X-ACTO Precision Razor Saw Set, Includes 2 Blades - Cuts Metal, Balsa Wood, and Plastic, For Delicate Sawing of Models and Railroad Tracks Review (2026)

What is in the set

The set includes an X-ACTO number 5 contoured handle along with two blades, a fine blade and a medium blade, each 4 and a half inches long with 42 teeth per inch. The fine blade, listed as the number 235, has a 1 inch cut depth and is intended for the most delicate sawing work, while the medium blade, the number 234, has a slightly shallower three quarter inch cut depth and is better suited to broader cuts through thicker material. Having both in one set means a builder can switch between a finer or coarser cut without buying separate saw blades individually.

Materials this saw is built to cut

X-ACTO markets this set for cutting metal, balsa wood and plastic, and specifically calls out delicate sawing of models and railroad track, which points to soft, thin materials rather than heavy dimensional lumber or thick metal stock. The fine tooth count relative to a standard woodworking saw is what allows for controlled, low-tearout cuts on thin styrene sheet or small wood strips used in scale modeling, where a coarser saw would tend to chip or splinter the material instead of cutting cleanly through it. This makes the set a reasonable pick for railroad hobbyists trimming track ties as well as plastic kit builders working on similarly thin stock.

Handle compatibility and everyday use

Both blades fit into X-ACTO's standard number 5 handle system, which many hobbyists already own from other X-ACTO knife and tool sets, so this saw set can slot into an existing collection of interchangeable blades rather than requiring a dedicated handle used for nothing else. The saw is best used with light, controlled strokes rather than forcing it through material, letting the fine teeth do the cutting gradually instead of pushing hard and risking the thin blade flexing or binding partway through a cut. Starting a cut with a light backward stroke before pushing forward also helps the fine teeth bite in cleanly without skating across the surface.

Limitations for square, repeatable cuts

Like most small razor saws used freehand, getting a perfectly square cut across a piece of styrene or wood strip is difficult without some kind of guide, since a hand-held blade can drift slightly off vertical over the length of a longer cut. A miter box or another guide fixture sized for thin razor saw blades solves this by constraining the blade to a fixed angle, and is a common companion purchase for builders who need consistent right-angle cuts on repeated parts, such as matching lengths of styrene strip or rail track sections.

Verdict and blade care

This set earns a 9 out of 10 for fitting the job in our data, reflecting how well suited a fine razor saw is to the kind of delicate, small-scale cutting scale modelers need. Because the blades are thin, they can bend or kink if forced through material that is too thick or too hard for their intended use, so matching the right blade choice to the material's thickness matters quite a bit for longevity. For anyone who already owns an X-ACTO handle and wants dependable fine and medium saw options for plastic, wood or track work, this two-blade set is a solid, focused addition to a modeling bench and travel kit alike.

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