Bahco 396-LAP Folding Saw for Wood and Plastic

A small tool kit may need a saw for more than the next branch. Bahco lists plastic alongside green and dry wood for the 396-LAP Laplander, making it a candidate when those materials turn up on the same job list. This green-and-black folding saw also locks when closed, holding the folded blade in place between uses.

Wood and plastic on the same job list

Bahco lists green wood, dry wood and plastic among the intended materials. The 190 mm blade, described as 7.5 inches, has XT hardpoint teeth at seven teeth per inch.

Think about what normally travels in your kit. When suitable wood and plastic cuts recur, keeping one saw for those tasks can simplify what you pack. If you already carry a tool chosen for a particular plastic job, keeping that tool may serve you better than switching to a general utility blade.

The 396-LAP product page lists plastic without specifying types, thicknesses or the finish to expect. If a particular plastic cut is driving the purchase, confirm that task with Bahco before ordering: identify the material and thickness, and any required edge finish or final dimensions. A general plastic listing alone does not settle those requirements.

The black blade has a coating that Bahco describes as providing rust protection and low friction. The coating does not make the saw maintenance-free; put it away clean and dry, and check the blade and hinge before use.

The blade locks when folded, too

The saw locks in both open and closed positions. Bahco specifically highlights the folded lock, which holds the blade in its storage position. After a cut, fold the teeth into the handle and confirm that the lock has engaged before returning the saw to your bag.

For several short jobs at different stops, packing the saw away can be a repeated part of the day. The folded lock holds the blade during those pauses. Check that it has engaged again in the open position before each cut, and keep your fingers clear while folding or unfolding.

The two-component plastic handle comes with a leather strap. The loop is a carry feature, while the lock retains the folded blade. This is the single-saw version, supplied with the strap and no knife.

Size the saw for use and storage

Bahco lists the overall tool at 405 mm, or about 16 inches. The product gallery labels the folded length as 9 inches. Compare the folded measurement with the pouch or compartment you plan to use. Allow for the handle's width and the bag opening, too, so you can reach in and take out the closed saw. Bahco gives a tool weight of 200 grams, or about 7.1 ounces, to account for in a portable kit.

The 7.5-inch blade needs space to travel through a cut. As more of its length sits inside the material, less remains for the stroke. Choose around the room available to move the blade and support the work, rather than treating blade length as a maximum branch diameter. Repeated substantial cuts may call for a longer working blade.

Bahco says spare blades are available. A replacement needs to be identified as compatible with 396-LAP; matching length alone does not establish that the attachment fits. Check availability when you need one. This single-saw package does not include an extra blade.

Choose this Laplander for a kit whose real tasks include suitable plastic as well as wood, and where the folded lock is useful between stops. For a kit used only for pruning, an existing saw may already cover the work. Its stated material range should match a need you have, rather than simply adding another folding saw to the bag.