course also be ensured.
| Criterion | Remark | Points achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Product protection | Shipping and product carton are stable, product sufficiently protected | 100 points |
| Sustainability Packaging | Apart from the film and adhesive tape, there is no unnecessary packaging waste | 95 points |
| Packaging convenience | Packaging was easy to open even without tools | 100 points |
| Total | 98 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
In our case, the Novolari folding saw arrived in a generously sized shipping box. The much smaller product packaging was positioned at an angle inside the shipping box. As there was no additional filling material, the product packaging could still slip within the shipping box in a limited space. However, sufficient protection was provided by the robust and tight-fitting product packaging. This consisted of a precisely fitting cardboard box that was generously wrapped with transparent adhesive tape. For the sake of the environment, most of the adhesive tape could have been dispensed with.
Inside the product box, the folding saw was still wrapped in a transparent film. As the product was sufficiently protected even without the film, we believe that this could have been dispensed with. Both the film and the two boxes were easy to open without tools. Additional protection is provided by the saw’s folding mechanism, which holds the cutting edges of the saw blades inside the handle. This prevents damage to the cutting edges during transport.
The two packaging boxes and the saw itself arrived undamaged and in perfect condition. The first impression of the saw is correspondingly positive .
After unpacking
Package contents and instructions
ℹ️ Most people’s first impression after unpacking is immediately memorable. Are the contents of the pack complete and does the manufacturer make it as easy as possible for me to use the product straight away?
| Criterion | Remark | Points achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Package contents & scope | Product completely available, manufacturer promises belt pouch for future customers | 100 points |
| Instructions for use | available, in German and illustrated | 100 |
| Contact information | Not rated, as not yet available at the time of testing | |
| Total | 100 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
The saw from Novolari comes in an attractive product bag with the manufacturer’s logo. The packaging also includes a matching and practical belt pouch . The folding saw from Novolari is a multi-function saw that is suitable for metal, wood and plastics.
An instruction manual written and illustrated in German is included. Although the use of the saw is self-explanatory, information on the potential dangers (sharp cutting teeth) and the area of application would be useful.
The first time in your hand
Product processing and appearance
ℹ️ Before we start the practical test, we take a close look at the product processing. How high quality are the materials used? Is the look and feel satisfactory?
| Criterion | Remark | Score achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Visual appearance | High-quality materials, sleek design | 100 points |
| Processing | Very good, only the unlocking bolt looks awkward | 90 points |
| Stability | Sturdy construction with all stressed parts made of metal | 100 points |
| Sustainability of the product | Good quality means a long service life can be expected | 100 points |
| Total | 98 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
The folding saw itself consists of a handle, two different saw blades and a release bolt. Like the saw blades, the inside of the handle is also made of metal. It is thickly covered with red rubber so that it still sits comfortably in the hand. There is a deep indentation along the entire length of the underside of the handle. When folded, the saw blades lie in the notch. This protects the blade from damage and at the same time prevents the user from injuring themselves on the saw teeth. Another advantage of the folding mechanism is that the size of the saw is reduced by about half when folded. This makes it easier to transport and store.
The saw has two different saw blades: The wood saw blade is silver-coloured and has relatively large, sharp-edged cutting teeth. Themetal saw blade is painted black and has significantly more, but smaller cutting teeth. According to the manufacturer, it is suitable for metal, PVC, carpet and rubber. Both saw blades are positioned next to each other and are connected to the handle via a cardan shaft.
To fold the saw out and back in again, the release bolt must be operated. This is located at the end of the handle and can be moved in two directions . Depending on the direction, either the metal saw blade or the wood saw blade is unlocked. The bolt is rounded at both ends like a button and is easy to operate, but has a catchy feel. Two springs ensure that the bolt engages automatically when the saw blades are fully folded in or out. As a special extra, one end of the bolt is black and the other silver-coloured. If you press on the respective side, the corresponding coloured saw blade is released. This eliminates the tedious trial and error of unlocking the correct saw blade.
When unfolded, the handle and unfolded saw blade are not only connected to each other via the joint, but also via the release mechanism. Both saw blades are significantly thinner than one millimetre. However, the height of the saw blades makes them very stable. The saw blade is 32 mm high at the joint and tapers towards the front. The saw teeth of the wooden blade are three millimetres high, ground alternately on both sides and very sharp. In contrast, the saw teeth of the metal blade are symmetrical and extend across the entire width of the saw blade. They are about 0.5 mm high.
Overall, the saw makes a stable impression. The metal is sufficiently strong and the saw blades are connected to the handle with a sturdy bolt. There is also nothing to criticise about the workmanship.
This is what our practical test showed
Does the manufacturer keep its advertising promises?
ℹ️ Our practical test is the most relevant and therefore the most important. Here, the product has to undergo a wide range of criteria and tests. We check the functions and product promises of the test article.
| Criterion | Remark | Points achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Folding mechanism | Reliable, not noticeable when sawing, but the wood saw blade gets caught in the rubber of the handle | 90 points |
| Handle | Comfortable to hold, only one hand required for sawing | 100 points |
| Sawing wood | Good control of the saw right from the start, fast sawing with little effort | 100 points |
| Sawing metal | Reduced guideability compared to wood, otherwise stable metal can also be sawn well | 90 points |
| Sawing plastic | Can be sawn well with the metal saw blade, but produces a rough cutting pattern | 90 points |
| Total | 95 points |
*The maximum score is 100 points
We start our practical test by sawing wood. Although the unlocking bolt seems awkward at first, the saw can always be unlocked straight away. There are two positions available for the saw blades. In the first position, the saw blade and handle form an obtuse angle; in the second position, the blade and handle are in line. In both positions, the release bolt immediately engages reliably.
Sawing wood works perfectly. The saw is easy to guide right from the start. The saw also impresses with its sharp cutting teeth during the rest of the sawing process. The effort required is low. This is partly due to the sharp saw teeth, but also to the narrow width of the saw blade. The handle sits comfortably in the hand and cannot slip thanks to the rubber.
Very straight cuts are possible thanks to the large height of the saw blade. The disadvantage, however, is that it is almost impossible to correct an accidentally angled cut. If a cut is to be made precisely, care must therefore be taken to align the saw precisely, especially at the start.
After the sawing process, the cut surface is very even and uniform. Only small splinters appear at the edges, but these can easily be removed with sandpaper or a file.
After testing on wood, we fold in the silver wood saw blade and unfold the black saw blade. When folding in, the sharp teeth of the wood saw blade often get caught in the rubber of the handle casing and tear it open in the area of the handle notch. This can be avoided by taking care to fold the saw blade straight into the handle, but it happens quickly. Although the damage to the rubber does not lead to a loss of function, it does affect the appearance of the saw. A harder material in the area of the notch in the handle, in which the cutting teeth cannot get caught, could provide a remedy.
When sawing with the metal blade, the saw is unfortunately not as convincing as when sawing with wood. Above all, skill is required when using it. This applies to both metal and plastic. If there is not yet a notch in the material to be sawn, the blade tends to jump a few millimetres. However, once the first cut has been made, it is easy to continue sawing with the saw. As with sawing wood, the high saw blade ensures that the cuts are very straight, but it is almost impossible to correct the direction. With metal, the black saw blade produces a very even cut without any significant burr formation. Unfortunately, this does not apply to plastic. We chose a cable duct as the test object, the cut edge of which was rough and uneven.
Overall, the set makes a very good impression in the practical test. Thick wood and stable metal can be cut through with the saw without much effort. However, skill is required for precise cuts, especially in the initial phase of sawing.
Price/performance ratio
and ratings from consumers
ℹ️ Finally, we look at how the product compares to the competition. Can it keep up with the competition in terms of price and quality? Would we generally recommend buying it? We also analyse consumer reviews and check whether the critical and positive reviews are actually justified.
| Criterion | Remark | Points achieved* |
|---|---|---|
| Price / performance ratio | good | 90 |
| Rating cut | 5.0 out of 5.0 | 100 |
| Total |
*The maximum score is 100 points
Prices of up to €71 are charged for folding saws on the internet. Very inexpensive products are available from as little as €7.49. However, these folding saws are only suitable for wood. The Novolari folding saw has a price of €29 .97 and is in the lower price/performance ratio.
Overall result
| Weighting | Score achieved* | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. packaging & labelling | 12,5% | 98 points |
| 2. package contents & instructions | 12,5% | 100 points |
| 3. product processing & appearance | 25% | 98 points |
| 4. in the practical test | 50% | 95 points |
| 5. price/performance & consumer reviews | not rated | 80 points |
| Total | 96 points |
