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There are two types of blades for hand saws. Rules for choosing hacksaw blades for metal. Universal saw – hacksaws for all occasions

The hacksaw is considered quite common hand tools, which is designed to divide the workpiece into several individual parts a certain size. Her design features characterized by the fact that it is possible to periodically replace workers closely. When processing metal, there is a very high probability of rapid wear of the cutting edge. Therefore, a ribbon replacement function was provided, which requires Not a large number of time. There is simply a huge number of different canvases; let’s look at the features of choice and many other points in more detail.

Types of hacksaw blades and their design

Do not forget that the production of working hacksaw blades is carried out in accordance with established standards in GOST 53411-2009. The specified information in this regulatory and technical documentation determines the identification of two main groups: for machine and manual cutting. It is worth considering that a machine hacksaw blade for metal is purchased extremely rarely, since such equipment is used extremely rarely. The following versions are produced for a manual hacksaw:

Single hacksaw blade for metal with a distance between fasteners of 250 mm. In this case, the total length is 265 mm. This design option is suitable for a tool that is used when there is no need for high productivity.
Single versions with a distance between two fasteners of 300 mm. The overall length is 315 mm.
For greater productivity, a double hacksaw blade is installed. The length of this version is the same as the previous one.

When choosing, attention is paid to the width indicator, which for a single version is 0.63 mm, for a double version 0.8 mm. The height of the tooth in the first case is 12.5 mm, in the second 20 mm.

The value of the location step is also regulated, since such an indicator determines many operational characteristics.

Download GOST 53411-2009
In the manufacture of such a product, a variety of alloys can be used, on which the main performance characteristics largely depend. The most common alloys are:
X6VF.
High-speed alloys, for example, R5M5 and R12.

Hacksaw blade with tungsten carbide coating Lately quite common, as it is characterized by increased wear resistance. It is worth considering that spraying can have a wide variety of colors; blue versions are available on sale; regular steel is dark gray.
The quality is also influenced by the uniformity of the wiring. A good hacksaw blade for metal has a deviation of no more than 45% over a length of 10 mm. Also, a visual inspection allows you to determine how equal the individual teeth are in height. Accurate results can be obtained by using a micrometer or other measuring instrument with high accuracy.
How to install a blade on a hacksaw for metal
The design of the tool in question allows for quick replacement of the hacksaw blade. It is worth considering that if a mistake is made, the product in question will not last for a long period. How to install a blade in a hacksaw for metal is a very common question, since this tool is found in almost all home workshops. The main recommendations are the following:
The instructions largely depend on the fastening system used in a particular case.
The threaded clamp, in which the hacksaw blade is installed and tensioned, has become widespread. A sudden change in the applied load becomes the reason why you have to periodically check the degree of tension.
There are tools with lever fastening. In this case, installation is greatly simplified, since it is enough to pull back the lever and install the hacksaw blade for cutting metal, and then tighten it in the opposite direction.

When considering how to properly insert a blade into a hacksaw for metal, it should be taken into account that after proper installation it creates a slight ringing sound during operation and may vibrate a little. However, at the time of sawing, the product should not change its position, as this may cause damage to the mounting holes.
Selection rules
Subject to certain rules, it is possible to choose a suitable canvas that can last for a long period. The main recommendations are the following:
The surface should be free of cracks or other defects, as well as traces of corrosion. This is due to the fact that even minor damage will cause increased wear.
At the time of selection, you should make sure that the saw is elastic. To do this, bend it a little and then release it. A high-quality product almost immediately restores its shape, which indicates high flexibility.
As previously noted, the permissible cutting speed largely depends on the number of teeth per inch.
The determining factor in many cases is the type of material used. Often they give preference to hardened steel or bimmetallic products. The version with tungsten carbide coating lasts for a short period.

As practice shows, a low-quality version has to be changed several times, while a more expensive proposal will last for a longer period.
Only when correct use you can eliminate the possibility of damage to the hacksaw blade for metal. The main recommendations are as follows:
It is necessary to carry out processing at the same speed and applied force. Even minor changes can cause a defect.
You need to take breaks from time to time. The reasons are that too high a temperature causes an increase in ductility.
At this point, the entire hacksaw blade must pass over the surface. This ensures even wear.

You can often encounter a situation where, due to strong heat and applied force, metal plate bursts. Low-quality versions wear out quickly and become practically unusable.
Number of teeth
The determining factor is how many teeth there are per inch. The following depends on it:
Performance depends on the indicator. As the number of cutting edges increases, the task at hand becomes significantly more complicated and the chips become smaller.
A large quantity allows you to get a high-quality cut. This is achieved by reducing the resulting chips.

In addition, an increase in quantity causes an increase in the cost of the product.
Tooth shape of metal blades
Attention is also paid to the shape of the tooth. This indicator depends on:
Installation direction of the metal plate.
Degree of wear during operation.
Tool performance.

In most cases, the classic form is used, since it is considered a universal option.
Tooth pitch
The pitch of the teeth may also differ. This indicator of the hacksaw blade determines:
Performance.
Possible quality of the resulting cut.
Application area.

A fine pitch allows you to get a high-quality cut when working with various alloys.
Teeth setting
Removal of chips from the cutting zone is carried out due to a certain layout of the cutting edge. As previously noted, according to this criterion, several options are distinguished:
Today, many tool manufacturers specialize in the production of hacksaw blades. At the same time, domestic products are much cheaper, foreign ones are more expensive, but at the same time have higher performance characteristics. For long-term operation, several products are required, as they can wear out at a high rate.

Metal blades for hacksaws are distinguished by size, material of manufacture, and type of tooth set. There are also single-sided and double-sided canvases.

The blade size can be from 150 mm (mini hacksaw) to 300 mm (standard hacksaw). The blade for metal has small teeth, as you can cut with large teeth hardware almost impossible.

In blades for cutting metal, the following main areas are distinguished: edge (ends of the blade), back (top part), cutting part (part of the blade on which the teeth are located).

Helpful information:

The teeth must be hardened, because it must be harder than the metal it is intended for cutting. Therefore, hardening or carburization is carried out on the working part of the blade, followed by hardening (this or that process depends on the brand of metal used for production).

Types of paintings

Depending on the material used to make metal blades for hacksaws, there are the following types:

Carbon steel blades (economical and flexible)
Fabrics with partial heat treatment
Fully hardened blades (used for precise, targeted cuts)
High-strength, semi-flexible steel blades with a high proportion of kobold and hardened teeth
Bimetallic blades (have greater flexibility and wear resistance)

Each type of metal blade for a hacksaw has its own characteristic features - thickness, width, tooth pitch, number of teeth per inch.

There are two types of blade tooth alignment for metal:

With routing along the canvas (on the working side it has a wave-like shape). This setting is used for very fine tooth pitches (less than 1 mm).
With streaks of teeth. In this type of wiring there can be options - for each tooth, through a tooth, two adjacent teeth through a tooth.

Which tooth to choose

The spaces between the teeth are called chips. It is in them metal shavings remains until the teeth leave the cut. The larger the gaps, the less resistance there is to the blade during long cuts.

Often the routing of the teeth ends at some distance from the ends of the blade.

Metal sheets are made with different steps tooth, with tooth size playing a big role when cutting material. The number of teeth per linear inch of blade (25 mm) is taken as a standard. This can be 18, 24 or 32 teeth per linear inch of blade.

How large quantity teeth, the smaller the tooth, and accordingly the blade will cut harder material (metal). But you should not use blades with very fine teeth for working with soft metal, because the working part of the blade will quickly become clogged with chips (this will greatly slow down and complicate the work).

For long-term work, hardened or bimetallic blades are better suited. Hardened blades have the appearance of nickel-plated steel with dark (hardened teeth), they are used when cutting hard metals. Black canvases are often of poor quality and will not last long.

A hacksaw is the most important tool of a real man. And hand hacksaws are considered the most universal, because they can be used in urban environments, in the country, and where there are no power sources. Many problems around the house can be solved with the help of a hacksaw, which, by the way, does an excellent job with both plastic and wood! Got a padlock stuck in your garage? Has the nut on the bolt become firmly attached over time? Is your bike's handlebars too wide? All this can be fixed by purchasing a hacksaw.

Types of hacksaws

It is difficult for the average consumer to understand the variety of hacksaws and saws on the market. However, despite this, they are divided into three types, depending on the purpose of the instrument:

Wood saws. This tool is a carpenter's hacksaw, which is used for sawing logs, boards, wooden blanks, chipboard and fiberboard sheets. A hacksaw for wood, as a rule, has a wide beveled blade, along the edge of which the cutting part is located. The cut occurs in a straight line, thanks to the teeth set to the right and left. And straight teeth are needed to remove chips, which facilitates the passage of the blade.
Hacksaw for metal. This is a narrow file that has thin teeth. The canvas is attached to the C-shaped frame at both ends, and its tension is adjusted using a special screw. On one side of the frame there is a rubberized or plastic handle for a comfortable grip.
Hacksaw for concrete. This tool has a design that is similar to a wood saw, but has larger teeth. Some teeth may be tipped with carbide metal, which allows sawing foam and sand concrete blocks.

The most important characteristics hacksaws are the following indicators. At hacksaws different types The length of the canvas can be 300 - 700 millimeters. Depending on the size of the workpiece that will be sawed, a hacksaw with the appropriate blade length is selected.

You need to know the pitch of the teeth, since this indicator determines what thickness and hardness of materials the hacksaw blade will handle. For example, teeth with a pitch of 3.5 millimeters are suitable for cutting soft wood, and 5 millimeters for hardwood. Hacksaws also come in two- and three-sided versions to adjust the sharpness of the cutting part.

Metal hacksaw design

The most common and simplest device for working with metal, of course, is a special hacksaw for metal, which differs in appearance from a hacksaw for wood. A hacksaw is quite often used in construction and repair work, when it is necessary to accurately and accurately cut small wooden and metal workpieces.

The design of hacksaws for metal is quite simple: a narrow hacksaw blade is stretched between the two ends of a metal U-shaped bracket. The working part of such a saw is a thin blade with teeth, and you only need to work with such a tool with two hands. The blade fastening system comes in two types: a threaded clamp - in this case the blade is tensioned and then secured with a wing nut; a lever mechanism - when the blade is installed and removed using a special lever.

Hacksaws, which use the second method of installing and tensioning the blade, are, of course, more expensive than the first option due to their versatility, as well as the speed of installation and removal of the blade. The main advantage of hacksaws for metal is that, unlike power tools, you can work with a hacksaw in the field because you don’t need an electrical outlet. Other advantages of hacksaws for metal include ease of operation, maintenance and low weight.

There are quite a large number of hacksaw blades on sale. And, of course, the cost of the paintings is also different. The price of a hacksaw for metal depends on the type of blade and the number of teeth per inch (bimetallic or with hardened teeth). Bimetallic blades rarely break, are more flexible and cost more than hardened blades.

Choosing a hacksaw for metal

You need to know how to choose any tool, be it a hacksaw for wood or metal. Remember that you can count not only on the recommendations of sellers, but also on your own strength. Avoid buying budget tool options and the most expensive models when you are not sure why the tool is so expensive.

This tool should be practical so that when making a move in any direction and at different angles, you can perform all actions easily, for example, cut metal not only with standard movements, but also completely in reverse. Choose the size of the machine yourself: for standard blades or for universal functions, which will help you easily install blades of any size into the hacksaw.

When purchasing, first look at the frame of the metal hacksaw. It may be ordinary; made of composite heavy-duty materials, which is characterized by a long service life and the ability to cut even alloys of increased hardness; and with the ability to change the angle of the toothed blade to work in hard-to-reach places.

Pay close attention to the handle of the metal hacksaw, because you will have to hold onto it constantly while working. The handle should be comfortable, fit perfectly in the hand, and be equipped with special finger rests. The handle should have a minimum of hollow plastic parts, because a real man would break such a handle during his first attempts to work.

Be sure to pick up the tool; it should not be loose or flimsy. Everything in a hacksaw for metal should be as strong as possible. This will determine not only the integrity of the tool, but also the ability to hold the toothed blade in the position that you, and not the tool, need.

It is considered classic to place the knob for tensioning the hacksaw blade at the opposite end from the handle, but this, on the other hand, is also a problem. As a rule, when the canvas is stretched, it is very difficult to turn this lamb without improvised means. That's why the best option there will be a lever mechanism for tensioning the toothed blade.

Choosing a blade for a hacksaw

When choosing a hacksaw for metal, special attention should be paid to the toothed blade, because the smallest flaws can negatively affect the quality of work in the future. The canvas must be free of cracks and signs of corrosion, and also be smooth. When checking, you need to bend the canvas and release it - it should instantly restore its original shape.

It should be noted that blades are available with 32, 24, 18 teeth per inch. The greater the number of teeth on the blade, the faster and better it is to saw the material and vice versa. It is desirable that the hacksaw for metal has the ability to install the blade at a 90-degree angle in order to cut large sheet materials. If this is not possible, then the depth of cut is limited by the height of the hacksaw itself. There are models in which the blade fastenings are made at an angle of 45 degrees.

The blade can be made from various materials, and you need to choose it based on what kind of alloys you will be sawing. It is better to choose bimetal or hardened fabric. Black fabric, as a rule, is very different poor quality and it is only enough for a few movements of the hacksaw, then the teeth begin to crumble, potholes appear, and it is no longer possible to work with such a blade.

The hardened blade looks like nickel-plated stainless steel with dark teeth. Exactly dark color and talks about their hardening. Bimetal blades for hacksaws are painted in some color (yellow, red, etc.) or even come in two colors. Such canvases will last much longer than budget black ones. After this, all that remains is to make sure that the length of the blade matches the length of the hacksaw; this is indicated on both the tool and the blade.

Using a hacksaw for metal

To operate a hacksaw for metal, you do not need any special skills; the principle of operation is quite similar to using a hacksaw for wood. One of the main tasks is to change the blade in a timely manner; in this case, you need to choose a certain type of blade and tooth pitch.

Application environment

This hacksaw blade has fairly small teeth, which means it allows you to work not only with metal, but with many other materials. With a hacksaw you can cut foam plastic, plastic, PVC, chipboard, plexiglass, ceramics, laminate and even wood. At the same time, the processed edges of the material are quite smooth. That is why such a tool is considered the most universal. The cost of a hacksaw for metal is, of course, higher than the price of a similar model for wood.

It must be said that cutting metal with a hacksaw is not very easy. The most important thing is to ensure that the saw moves back and forth smoothly. The canvas should not wiggle from side to side, but should sag. After some time of use this metal tool needs a linen change. Friction of the pointed end of the tool with the part provokes dullness, and this in turn leads to poor-quality use in the future. You won't be able to sharpen a hacksaw for metal.

Sawing process

Before working with a hacksaw for metal, you need to figure out how to attach the blade. If the blade is single-sided, the teeth should point down and forward from the handle. To install the blade, you need to loosen the tension screw, remove the old blade from the pins, put on the new one and tighten it so much that when you click your fingernail, the blade rings like a string. In this case, the main thing is not to overdo it so that it does not break. With experience you can find the optimal tension.

Before work, grab the handle with your right hand if you are right-handed (with your left hand if you are left-handed), with the other - the vertical edge opposite the handle. Place the blade on the cutting line. Direct it strictly in the direction of the cutting line. Keep the tilt angle of the tool small.

The blade of a hacksaw for metal should practically lie on the part, usually at an angle of 30-45 degrees, so that there is less noise, vibration, and the cutting line is smoother. Cutting across metal at a right angle should only be done in emergency cases, for example, when turning the cutting line. The slope angle should be smaller, the smoother you want the cutting line to be.

It is recommended to make the first movements with little effort so that the blade cuts into the metal and does not slide from the cutting line to the sides. Make progressive, smooth movements, press the tool against the part more firmly when moving forward, loosen the pressure when returning to its original state. When the blade grips the metal, you can work with all your might.

Make the movement as wide as possible, from edge to edge of the blade, without hitting the metal part with the arc of the hacksaw. You shouldn’t “tread water”, as the canvas will quickly wear off in one area, and you will be forced to throw it away. Keep the arc of the hacksaw straight, not allowing it to bend to the sides. The cutting direction should match the arc surface of the hacksaw.

Remember that the blade can easily break if the tool is jerked sharply to the side. The properties of the metal sheet are such that it perfectly withstands longitudinal tensile forces, but is very fragile in bending.

Cut along a curved line

A hacksaw for metal is a fairly practical tool, as it allows you to cut along almost any curved line. The cutting line must first be marked with something - a marker, a pencil, or scratched with a nail so that it is noticeable when working. To cut material along an arc, without crossing the translational movements of the tool, it is necessary to align it perpendicular to the end of the part and gradually smoothly rotate the arc so that the blade moves along the intended line.

It is recommended to turn the blade smoothly and gently, otherwise it may break. Turns for a hacksaw blade are extreme. If you need to make a sharp turn, for example, 90 degrees, you should “mark time”, continue sawing and slowly turn the arc of the tool, periodically stepping back, using the side of the material that is external to the part to turn the hacksaw blade.

For cutting internal corner, you must first drill a straight line using a thin drill that is slightly longer than the width of the blade, then thread the blade into such a groove and then cut further.

Tool made from broken blades

You remember that excellent steel is used to make hacksaw blades for metal, so even the smallest fragment can become the starting material for various cutting tools. The options we give do not exhaust the variety of devices that you can get from broken metal hacksaws.

First you need to make handles for a set of cutters. Use, for example, a tube with a diameter of about 20 - 25 millimeters made of any non-ferrous metal. This product is convenient in that its end can be easily turned into a cutter holder. To obtain a holder, you need to grind off one side with a file until a longitudinal groove is formed, and then flatten this end by placing a plate slightly thicker than a hacksaw blade into it.

After this, all that remains is to drill a hole for the tightening screw. A similar hole should be present at the end of each piece of hacksaw, previously tempered on fire; to do this, heat it until red and let it cool in air. Now you can start shaping the cutters.

Make a saw blade from the longest piece of wood by simply sharpening the toothless edge. The shorter pieces will make a whole set of cutters for a wide variety of jobs. For example, for cutting cardboard, leather, rubber, a joint knife is considered indispensable, the blade of which must be sharpened obliquely and only on one side. Cutters for working with wood are close to it, but differ in the shape of the sharpening.

You will get a small chisel if you sharpen the end edges of the fragment. Using a sharpening stone, it will be easy to give the blade a hook-shaped shape to create a claw for cutting textolite, plexiglass, getinax and other hard sheet material. And if such a claw is sharpened from the inside, the cutter can be used for cutting electric cable, removing plastic or rubber insulation from wires.

If you take wooden slats, drive a nail at one end, and at the other make a groove for the jamb you already know, securing it with a screw, the end result will be a compass knife, which will be very convenient for cutting holes of different diameters and circular blanks, you just need to change the location of the nail. An untreated piece of a saw blade, which is fixed in a scraper, can make it easier to clean plastic, non-ferrous metal, wood and putty surfaces, as well as remove rust.

Thus, the simplest and most common way to work with metal is to use a hacksaw. If used correctly, this tool will serve you for a long time. The main thing when working is to change blades on time, choosing the appropriate tooth pitch and type of blade. Also, never throw away old hacksaw blades or their fragments. They can find a second life and serve as raw materials for the manufacture of many tools.

One of the most fragile consumables for tools that are used in working with metal materials, is considered a hacksaw blade. Which blade to choose for sawing different materials so that it lasts longer, what are they?

Types of hacksaw blades

According to GOST standards for hacksaw blades, there are two types of blades: for cutting by hand and by machine.

Manual cutting blades have three main parameters:

The distances in single models between fasteners are 250+/-2 millimeters. The canvas is 265 millimeters in length.
The gap in single models between the fasteners is about 300 millimeters. The canvas has a length of 315 millimeters.
Double. The distance between the fasteners is 300 millimeters. The canvas is 315 millimeters in length.

The thickness of the hacksaw blade (in a single version) does not exceed 0.63 millimeters, in a double version – 0.80 millimeters. The height of models with a single row of teeth is 12.5 millimeters, in models with a double row – 20 millimeters.

GOST requirements regulate tooth pitch, distance, quantity.

Universal hacksaws

Hacksaw blades for metal are narrow saws that are equipped with thin teeth. They are easily recognized by their frame, similar to the letters C and P, onto which the hacksaw blade is tensioned. Outdated models are equipped with handles (placed parallel to the blade). The modernized models already have a “pistol” handle.

Hacksaws for working with wood are considered the most common type of tool. Used for sawing plywood, various wooden Construction Materials. They are equipped with slightly beveled working surfaces, where sawing teeth are attached to the sides.

A hacksaw for concrete materials can be visually confused with a joiner's saw. The difference is the large teeth. There are models with soldered carbide material. This allows you to saw not only foam blocks, but also sand-concrete materials.

How to identify a quality tool

In order to understand how high-quality the device is, you need to take into account the following parameters:

Working blade length. It will depend on the size of the workpiece. The average length of the working part is from 300 to 700 millimeters.

Pitch of teeth. This parameter determines how hard or thick the material that requires cutting should be. For example, a step of 3.5 millimeters is used to cut wood soft materials. Steps of 5 millimeters are used for working with harder wood species.

When choosing a hacksaw blade, be sure to consider the quality of the coating. If the coating is of poor quality, the enamel may crack during operation.

What are the differences between the tools?

All hacksaw blades can be divided into two types - for household and industrial work (in the photo of the hacksaw blade the difference is visible to the naked eye). The advantages of industrial devices include structures with a rigid base, as well as the fact that they can be operated at an angle of 55 and 90 degrees.

Household tools are used for light work; they may be a little “stormy” during cutting. Home option much cheaper than a professional tool.

What does the product consist of?

The design of hacksaws is very similar in all models.

The working surface is a hacksaw blade, stretched between a C-shaped arc.

The handle of a hacksaw is considered an important and basic part that affects the comfort of work. The most successful ones are the handles, which are equipped with rubber inserts.

Frame – a hacksaw blade is attached to it. Can be used to make frames various materials. Everything will depend on what will be cut later. For cutting high-strength metals, use frames made of composite material.

The working conditions will depend on the design of the frame. For more comfortable conditions and the need to cut hard-to-reach places, it is better to take frames in which the tilt of the blade is adjusted.

Hacksaw blade steel is a thin strip of the hardest types. In the design of the saw, the hacksaw blade is the only part made of metal. It is considered the most vulnerable part. Requires careful attitude at work.