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Standard hacksaws

A panel hacksaw

A hacksaw is a fine-tooth saw with a blade under tension in a frame, used for cutting materials such as metal or bone. Hand-held hacksaws consist of a metal arch with a handle, usually a pistol grip, with pins for attaching a narrow disposable blade. A screw or other mechanism is used to put the thin blade under tension. The blade can mounted with the teeth facing toward or away from the handle, resulting in cutting action on either the push or pull stroke. On the push stroke, the arch will flex slightly, decreasing the tension on the blade.

[edit] Design

Blades are available in standardized lengths, and with anywhere from three to thirty-two teeth per inch (tpi). The blade used is based on the thickness of the material being cut, with a minimum of three teeth in the material. Hacksaw blades are normally quite brittle, so care needs to be taken to prevent brittle fracture of the blade. Bi-metal blades are meant to minimize this risk, by fusing a strip of harder metal along the tooth edge to a softer spine.

[edit] Variants

An electric hacksaw

A panel hacksaw eliminates the frame, so that the saw can cut into panels of sheet metal without the length of cut being restricted by the frame. Junior hacksaws are the small variant, while larger mechanical hacksaws are used to cut working pieces from bulk metal.

A power hacksaw (or electric hacksaw) is a type of hacksaw that is powered either by its own electric motor or connected to a stationary engine. Most power hacksaws are stationary machines but some portable models do exist. Stationary models usually have a mechanism to lift up the saw blade on the return stroke and some have a coolant pump to prevent the saw blade from overheating.^[1]

While stationary electric hacksaws are reasonably uncommon they are still produced but saws powered by a stationary engines have gone out of fashion. The reason for using one is that they provide a cleaner cut than an angle grinder or other types of saw. Large, power hacksaws are sometimes used in place of a band saw for cutting metal stock to length.

[edit] See also

• Band saw
• Coping saw
• Fretsaw

[edit] References

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