Hacksaw is the most important tool 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! Stuck in the garage the padlock? Has a nut become firmly attached to a bolt 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 sheets and fiberboard. A hacksaw for wood, as a rule, has a wide beveled hacksaw 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 most simple device for working with metal, of course, there 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 you need 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 lot of hacksaw blades on sale a large number of. 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 options tools and the most expensive models when you're not sure why this tool is so expensive.

This tool must be practical, so that when making a move in any direction and under different angles you could perform all actions easily, for example, cut metal not only with standard movements, but also completely the other way around. Choose the size of the machine yourself: under standard canvases 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. There should be a minimum in the pen hollow parts made of plastic, 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 you need to pay attention to the toothed blade, because the smallest imperfections 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 fabric can be made from various materials, and you need to choose it based on what kind of alloys you will be sawing. Choose bimetal is better or red-hot cloth. 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 canvas in a timely manner, and you need to choose certain type blades 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, take right hand by the handle if you are right-handed (left if you are left-handed), the other by 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 maximum range of movement, 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 materials. 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 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. This tool when correct use 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.

A blade for a hacksaw for metal is one of the most short-lived elements from the entire range of consumables for tools. Of course, a lot depends on the technology of working with metal and the skills of using a hacksaw, but first of all you need to be able to do right choice canvases. Today, we will talk about the choice and types, and also learn how to easily change the hacksaw blade.

Types of hacksaw blades

GOST R 53411-2009 “Hacksaw blades for metal” establishes two types of such tools - for machine and manual cutting. We won’t touch on the former, but the latter are available in three main sizes:

• Single, with a distance between fastening holes of 250±2 mm, with a total length of the blade of no more than 265 mm;
• Single, with a distance between fastening holes of 300±2 mm, with a total length of the blade no more than 315 mm;
• Double, with a distance between mounting holes of 300±2 mm, with a total length of the blade of no more than 315 mm.

At the same time, the thickness of the blade s for a single version is 0.63 mm, for a double version – 0.80 mm. The height with a single row of teeth is 12.5 mm, and with a double row it is 20 mm.

GOST also regulates the values ​​of the tooth pitch P, mm and their number z, which for blades of the first type are 0.80/32, 1.00/24 ​​and 1.25/20, respectively. Owners of longer hacksaws, in addition to those listed above, can also use hacksaw blades with parameters 1.40/18 and 1.60/16.

According to the grade of material used for the manufacture of blades for hacksaws for metal, they are made from tool steels:

1. Brands X6VF.
2. Brands V2F.
3. High-speed, grades P6M5, P12 or P18.

Assortment of hacksaw blades domestic production This is all, but in specialized retail chains so-called diamond blades are widely used, with surface coating of titanium nitrides or other refractory metals. Such blades can be easily distinguished by color: regular steel blades are dark gray, while sprayed steel blades can have different colors - from bright orange to blue (depending on the manufacturer).

There are also blades with so-called tungsten carbide coating, however, with very high hardness, they are extremely sensitive to bending stresses. Therefore, when cutting metal, their durability is negligible.

The high strength of blades for hacksaws for metal is ensured by appropriate heat treatment. On the surface of the canvas there are two zones with different meanings hardness: directly at the teeth it ranges from HRC 64...67 for alloy tool steels to HRC 73...78 for high-speed steels (for diamond blades this parameter reaches HRA 82...84), and in the rest of the zone - HRC 44...46. A significant difference in hardness confirms the high sensitivity of the product to bending stresses, therefore the standard also limits the maximum force applied to hand hacksaw. It should not exceed 60 kg when working with blades with a tooth pitch of less than 1.4 mm, and 10 kg for blades with a tooth pitch of more than 1.4 mm.

Principles for choosing canvas

The selection criteria are:

1. Type, or more precisely, the distance between the mounting holes. It is better if it is changeable, then a hacksaw blade of any size will be suitable for the job.
2. The tensile strength of the metal being cut. If the tool is supposed to be used to separate soft, ductile metals - copper, aluminum, etc., then it is advisable to have a hacksaw blade with the least hardness. The material can be steel Kh6VF; Imported canvases have the designation HCS on the side plane. For cutting more durable metals High-speed steel blades are suitable (corresponding import marking - HSS).
3. The thickness of the metal being cut and the quality of the cutting surface. Foreign practice recommends using the PPI parameter as a selection criterion - the number of tooth vertices per inch of blade length. Thus, for thin metals, where it is required to obtain a very smooth cut surface, a PPI value of >24 is considered correct. If productivity is more important to the user than quality, then PPI should be<24. С увеличением числа зубьев полотна для ножовки по металлу параметр PPI увеличивается.
4. Quality of tooth set. GOST R 53411-2009 provides three options - separation for each tooth, through a tooth, or for two adjacent ones through one undone tooth. In the latter case, the outermost plane of the canvas should protrude beyond the main one by a distance of (0.15...0.25)s, and in the rest - by (0.65...0.90)s. Since the wiring is done in both directions, the actual distance measured with a caliper should be twice as large as that indicated above.

The durability of the hacksaw blade is also affected by the quality of the coating. For domestic instruments, the more common coating is Khim.Oks.Prm., instruments with nitro-enamel coatings such as NTs-25 or NTs-132 are less common. It should be remembered that under prolonged loads, when the file heats up, the enamel may crack.

When choosing a high-quality hacksaw blade, you should also pay attention to the uniformity of the tooth spacing: in high-quality products, this parameter should not exceed 45% of the tooth pitch over a length of 10 mm. The quality of the product can also be assessed by the parameter of equal height of the teeth: the difference in adjacent vertices should not exceed 0.10...0.15 mm, which is checked using a micrometer or depth gauge.

How to install a blade on a hacksaw for metal?

The installation method is determined by the design of the fastening system on the hacksaw itself. In the case of a threaded clamp, the file is placed on the corresponding protrusion, slightly tensioned, and then secured with a wing nut. If there are sudden changes in the load on the hacksaw, this fastening will have to be checked periodically. For hacksaws with a lever-type device, the installation and replacement process is simplified: simply pull out the lever located on the side opposite the handle of the manual hacksaw, put on the blade, and return the lever to its original position.

When tightened correctly, the blade should make a slight ringing sound and vibrate a little. During operation, such a blade should not change the direction of its movement under load.

For single-sided blades, it is important to position the direction of the teeth correctly. Their tilt should be directed away from the handle. Most workers make the main working movement in the direction away from themselves, when the metal is cut. The reverse movement is intended only to return the hacksaw to its original position. When trying to cut metal and during idling, the geometry of the teeth, unsuited to such loads, will tear the tooth away from the base, and as a result, the blade may collapse. This phenomenon is especially typical for diamond blades.

Recently, so-called bimetallic blades (designation BIM) have become popular, when a high-speed steel strip is welded onto a main strip of hardened structural steel type 45 steel. Quality is everything here: for Chinese-made files, the grade of metal is most often not guaranteed (as is the quality of welding), therefore, when working with durable metal, cases of delamination of bimetallic blades are not uncommon.

A hacksaw is considered a fairly common hand tool, which is designed to divide a workpiece into several separate parts of a certain size. Its design features are characterized by the fact that it is possible to periodically replace the worker. When processing metal, there is a very high probability of rapid wear of the cutting edge. Therefore, a function for replacing the tape was provided, which requires a small amount 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:

1. 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.
2. Single versions with a distance between two fasteners of 300 mm. The overall length is 315 mm.
3. 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:

1. X6VF.
2. High-speed alloys, for example, R5M5 and R12.

Hacksaw blades coated with tungsten carbide have recently become quite common, as they are 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 high-precision measuring instrument.

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:

1. The instructions largely depend on the fastening system used in a particular case.
2. 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.
3. 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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. As previously noted, the permissible cutting speed largely depends on the number of teeth per inch.
4. 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 with proper use can you eliminate the possibility of damage to the hacksaw blade for metal. The main recommendations are as follows:

1. It is necessary to carry out processing at the same speed and applied force. Even minor changes can cause a defect.
2. You need to take breaks from time to time. The reasons are that too high a temperature causes an increase in ductility.
3. 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, a 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:

1. 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.
2. 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:

1. Installation direction of the metal plate.
2. Degree of wear during operation.
3. 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:

1. Performance.
2. Possible quality of the resulting cut.
3. 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.

One of the most fragile consumables for tools used in working with metal materials is 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 and various wooden building 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 soft wood 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 lightweight work; they may be a little “stormy” during cutting. The home version is 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. Various materials can be used to make the frame. Everything will depend on what will be cut later. For cutting high-strength metals, frames made of composite material are used.

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 handling in work.

Photo of blades for hacksaws for metal

The hacksaw is used to create through cuts on dense materials made of metal, cutting slots, trimming contour products. The bench tool is made of a hacksaw blade and a base machine. One end of the frame is equipped with a static clamping head, a handle for holding the tool, and a shank. The opposite part consists of a movable head and a screw that tensions the cutting plate. The heads of hacksaws for metal are equipped with slots into which the working blade is installed, secured with pins.

The frames are made in two forms: sliding, allowing you to attach a working blade of any length, and solid.

Peculiarities

Each type of material has its own cutting blade.

• Hacksaw blade for metal It is a narrow metal strip with thin teeth placed on it. The frames are made in appearance similar to the letters C, P. Outdated frame models were equipped with wooden or metal handles placed parallel to the blade. Modern models are made with a pistol-type handle.

• Hacksaw blade for working with wood- the most common joinery version of the product. It is used for processing and cutting plywood and wooden building materials of various densities. The design of hand saws is specially equipped with a beveled working surface, with teeth located on the side of the blade.

• For working with concrete The blade has larger teeth on the cutting edge. Equipped with carbide soldering. Thanks to this, it becomes possible to saw concrete structures, foam blocks, and sand concrete.

• For processing metal products blades with a pitch width of about 1.6 mm are used; a file 25 mm long has up to 20 teeth.

The greater the thickness of the workpiece, the larger the cutting teeth should be, and vice versa.

When processing metal products with different hardness values, files with a certain number of teeth are used:

• angle and other steel – 22 teeth;
• cast iron – 22 teeth;
• hardened material – 19 teeth;
• soft metal - 16 teeth.

To prevent the file from getting stuck in the workpiece, you should first set the teeth. Let's consider the principle by which wiring is made.

• The width of the cut is greater than the thickness of the working blade.
• Hacksaw files with a tooth pitch of about 1 mm should be made in a wavy pattern. Each pair of adjacent teeth must be bent in different directions by approximately 0.25-0.5 mm.

• The plate with a pitch of more than 0.8 mm is spread using the corrugated method. The first few teeth go to the left side, the next few teeth go to the right.
• With an average step of about 0.5 mm, the first tooth is moved to the left, the second is left in place, and the third is to the right.
• Plate with a large pitch of up to 1.6 mm - each tooth is retracted in opposite directions. It is necessary that the wiring ends at a distance of no more than 3 cm from the end of the canvas.

Characteristics

GOST 6645-86 is a standard that sets requirements for the type, size, and quality of saw blades for metal.

This is a thin, narrow plate with holes located at opposite ends; on one side there are cutting elements - teeth. Files are made of steel: Х6ВФ, Р9, У10А, with a hardness of HRC 61-64.

Depending on the type of work, hacksaw files are divided into machine and manual.

The length of the plate is determined by the distance from the center of one hole to the other. A universal hacksaw file for hand tools has the following dimensions: thickness - 0.65-0.8 mm, height - 13-16 mm, length - 25-30 cm.

The standard blade length is 30 cm, but there are models with a length of 15 cm. Short hacksaws are used when a standard large tool is not suitable for the job due to its size, as well as for performing filigree types of work.

GOST R 53411-2009 establishes the blade configuration for two types of hacksaws. Files for hand-held equipment are available in three sizes.

• Single type 1. The distance between through holes is 250±2 mm, the length of the file is not more than 265 mm.
• Single 2 types. The distance from one hole to another is 300±2 mm, the length of the plate is up to 315 mm.
• Double, the distance is 300±2 mm, the length of the working surface is up to 315 mm.

The thickness of a single plate is 0.63 mm, a double plate is 0.80 mm. The height of a file with a single set of teeth is 12.5 mm, for a double set it is 20 mm.

GOST determines the tooth pitch values, expressed in millimeters, and the number of cutting elements:

• for a single plate of the first type - 0.80/32;
• single type 2 - 1.00/24;
• double - 1.25/20.

The number of teeth varies for longer tools - 1.40/18 and 1.60/16.

For each type of work, the value of the cutter angle can change. In the process of processing metal of sufficient width, fairly long cuts are achieved: each cutter of the file removes sawdust filling the chip space until the tip of the tooth comes out completely.

The size of the chip space is determined by the tooth pitch, rake angle, and clearance angle. Rake angle is expressed in negative, positive, zero values. The value depends on the hardness of the workpiece. A saw with a zero rake angle has a lower efficiency compared to a rake angle with a value greater than 0 degrees.

When cutting the hardest surfaces, saws with teeth that are sharpened at a large angle are used. For soft products the figure may be below average. Hacksaw blades with the sharpest teeth are the most wear-resistant.

The type of saw is classified into professional and home tools. The first option has a rigid design and allows work to be carried out at angles of 55-90 degrees.

A home hacksaw does not allow you to make a high-quality, even cut, even with professional blades.

Kinds

The second criterion for choosing a hacksaw blade is the material from which the product is made.

Grades of steel used: Kh6VF, V2F, R6M5, R12, R18. Domestic products are made only from these types of material, but in specialized stores you can find products with diamond coating. The surface of the file is coated with various refractory metals, titanium nitride. These files differ in appearance by color. Standard steel sheets are light and dark gray, diamond and other coatings range from orange to dark blue. Tungsten carbide coating is characterized by extreme sensitivity of the blade to bending, which affects the short service life of the blade.

Diamond-coated tools are used for cutting abrasive and brittle materials: ceramics, porcelain and others.

The strength of the file is ensured by the hot heat treatment procedure. The saw blade is divided into two hardening zones - the cutting part is processed at a temperature of 64 to 84 degrees, the free zone is subjected to 46 degrees.

The difference in hardness affects the sensitivity of the product to the bends of the blade while performing work or installing a file into a tool. To resolve this problem, a standard was adopted to regulate the forces applied to hand-held equipment. The force on the tool should not exceed 60 kg when working with a saw with a tooth pitch of less than 14 mm; 10 kg is calculated for a cutting product with a tooth pitch of more than 14 mm.

Files made of carbon steel are marked HCS, are used for working with soft materials, are not durable, and quickly become unusable.

Metal-cutting tools made of HM alloy steel are more technologically advanced, like blades made of alloyed chromium, tungsten, and vanadium. In terms of their properties and service life, they occupy an intermediate place between files made of carbon and high-speed steel.

High-speed products are marked with the letters HSS; they are fragile and expensive, but are more resistant to wear of cutting elements. Today, HSS blades are being replaced by bimetallic files.

Bimetallic products are designated by the abbreviation BIM. Made of cold-rolled and high-speed steel using electron beam welding. Welding is used to instantly join two types of metal while maintaining the hardness of the working teeth.

How to choose?

When choosing a cutting product, they are guided, among other things, by the type of tool.

For manual

Hand hacksaws are on average equipped with single blades of type 1 marked HCS, HM. The length of the file depends on the length of the tool frame, the average is around 250-300 mm.

For mechanical

For mechanical tools, saw blades with any marking are selected depending on the surface being processed. The length of the double cutting blade is from 300 mm or more. Mechanical equipment is used when processing a large number of workpieces with a length of 100 mm or more.

For mini hacksaw

Mini hacksaws work with blades no larger than 150 mm. Mainly designed for convenient and quick cutting of wooden materials and metal products of small diameter, working with workpieces along a curve.

Before using the tool, you should correctly install the blade into the equipment.

The installation method depends on the design of the tool's mounting system. If the heads are equipped with slots, then the blade is inserted directly into them, slightly stretched if necessary, and secured with a pin.

To make it easier to insert the file into the clamping head, you can first lubricate the element with technical oil. If a sudden load occurs on the saw, you will have to periodically inspect the fastening, check the degree of tightening of the pin so that the blade does not fall out of the clamp during the process of cutting the product.

Installation of a cutting product in a lever-type hacksaw is carried out by extending the lever, putting on the blade, and returning the tool frame to its original position.