Hacksaw – This is a hand carpentry tool that is a type of saw. Depending on the design, it can be used for cutting wood, metal, plastic, aerated concrete and other materials. The tool consists of two parts - a working blade with sharp teeth and a handle for a comfortable grip.
Types of hacksaws
Hand saws come in two configurations – wood and metal. Wood saws have large teeth and can also be used for cutting aerated concrete and drywall. Metal saws are capable of cutting almost any material, including wood, plastic, drywall, aerated concrete, polystyrene foam, polystyrene foam, etc. They have small cutters, so the cut is neat, and small chips are formed.
Wood hacksaw
The hacksaw is one of the most ancient tools. It appeared much earlier than the modification for working with metals. There are several varieties of it:
- Classic.
- Circular.
- Spiked.
Classical
Which is also called wide or regular, is a standard hand sawing tool. It is intended for longitudinal or transverse cutting. You can use it to shorten a board or cut down a branch. This is standard carpentry and carpentry tool. This saw provides fast cutting, but the cut is quite rough and large chips are formed. Its teeth are triangular in shape, the pitch between them is from 1.5 to 6.5 mm.
Circular or narrow
This is a more focused tool. Due to the small width of the blade, it can be used to cut out curved elements. The main purpose of such a tool is not the usual pruning, but the ability to saw sheet material, when work is required along a strictly defined contour. A narrow blade is more maneuverable and allows you to get around marked curves, which cannot be done when using wide hacksaws. Such saws are much lighter and more compact. They may have teeth on both sides, which differ in size. This makes it possible to create cuts of varying purity. By choosing smaller teeth, you will be able to make a smoother cut.
Spike
Also called pasovochnaya or obushkovoy- This is a specific tool, the main purpose of which is to remove protruding tenons and grooves. These saws are used by carpenters and joiners to obtain a clean and smooth cut. The blade of this tool is the thinnest, so the cut is narrow. To ensure that the blade does not constantly bend on the side opposite to the incisors, a butt clings to it, increasing rigidity. Due to the presence of the butt, it is impossible to make a cut deeper than the height of the blade. This tool has fine teeth in the shape of an isosceles triangle. It is used exclusively for cross cutting. The thickness of the working part does not exceed 1-1.5 mm.
Types of teeth
Wood is a specific material, the sawing of which can have complications depending on the direction. In this regard, hacksaws are divided into three categories:
- For longitudinal cutting.
- For cross cutting.
- Universal.
- Specialized.
For longitudinal cutting
A hacksaw has special teeth that are inclined forward at an acute angle. As a result of movement, they cut wood fibers and chip sawdust. Such equipment guarantees the fastest possible work in cases where it is necessary to divide the board according to the direction of the grain. In this case, rather large sawdust is formed, the size of which depends on the height of the teeth. The larger they are, the faster the work goes. If it is necessary to cut even a thin branch, such a saw will be ineffective.
For cross cutting
A hacksaw with straight teeth is used. This tool would be an excellent choice for trimming boards or cutting branches in the garden. It is suitable for preparing firewood or shortening a handle to a shovel. The vast majority of all hand sawing equipment for wood is cross sawing.
Universal
This is a modification of the transverse one, but with a special sharpening of the teeth, which allows you to compensate for the lack of the resulting angle of attack to the wood fibers. There are also specialized types of hacksaws in which the teeth are arranged in groups of several pieces. There is a small gap between the groups. This tool is designed for working with raw wood. The indentation between the cutters ensures clearing of wet chips, which are removed independently without the need for manual cleaning.
Specialized
A special specialized design with pobedit soldering. This tool provides a more rigid cutting into the surface and faster sawing of hard materials. This hacksaw is quite suitable for both transverse and longitudinal cuts.
When choosing a saw, you should pay attention not only to the direction of the teeth, but also to their size. There are 3 types of incisors:
- 2-2.5 mm– for accurate work with small parts.
- 3-3.5 mm– for medium-sized workpieces.
- 4-6 mm– for rough cutting of timber and firewood.
Hacksaws for metal
A hacksaw for metal has a special design, which consists of a cutting blade and a frame for attaching it. The canvases are replaceable. They have small teeth that undergo special hardening. Itself is tightly made from high speed steel, but still wears out quite quickly as a result of use, and there are also cases of individual teeth breaking. The dimensions of such a tool rarely exceed 400 mm in length. The depth of cut is limited by the height of the frame.
At the ends of the canvas there are through holes through which fasteners are inserted to the frame. It should also be taken into account that the direction of the teeth for cutting is of particular importance, therefore arrows are placed on the blades, following which you can guide the correct fastening. If you mix up the side, the speed of work is significantly reduced. A hacksaw for metal allows you to adjust the length of the installed blades. There are also professional saws that allow you to adjust the inclination of the edge by turning it at an angle of 45, 90 and 180 degrees.
Manufacturers of blades produce them with teeth on one side and on both. By choosing the latter, you can turn over the used cutting edge. This will allow you to have a sharp and ready-to-use tool again. When working with a hacksaw for metal, a high-quality and smooth cut is ensured. The tool can cut almost any material except stone and concrete.
It is worth noting that special blades designed for working with wood are produced for the metal hacksaw frame. This allows you to significantly expand the scope of use of the frame. It should be noted that in this configuration the tool is still inferior to a specialized wood saw
When choosing any tool, regardless of the material for which it is intended for sawing, you should pay attention to the size of the teeth. The larger they are, the faster it will be possible to cut the required workpiece. In this case, the quality of the cut will be quite rough, and large sawdust will form. Small cutters will allow you to get the most even surface, while the sawing process will take much longer. The delay is associated with complications in removing sawdust and lower cutting efficiency into the material.
It is also worth noting that ease of use depends on the handle. The softer and more pleasant it fits in your hand, the easier it will be to use the tool. Rubberized handles are considered the best. They do not slip, and in addition significantly reduce chafing.
Unusual hiking hacksaws
A hacksaw is not only a metalworking and carpentry tool, but also an effective tool for preparing firewood. It makes it much easier to split a tree trunk into blocks than using an axe. In this regard, there are specialized camping saws that are compact in size. Their main task is to provide an easy cross cut. The vast majority of these models fold like a regular pocket knife.
There are also universal pocket hacksaws, the design of which involves folding the working blade inside the handle, as is the case with a mounting or stationery knife. This tool is designed for working with wood and scrap metal. It is convenient to carry with you, but the effectiveness of use is minimal and will allow you to perform simple tasks.
A compact metal file, which is a small handle that fits onto the blade, is very convenient to carry. Such a weapon is as compact and inexpensive as possible. During operation, there is a high probability of breaking the canvas, since it constantly bends.
Wood saws differ in the size of the cutting teeth. This indicator determines what kind of cut the cut will be, what types of wood the hacksaw is suitable for, and how convenient it will be to work with it. But, besides this, there are other indicators that you need to pay attention to when choosing a tool. Therefore, the question of how to choose the right hacksaw for wood requires careful study.
Technical characteristics of a hacksaw for wood
For a wood saw, the main importance is:
- canvas width;
- blade length;
- tooth size;
- handle;
- blade steel grade.
The length of the blade affects the width of the cut workpiece, and also greatly facilitates the work. A long stroke makes it possible to apply less effort, because in one movement the cut is made by a large number of teeth. Moreover, the longer the canvas, the stronger it will spring. When working with hardwoods such as ash, maple or oak, a hacksaw will cause a lot of inconvenience and will quickly become dull.
From a practical point of view, short hacksaws, with a cutting blade length of up to 35 cm, best used for one-time small work. They are great for those who live in an apartment because they don't take up much space. So, in a private household, it is advisable to immediately choose a long hacksaw (50–55 cm). This will make it possible to work with workpieces, as well as cut trees.
As a rule, the width of the blade is 10–20 cm. Narrower blades are not allowed due to technical reasons (they break even with a slight bend), wider ones are quite inconvenient to work by hand. When choosing a saw for wood, you must remember that thin workpieces are easier to saw with a narrower blade, and, conversely, thick ones (roof joists, tree trunk, etc.) - wide.
Regular pens are made of plastic. It is best to choose a handle with a rubberized backing. This will protect your hand from calluses and make it possible to make a tighter grip.
The saw tooth is the most important part of the tool, so we will dwell on this point in more detail.
Purpose and types of teeth
The following types of teeth are distinguished in wood hacksaws:
- for universal cutting;
- for cross cutting;
- for longitudinal cutting.
Longitudinal cut most often done either with a jigsaw or circular saw. But there are also hand saws for these purposes. As with power tools, the tooth on a hacksaw looks like a hook. The angle between the teeth can be 45–60 degrees.
Hook shape makes it possible to cut in only one direction. It is best to cut along the grain. In this case, the saw easily penetrates the wood and the cut comes out most accurate and even. The purchase of this hacksaw is appropriate only for those people who want to make furniture with their own hands. Because it is not suitable for any other purposes.
Cross cut tooth the most popular. Externally it looks like an isosceles triangle. The tooth angle is 45–55 degrees. This design makes it possible to cut well both while the blade moves forward and in the opposite direction. As a result, cross cutting occurs without special effort, quickly and as accurately as possible. When choosing a hacksaw, you must take into account that this type of tooth is only suitable for dry workpieces. The saw will tear fresh wood, and the sharpening will deteriorate.
For fresh wood use triangular teeth with parallel sharpening. This means that the teeth are ground in a checkerboard pattern and only on one side. As a result, a free channel appears between the teeth inside the cut, through which wet sawdust can freely exit without complicating the advancement of the blade.
The next option is combined teeth. Here the triangular ones intersect with the semicircular ones. Moreover, a semicircular tooth is larger than a triangular one. As the blade moves forward, long and narrow teeth make a guide cut, and when the blade returns to its original position, the triangular tooth enlarges the cut channel and removes shavings and sawdust. We must not forget that the smaller the angle between the triangular and semicircular teeth, the more accurate the cut will be.
Saws for universal cutting It is advisable not to choose; as a rule, they have a different set of teeth, which theoretically should perform any job equally well. But in practice, these hacksaws become dull much faster, and their sharpening is usually more expensive than a new saw.
And what is most important is that in any high-quality saw, the teeth must be made of hardened steel.
Types of hacksaws for wood
There are several types of saws, including:
- regular;
- narrow;
- onion;
- with a butt.
The cheapest saw for wood is narrow hand saw. This tool is suitable for cutting branches when working in the garden and small work with workpieces. As a rule, either double-sided triangular teeth or parallel sharpening are used.
You need to understand that This hacksaw can only be used with workpieces no more than 7-12 cm thick. A very short blade does not make it possible to create leverage; accordingly, cutting thick parts requires a large load.
Conventional saws can be with any type of teeth. The choice will depend only on what tasks you plan to purchase the tool for. You only need to pay attention to the fact that it is not advisable to use these saws during furniture production. Or you need to buy special large miter boxes so that you can cut at a certain angle.
Back saws applied as auxiliary tool. Their main task is to make small cuts in the part.
Bow saws- This is an analogue of an electric jigsaw. They make it possible to make the most accurate cut and work with different workpieces at different angles. Exist:
- transverse;
- sweeping;
- thorny;
- rounded.
Swinging hacksaws make it possible to perform longitudinal cutting. Today there are canvases 40-80 cm long. Longer workpieces can only be sawed using a power tool.
Cross saws used for cutting workpieces across the grain. They can make cuts at right angles and at any other angle. Moreover, perfectly smooth edges emerge at the incision site.
Circular hacksaws narrower, used for figure cut. They are used to make curves and other complex elements. Feature– use of very flexible steel grades.
Tenon hacksaws make it possible to create simple geometric shapes on a workpiece.
Difference bow saws The advantage is that the mechanism for fastening is purchased once, and you do not spend money directly on saws, purchasing new blades.
Manufacturers of wood saws
Professional saws distinguished by good quality and compliance with the specified characteristics. By purchasing tools from trusted manufacturers, you will be confident that this product will serve you reliably and for a long time. Among the trusted manufacturers it is necessary to highlight:
Bahco is a Swedish company that is part of the SNA Europe corporation. For more than 200 years of history, the company has never changed its basic concept - the production of high-quality and affordable hand tools. Bahco saws are characterized by durability and reasonable price.
You can also find Sandvik saws on the market. This company is part of Bahco, so the quality of the product meets the general requirements of the company.
American saw manufacturer Stanley, also focuses on the accessibility of its products. The company is distinguished by a large staff of engineers and designers. Thanks to their developments, the cutting edge and blade of hacksaws differ from domestic GOST, but this does not affect the quality at all. This company is great for those who choose a hacksaw for the dacha. Because the combined large teeth make it possible to produce any type of cut.
German company Gross younger than other companies. It achieves the competitiveness of its product due to its very low cost. However, the products are of quite high quality and meet all standards. The only drawback is that the choice of products is very small.
There are also domestic manufacturers offering high-quality and relatively inexpensive saws. Among which:
- Piranha;
- Bison
Saws Bison Manufactured in China, however, they meet the requirements for teeth and steel. Disadvantages:
- cannot be used for working with hard wood;
- time permanent job no more than 10 minutes (then a pause of 15 minutes);
- Do not leave it outside (it will quickly rust, even with low humidity).
Despite this, the characteristics of the hacksaw are suitable for pruning trees.
The Piranha company is relatively small and has been operating relatively recently. Like everything new, its products are quite affordable and different good quality. Saws Piranha are presented in only a few options. Large country The manufacturer of this product is China. But the products of this company are coated with Teflon, which protects the hacksaw from corrosion, even if you forget it on the street.
About safety and comfort
When choosing a hacksaw for wood, pay attention to the handle. The most convenient is a two-component handle with rubberized insert. It provides a strong grip, does not allow the palm to slip and does not rub the hand.
For working with workpieces of various sizes and performing different types of cuts a set of replacement blades is far from superfluous. Saws are often equipped with equipment with different cutting edges and different shapes - for cutting branches, making transverse and straight cuts, etc. It is also quite convenient when the hacksaw is equipped with a case for carrying and storage, or at least a plastic plug that covers the sharp edges, eliminating injury and damage to the surface of the canvas.
Every true master (even at home) always has a convenient and multifunctional electric circular saw. But sometimes there are types of work when you need to saw off only one part, or simply perform small amounts of work, and get electrical device I do not want. In this case it will help you out hacksaw blade. But we’ll look further at how to choose a good hacksaw for wood that will be easy to use and can easily “gnaw through” any type of wood.
The saw can rightfully be called the mother of all hand tools. From the moment people realized the importance of iron and created the first saw, the tool has changed many times and already has a dozen “sisters” that can be used to perform any type of work.
Let's take a closer look at what each of these parameters should be.
Hacksaw blade - what it should be like
The main part of the tool is the blade. The first thing you should pay attention to when choosing a hacksaw for wood is the length of the blade. A lot will depend on this, at least even the possibilities of application.
At the same time, the larger the canvas, the more it will spring, which will complicate the process, especially when working with maple, ash and oak.
If you plan to saw bars or narrow slats, a tool with a length of 25 to 30 cm will be enough for you. When planning to use a tool for serious work in construction, give preference to tools with a blade length of 50 cm.
When choosing the length, you should be guided by the rule that the length should exceed the diameter of the element being processed by exactly 2 times.
If you don't follow this recommendation, you will make your job more difficult. The teeth of a short hacksaw will only jam in the wood, and it will be very difficult to move such a saw to free it from sawdust.
Working in an uncomfortable environment will cause you to become tired sooner than if you had followed all the instructions.
Typically, the width of a hacksaw blade is from 10 to 20 cm. Models with a smaller width have many disadvantages, since they are impractical and will immediately fail. But keep in mind that tools that are too wide will not give you comfort.
For the manufacture of hacksaws, alloy steel is used, which differs from ordinary steel in its high content of carbon and silicon of the following grades:
- 65G, 60 S2A.
- 8 XF, 9 XF, 9 XC.
- Y7, Y7A, Y8, Y8A, Y8G, Y8GA, Y9A, Y10.
The metal is hardened under special influence magnetic field, due to which a high-frequency electric current appears.
As it spreads on the surface, it warms up upper layer metal, after which they harden cold water. According to the standard, the hardness of the metal should be 45 HRC, but it is better to give preference to products whose blade hardness will be from 55 to 60.
A high-density wood hacksaw will have good performance flexibility, but at the same time the teeth will be stable. Externally, upon inspection, you will determine the quality of the instrument by the dark shade of the sharpened teeth.
What kind of teeth should there be?
Another important factor in a tool's performance and cutting performance is the size of the teeth. An indicator such as sawing accuracy is designated TPI, which means the number of teeth per inch (2.54 cm).
The relationship between this technical parameter is as follows:
- A blade with larger teeth gives high speed when working, but in this case, expect a sloppy and rough cut.
- Hacksaws with fine teeth will make a clean and precise cut, but the work speed will be several times lower.
When you decide on the size of the teeth, focus on the type of material being processed.
When working with materials such as chipboard. Where high cutting accuracy is needed, you should take a tool with an index of 7 to 9, and for logs in the garden, where the cleanliness of the cut does not matter important role, a value from 3 to 6 is suitable.
If you compare an ordinary and a hardened tooth, the difference will be that an ordinary one does not become dull for a long time. household use. But a hacksaw with hardened teeth cannot be resharpened, so when the quality of the cut decreases, you have no choice but to simply throw it away.
The advantage of a regular tooth is that it can be sharpened. This work is periodically carried out using a file marked with an accident ( for sharpening saws). To sharpen, you need to run the file over each tooth several times.
There are three types depending on the type of teeth hand hacksaw:
Some types of instruments have teeth that are shaped like a trapezoid. This decision has created a new generation of hacksaw blades, which are wear-resistant and much stronger.
But it is worth considering that sharpening such a blade is a difficult task, since it is difficult to shape the complex shape of small teeth. This greatly reduces the service life of the tool, at the end of which you will have to change the blade or choose another good hacksaw for wood.
Nowadays, new models of hacksaws are increasingly found on the market, which are designed for cutting not yet dried. Small chips pass easily between the saw teeth and do not make work difficult.
Narrow
This is a small saw that consists of a flat, straight blade and a handle. With its help, you can perform a number of small jobs: cut out curved parts, make a through cut, etc.
It is made of cloth with double-sided teeth in the form of a triangle, sometimes with parallel sharpening. The disadvantage of the tool is that when pressed during operation, the blade may deviate from the specified direction.
Standard
Hand saw with standard parameters can have any type of teeth and is most often equipped with several blades for changing, which have different designs and types of teeth. Despite the versatility stated in the parameters, such saws are not suitable for making furniture.
With a butt
Both narrow and standard saws tend to bend when the stiffness threshold increases. To avoid this, it will be effective to use a tool with a backing, which will act as a stiffener. The presence of such a “fixer” will not make it possible to make a cut larger than the width of the blade, since it will prevent the blade from passing into the tree to a greater depth.
Luchkovaya
This type of saw is a bulkier device that is a manual version of a jigsaw. Due to the fact that the design is solid and its threaded connection handles, such saws can easily overcome knots, making cuts along patterns and radii.
Depending on the intended type of work and the design of the saw, there may be:
- Transverse– for cutting across the wood grain.
- Sweeping- for cutting lengthwise.
- Circular– for creating holes, roundings and cutting shapes.
- Spike– for cutting connecting tenons and sawing out simple geometric shapes on the workpiece.
Only a bow saw can perform all these functions without additional tools.
The procedure for choosing is quite simple:
Now about the handles. They are usually made of plastic. Prefabricated handles are made from two plastic halves, which are not very rigid. It is much more convenient to work with tools that have a one-piece handle equipped with a rubber backing for the fingers. If you have a rubber insert, it will be much more convenient for you to make a grip, thereby protecting yourself from the formation of calluses.
You can often find tools with a flip-over and a standard handle on sale. The first option is convenient because it is possible to replace the canvas with a new one if its service life expires.
Please also keep in mind that not all saw models are sold sharpened, and this seemingly insignificant detail determines how quickly you can start working.
According to customer reviews, the following have won trust:
tree like construction material, has numerous advantages, not the least of which is ease of processing. Issued various instruments for working with wood, however, the simplest and most common is a regular hand-held hacksaw. What parameters are used to select a hacksaw for wood, which is better and what to look for when choosing a new tool?
Criteria for choosing a hacksaw for wood
Choice of the most convenient option, as a rule, is determined by a set of the following characteristics:
- length of the canvas;
- the material used in the production of the saw;
- handle configuration;
- shape, pitch, tooth size.
Even if one of the listed characteristics changes, the performance properties of the hacksaw also change noticeably. It is clear that the shape of the handle affects the comfort of working with the tool. Therefore, if only one master will use the saw, you need to select the handle so that, as they say, it “fits” in the hand. If you use a hacksaw rarely, and also not too intensively, then comfort of holding becomes not the most important parameter.
Most often, hacksaws are produced with blade lengths from 350 to 600 mm. The choice of blade length depends on the expected thickness wooden products, which will have to be cut. The main thing here is not to go to extremes, because with a blade that is too short you will have to work longer to achieve the same result, and a blade that is too long, especially when sawing hard wood, can spring back and, again, create difficulties.
Blade material, pitch and tooth types
The material for the production of hacksaw blades is usually tool or alloy steel. In order for the tool to serve for a long time, you should choose a saw with a blade made of high types of steel, preferably stainless steel. The price will be higher, but it will certainly pay off. Additionally, the teeth may or may not be hardened. Both options have their merits. Unhardened teeth can always be sharpened with certain skill. Hardened teeth are more reliable and last longer, but it is unlikely to be possible to sharpen them after they are worn out.
The question of which wood hacksaw is best suited for certain conditions can most often be answered based on the size, type, and pitch of the teeth. Efficient cutting wood materials characterized by cutting speed and accuracy. These properties depend on each other - cutting accuracy guarantees a fine tooth, while reducing the speed of work. Larger teeth make cutting faster, but cut surface quality and accuracy become poorer.
For the right choice The TPI parameter is important, meaning the number of teeth per inch of working length of the blade. This coefficient is usually indicated in the markings on the side surface of the canvas. For accurate work, where the accuracy and quality of surfaces are of serious importance, the TPI should be equal to 7–11, but if speed is preferred, then the TPI is selected with a value of 3–5.
There are several types of hacksaws based on the type of teeth:
- For longitudinal sawing. This tool has teeth in the shape of an oblique triangle and is used for cutting wood along the grain.
- The cross saw is equipped with isosceles triangular teeth and is mainly used for dry wood.
- For mixed sawing. Triangular teeth alternate with semicircular ones. Not recommended for intense, frequent use.
- With trapezoidal tooth. Each tooth of this hacksaw has three cutting edges. The use of this hacksaw has undeniable advantages - the tool cuts quickly and effortlessly.
- The modernized saw has grouped teeth separated by special spaces, which make it easier to remove chips from the cutting area.
Hacksaws, in addition to the shape and arrangement of the teeth, are divided according to the shape and length of the blade, are folding, with various forms handles. The durability and quality of the instrument can be indirectly indicated by the price. A good hacksaw is unlikely to be the cheapest.
Popular models
Information from sellers about which wood hacksaws sell best makes it possible to judge the most popular models. Let's look at some of them.
Stanley Jet Cut SP2-15-288
This hacksaw is equipped with a D-shaped handle, a 50 cm blade with a tooth pitch of 7 mm. A tooth with three cutting edges ensures ease and speed of sawing. The fine Swedish steel used in the production of the blade ensures high quality of the tool. The teeth are practically not subject to wear, which allows for many years of successful use. Price - within 1200–1300 rubles.
Bison Expert
The tool is popular, benefits from its reasonable cost (from 700 rubles), as well as its versatility. Triangular hardened teeth allow longitudinal and transverse cutting at a fairly high speed. Special technology tooth alignment eliminates the occurrence of clamping forces, improves productivity and work efficiency. Hardened, specially set teeth, with a pitch of 5 mm, a comfortable plastic handle. Canvas length from 40 cm.
Stanley General Purpose 1-20-089
Designed for precise and accurate cutting of workpieces, this hacksaw has fine teeth (TPI=11) made using Jet Cut technology, an ergonomic handle, and a polished steel blade. A special feature is the precision provided by the fine teeth. At the same time, the operating speed is also quite high, due to the teeth with three cutting edges (sawing occurs in both forward and reverse motion). The comfortable handle provides a firm grip, excellent control and ease of use, and is attached to the blade with with the help of three screws Length 380 mm, price - 650–700 rubles.
BAHCO Laplander 396-LAP
Great tool, designed for sawing dry and wet wood, designed and manufactured specifically for hunters, fishermen and tourists, although it is also used by gardeners and even builders. Excellent Swedish quality, TPI=7, Sandvik XT shaped teeth, allowing sawing both along and across the grain. The canvas has a special coating applied not only to protect against corrosion, but also to reduce friction. Folded length -23 cm, weight 200 g. The blade is securely fixed in both the folded and open positions. The only drawback is the price - from 1.6 to 2 thousand rubles.
The hacksaw is a small but convenient cutting tool, which has a solid metal frame and a serrated blade. Although the original purpose of this saw is to cut metal, it is also used for plastic and wood.
Peculiarities
There are various variations of hand saws, but the main (or most common) ones are full-frame ones, which use 12-inch or 10-inch blades. Regardless of the type of hacksaw, it is important to ensure that you purchase a high-quality tool made from a special steel alloy.
In more modern models The blade can be adjusted in length, allowing you to remove branches of varying thickness. The cutting element is placed in pillars that are located on the frame. Many people do not realize that they can install it in different positions to suit their own needs. The blade simply moves left and right or up and down.
Among the huge range of products offered, all models differ in handle shape, dimensions, tooth sizes and other parameters. The buyer should take into account his own needs when choosing the material of the canvas and its size. If you plan to saw boards and remove small branches, then you should pay attention to a tool whose metal cutting part is from 28 to 30 centimeters wide. For construction purposes, fabric from 45 to 50 cm is used, but you can find more on the market - it all depends on what kind of work you plan to do.
The effectiveness of the tool depends on the proportions, so the thickness of the wooden workpiece should be half that of a hacksaw. In this case, more sweeping movements are obtained, and therefore the task can be completed faster. Large teeth must be completely inserted into the material - this is the only way to remove sawdust.
The user's comfort during operation will depend on how well the manufacturer has thought through the handle. This structural element is attached behind the blade; sometimes you can find a pistol-type handle on sale. The handle is made of two materials: wood and plastic. In more expensive versions, it can be rubberized, which significantly improves the interaction of the hand with the surface.
Another feature that can distinguish wood saws from each other is the brand and size of the cutting teeth. If you look closely, the pointed elements are never placed next to each other, since in this case the tool will immediately get stuck in the material. To simplify the task, the teeth are given different shapes, which are also used for various cutting options:
- longitudinal;
- transverse
A rip saw is used to cut along the grain of wood. The main distinguishing feature is that each pointed element is quite large and sharpened at a right angle. The tool seems to cut wood, working on the principle of a chisel.
To cut crosswise, take a different unit, in which each tooth is sharpened at an angle. There are also Japanese teeth, which are narrow and very long, and at the top of the blade there is a cutting edge with a double slope. You can also find a universal tool on sale that can be used in both cases. Its teeth are sharpened symmetrically.
Purpose
Depending on the number of teeth on the working blade, the purpose of the tool is determined - it will be used for sawing or cutting. As a rule, you can see this characteristic in the instructions or description of the tool. On some models, the manufacturer applied the necessary parameters directly to the surface of the working surface.
Large teeth indicate that the hacksaw is used for quick, rough cuts. As a rule, this is the main tool for summer residents and gardeners, since there is no way to do without it. household. Using such a hacksaw you can cut firewood and remove thick extra branches in the fall. The tool should be marked 3-6 TPI.
If the tool description says TPI 7-9, then this hacksaw should be used for more high-quality cutting where accuracy is important. The main area of application is working with laminate, fiberboard and chipboard. Due to the small size of the teeth, the user spends more time cutting the part, but the cut is smooth and without jagged edges.
Woodworkers buy a whole set of wood saws because each one is used to solve a specific task. The teeth of a tool for longitudinal cutting are always made in the form of triangles, the corners of which are beveled. If you look closely, this shape is somewhat reminiscent of hooks that have been sharpened on both sides. As a result, the cut is smooth, the blade penetrates the material tightly. Those teeth that allow cross cutting have a shape very similar to an isosceles triangle. Such a hacksaw can only be used on wood that is completely dry.
In the combined design, two types of teeth are used, which follow each other. Sometimes there are gaps or voids in the design of the cutting blade, thanks to which waste material is removed.
Types of hacksaws for wood
Hacksaws are presented in a wide range, they can be divided into three large groups, which have their own classification:
- with butt;
- to create a curved cut;
- Japanese.
If you plan to perform delicate work, then you should use a tool with a back, which has an additional strip of brass or steel installed on the upper edge of the blade to prevent bending. These hacksaws are classified as follows:
- tenoning;
- with swallow tail;
- with offset handle;
- edge;
- model.
The first ones on the list are the largest, since their main purpose is to work with thick boards and firewood. It is equipped with a closed handle shape, which is ideal for conveniently holding the tool in the hand. A smaller version of this model - dovetail– used for working with hard wood.
If you have to work with through tenons, then you should use a hacksaw with an offset handle. The user can adjust the element, and it is convenient to work with both the right and left hands.
If necessary, make a thin cut is not found better tool than an edge saw, which has a compact size. But the smallest of all the presented options for this tool is the model file.
With any of the described models, a person should begin to work for himself, holding the hacksaw at a slight angle.
If it is necessary to cut out a curved part, a completely different tool is used. This category also has its own classification:
- onion;
- openwork;
- jigsaw;
- narrow.
A bow saw usually has a length of 20-30 centimeters, and the cutting blade has from 9 to 17 teeth of the same size per inch. It is possible to rotate the canvas in the required direction so that the frame does not interfere with the view. There are folding travel models on sale that take up little space.
At the openwork file working surface reaches a length of 150 mm, and the frame is made in the shape of an arc. Main area of use – artificial material and solid wood.
As for the jigsaw, its frame is also made in the form of an arc, but deep, since the tool is necessary to create strong bends in thin material, for example, veneer.
A narrow hacksaw is also known in the professional world as a round saw, since it is used in the middle of a wooden workpiece. The cutting element is very thin and tapers towards the end. It is thanks to this shape that it is possible to create curves with large angles. The design includes a pistol-type handle on which you can attach the desired blade.
Professionals know that the range of hacksaws is not limited to this, since there are also Japanese edged ones, which not every beginner has ever heard of. Their classification includes:
- kataba;
- dozuki;
- rioba;
- mawashibiki.
The main distinguishing feature of all these hacksaws is that their blades work for themselves. The teeth on the blade are very close to each other, so the cut is narrow, without serious breaks in the wood fibers.
In kataba, the cutting elements are located on one side. The tool can be used for both longitudinal and cross cuts, so it is considered universal. In comparison with the described model, the Rioba has a cutting blade for cross cutting on one side, and longitudinal cutting on the other. When working with such a tool, you should hold it at a slight angle.
For a neat and thin cut, a dozuki is used. Closer to the handle, the teeth are smaller, which makes work easier.
The narrowest hacksaw of the listed options in this group is the mawashibiki. All actions using such a tool should be pulling - this will reduce the likelihood of the blade bending.
The tooth pitch of hacksaws can range from 14 to 32 teeth per inch. With the development of technological progress, this instrument moved from the category of manual classics and began to be made electric. Electric hacksaws have a powerful motor that provides the necessary power to cut branches.
Stationary silent vertical machines have the greatest power, but some portable models are also not inferior. Power depends on the type of power supply. Rechargeable ones are inferior to stationary electric ones, but they can be used even where it is not possible to connect to the network.
There is also a separate award in the category of the described tool - a product with a thin blade no more than 0.7 mm. Cutting part fits very tightly into a block made of wood. Used with one or two hands for small cuts or notches.
Saw tooth sizes
Large
Teeth measuring 4-6 mm are considered large. Their distinctive feature is that they create a rough cut, but take less time to work. It is best to use such a tool with large workpieces, for example, logs, where the quality and fineness of the lines are not so important.
Small
Fine teeth include any hacksaw in which this indicator is in the range of 2-2.5 mm. One of the advantages of such a cutting blade is precise and very neat cutting, so it is recommended to use the tool when processing small parts.
Average
If the teeth on a hacksaw are 3-3.5 mm, it means the average size, which is also used for wooden blanks small dimensions.
Types of steel
Hacksaws of any type are made from various types of steel, including alloy or carbon. The quality of the product is indicated by the hardness of the canvas - it is tested using the Rockwell method.
Hardened hacksaw blades are made from hardened high quality tool steel. They are very hard, but in some situations they are poorly susceptible to bending loads. Flexible blades contain hardened steel only on the teeth. The backing is a flexible sheet of metal. They are sometimes called bimetallic blades.
Early blades were made from carbon steel, now called "low alloy" steel, and were relatively soft and flexible. They didn't break, but they wore out quickly. Over the course of several decades, the metal blade has changed; various alloys have been used, which have been tested in practice.
The high-alloy metal blades cut accurately but were extremely brittle. It limited them practical use. A softer form of this material was also available - it had high stability to loads, greater resistance to breakage, but was less rigid, so it bent and the result was a less accurate cut.
Since the 1980s, bimetallic blades have been actively used in the manufacture of hacksaws for wood. The advantages were obvious - there was no risk of breakdown. Over time, the price of the product has fallen, so such cutting elements are used as a universal option everywhere.
Carbon steel is usually the softest and least expensive of the other types. It began to be used in the manufacture of household level tools. The material is prized by craftsmen because it can be easily sharpened. Most woodworking tools are made from carbon steel because it can sometimes be quite expensive to use another material.
Stainless steel undergoes heat treatment, its hardness coefficient is 45. It is used for the manufacture of tools with a high-quality cutting edge. It can be used in difficult conditions, but it is more expensive than carbon.
High alloy is widely used in tool making. It is available in various options: M1, M2, M7 and M50. Among them, M1 is the most expensive grade. Although few hacksaws are made from this material, this type of steel can withstand longer use. Not used for making large instruments due to its inherent fragility. Hacksaws made from high alloy steel are often marked HS or HSS.
Carbide steel using carbide is used in making hand tools because it allows you to perform tasks efficiently. Being very hard, the alloy undergoes careful processing so that it can be used in the future, since the products can break easily.
Most often, steel hacksaws are made of high-speed steel. The most popular will be BS4659, BM2 or M2.
Model rating
From domestic producers I want to highlight the lineup"Enkor", which is made of carbide steel. One of the best representatives is the model “Enkor 19183”, distinctive feature which has a tooth size of only 2.5 mm. The tool is supplied for sale with a comfortable handle and hardened teeth, which indicates a long service life of the product.
It is impossible not to highlight Japanese saws, for example, model Silky Sugowaza, which is used for the most difficult work, since its teeth are 6.5 mm. Gardeners and summer residents prefer to purchase such a tool for crown formation fruit trees, when you want to work quickly without putting in a lot of effort. The special arc shape makes it easy to cut off unnecessary branches.
Swedish hacksaws are not inferior in quality to domestic ones. Among them stands out Bahco brand, which has proven itself due to its high quality. In category universal tool The Ergo 2600-19-XT-HP model stands out, used for medium-thick workpieces.
How to choose?
- Before buying a hacksaw, the user should pay attention to the material from which the hacksaw blade is made. It is best if it is M2 steel, since it has not only an attractive service life, but also decent reliability.
- When choosing, be sure to take into account the diameter of the processed wooden workpieces, since when purchasing a hacksaw with a smaller blade size, the user will have to put more effort during work.
- For cutting wood and other rough work, it is best to use a hacksaw with large teeth.
- Alloy steel saw blades can be sharpened using special disk in Bulgarian.
- If you have to hard work, it is better if the design of the hacksaw includes a reversible handle.
As for operating rules, the user needs to know how to use this tool correctly and safely. The sharpening angle may vary depending on the type of hacksaw you choose; some can be sharpened yourself, but without the proper experience, it is better to entrust this to a professional, as you can damage the tool.
Hacksaws feature a metal blade that is mounted in a solid steel frame. Although it itself is flexible, held in a state of high tension, the user is advised to wear protective gloves, even if the operation process takes only five minutes. Share with friends