Suppose you have a need to machine wood or some wooden product with a hacksaw. It seems to be no problem to take a hacksaw and start working, but you need to clarify what kind of tool is suitable for this or that job. There are dozens of models, and their difference is not only in price and manufacturers.
The tool is not convoluted in its application, but it has several nuances that are worth considering. In this article, we’ll try to break down the main details that you need to pay attention to.
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Features
The hacksaw itself consists of a blade and a handle. It is worth paying attention to the grade of steel for the blade, it will determine the quality and convenience of work. Nuances such as the length of the blade, the size of the teeth, the type of steel and the type of handle are basic when choosing a hacksaw.
Blade size.
Depending on your task, you can choose different lengths of blade. For simple planks and small bars, a length of twenty-eight centimeters to thirty centimeters is fine. If you are doing construction work, however, it makes more sense to get a blade that is forty-five centimeters to fifty centimeters long.
The basic rule: the length of the product should be half as long as the hacksaw itself, otherwise you can forget about the convenience of work.
Tooth sharpening and size
The size and sharpness of the teeth is one of the main criteria when choosing a hacksaw. The bottom line is that the small teeth on a hacksaw are designed for neat work, and the long ones for rougher work, they are well suited for garden work where neatness is not important.
Looking at photos of wood hacksaws with a variety of teeth, you will be convinced what kind of hacksaw you need.
There is a TPI unit on the hacksaw market that directly affects the accuracy of the cut, it determines the number of teeth per 1 inch. For example, you need to cut a couple of chipboard boards, in which case it is recommended to use hacksaws with TPI in the range of seven to nine, then the cut will be smooth and accurate.
If you need to work in the garden, cut down branches, for example, then neatness is not so important, a hacksaw with TPI from three to six will be enough for you. The tooth pitch can be from two and a half to six and a half millimeters and from one and a half to five millimeters.
The shape of the teeth in the classic saw is triangular and can be easily sharpened. However, in today’s reality it is more common to find hacksaws with trapezoidal teeth. It positions itself as a more robust and durable saw.
But proper sharpening with such a tool will be impossible, because the steel from which the hacksaw is made is not amenable to a simple file, and it will be almost impossible to repeat such a shape. As soon as the saw is blunt, we either change the blade, or go and buy a new one.
Sharpening a wood hacksaw with your own hands is not difficult, but also not simple. Before you start sharpening, it is necessary to make a setting so that the blade does not jam during sharpening. To do this, we use a special tool, which is called sharpening.
Sharpening itself requires quite a variety of tools.
Instructions on how to properly sharpen a hacksaw
Before you begin, you need to clamp your blade firmly in a vise so that it does not wobble. Once you have the blade in place, take a file and start sharpening the left edge on the first tooth. You need to hold the file at an angle of sixty degrees.
In an even and smooth motion, work the file. In exactly the same way you should sharpen all the left parts of the odd teeth, and then the right ones. Then flip the blade over, fix and sharpen the teeth of the even row.
When you are finished, be sure to deburr the blade with a specialized velvet file.
Hacksaw Handle
A hacksaw handle is a very handy tool when used and chosen correctly. Handles are divided into flip-up and regular handles, the only difference is that flip-up handles have the ability to change the blade.
The right approach to choosing a hacksaw
Jobs in which hacksaws are used are divided into carpentry and carpentry. Accuracy is more important in carpentry, but speed is more important in carpentry.
First of all, you should pay attention to the quality of the metal of the blade, for this we take the hacksaw in our hands and bend at 30-45 degrees. It is necessary to do it as carefully as possible, because low-quality metal is very easy to break.
After performing this operation, look at the place of the bend, if there is a slight deviation, then the metal of this product is of very low quality.
The most important criterion in choosing your hacksaw is the price. Naturally, the choice is in front of you – a cheap Chinese hacksaw of poor quality or an expensive saw of a well-known brand. However, having overpaid once, you will not have to change the blade forever or buy a new tool. The big brands pay close attention to the quality of steel and hardening used in their blades.
The main tasks of the teeth are to remove sawdust and to cut the wood itself.
Teeth with a TPI of up to seven are fast and easy to use. Therefore, the choice of a hacksaw should come entirely out of your own needs.
Types of hand saws
Narrow hacksaw
A small, narrow hand hacksaw consisting of a straight, thin blade and a handle. It is mainly used for a variety of thin. It has, more often than not, a blade with triangular double-sided teeth.
One of the main disadvantages of this type of hacksaw is the possibility of deflection during your work with a piece of wood.
Classic Saw.
A simple hacksaw is certainly equipped with absolutely a variety of types of teeth, as well as different blades that can be interchanged.
Hacksaws with a shank
Many saws have a major problem – bends during operation. By choosing a hacksaw with a shank, you completely save yourself from this problem. However, you will not be able to make a cut deeper than the width of the blade.
Ray-shaped saws.
This is a weighty sized hacksaw. The main advantage of working with this kind is the ability to work with the product you need at absolutely any angle. Using an archery saw, you can work the material from any side, along and across, to make complex workpieces alone.
A fine hacksaw is great for small jobs in the garden, using it when sawing large materials is not recommended.
Brands
The best wood hacksaw brands provide: Gross, Stanley, Irwin, Bahco.
Photo of a wood hacksaw.
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