What Is a Hacksaw? What Is it Used For?

A hacksaw is a fantastic tool for the DIYer kit. In addition, they are usually an every day tool used by plumbers and electricians. When it comes time to cut steel, plastic, and other challenging substance, you’ll be pleased you have a hacksaw.

The wonderful thing about these easy equipment is they are not usually very pricey, and they don’t just take up a lot of place. You can undoubtedly get some “beefier” created versions if you use it for function each and every day. Still, the typical person does not want a super heavy-duty hacksaw.

tool divider

How Does it Work?

Most hacksaws consist of two components: the body (including the take care of) and a detachable blade. The blade is connected and secured by stress. Normally, at the base of the handle the place the blade attaches, there is a tensioner knob with which you can increase or decrease the stress.

A single considerable big difference in between a hacksaw and a regular hand observed is the orientation of the teeth. Fairly typically, hand noticed tooth are curved backward so that the noticed cuts on backward stroke. A hacksaw’s tooth are curved at a ahead angle, so it cuts on the forward stroke.

man cutting a pipe with a hacksaw
Image Credit: antoniodiaz, Shutterstock

What are the Different Types of Hacksaw?

Hand-held hacksaws appear in different measurements, from miniature to complete-sized saws. All of them consider a variety of-sized blades the principal difference amongst them is the dimensions of the frame and the way you keep the manage.

As a general rule, the far better the quality, the much more hefty-duty the body will be. This is a important thought if it’s for every day professional use. In addition to that, the only actual big difference in saws is the blade duration the body allows. Typical body lengths are six, 10, and twelve-inches extended.

One other choice out there is a battery-powered hacksaw. These are quite high-priced, and several makes this sort of as DeWalt or Milwaukee make them.

Blade Types

The blade sort is exactly where the true big difference between saws is. The principal factor separating blades is their tooth for each inch (TPI) rely. For illustration, a 10-inch hacksaw matches ten-inch blades. But individuals blades could have any number of TPI from five up to 32.

The decrease the TPI, the greater and far more spaced out the teeth are. For a softer material like plastic or even some wood, you would use a five to 14 TPI blade. Difficult metals like metal or iron you would use someplace amongst eighteen and 24 preferably. And if you are slicing delicate metal like aluminum, upwards of 32 is excellent for a great complete on the cut.

Where is it Used?

The most typical software for a hacksaw is metal and plastic. Nonetheless, with a five to 14 TPI, you could minimize some dry wooden, but this still would not be the perfect resource for the task. Two trades that most likely use hacksaws the most would be plumbers or electricians.

Below are some illustrations of components that you can cut with a hacksaw:

  • Steel pipe
  • Threaded rod (sometimes called “Ready rod”)
  • Electrical conduit pipe (aluminum or steel)
  • Multi-conductor electrical cables
  • Steel and aluminum struts
  • PVC pipes
Red hacksaw
Image Credit: WikimediaImages, Pixabay

Advantages of Using a Hacksaw

Using treatment of scaled-down cuts without needing to dig out a reciprocating observed (Sawzall) is a enormous reward of the hacksaw. And being fairly compact, it doesn’t get up a lot of space in your bag.

Protection is an additional benefit of employing a hacksaw compared to another resource. As prolonged as you put on ideal gloves and basic safety glasses, there is not much that can go wrong.

Disadvantages of Using a Hacksaw

A hacksaw’s major drawback is that it will not be best if you’re reducing large materials. For illustration, if you have a 12-inch hacksaw, you are constrained to the materials you can do a proper stroke on. Plus, a hacksaw lacks the oomph to get the task done for really challenging and thick material.

If you’re working into circumstances like this, it could be a great idea to have a reciprocating saw helpful.

Tips for Using a Hacksaw

Hacksaw use is pretty simple, but below are a few of factors to preserve in brain for security and general efficient use:

  • Regular inspection: Like any tool, the components on your hacksaw wear out eventually. For example, the tensioner may wear out, which can be dangerous if the blade is not tight while cutting.
  • Use a lubricant: The friction from using a hacksaw typically creates a lot of heat which can wreck the blade and material you’re cutting. So, using a good cutting lube is recommended.
  • Keep blade tight: When cutting, you want to ensure that the blade is tight. And when you store it, loosen the blade to prolong its life.
  • Directional cutting: Remember that a hacksaw cuts on the forward stroke. So apply even pressure going forward and lift up slightly when pulling it back.

tool divider

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I cut wood with a hacksaw?

A hacksaw truly is not created for wood—there are better resources for that job. However, if you use a minimal TPI blade this kind of as five or 8 TPI, it will lower wood. Also, several bow observed blades will match on a hacksaw, presented they are the proper size. And bow saws are manufactured for chopping wooden.

What’s the best blade for a hacksaw?

It is dependent completely on what you’re chopping. The 1 factor to don't forget is that far more teeth will provide a smoother and nicer end to the minimize, but it will take longer to cut and will most likely need more cleansing out. On the other hand, fewer enamel will cut faster and remain thoroughly clean but will make a considerably rougher lower.

As a general rule: much less teeth for softer substance and a lot more tooth for a more difficult content. Though, there are usually exceptions to this rule. With expertise, you are going to get a come to feel for the appropriate blade for what you’re cutting.

Is there an alternative to a hacksaw that will cut the same things?

A reciprocating noticed is a great choice for a powered instrument that will reduce the very same issues as a hacksaw. The nice issue about these saws is that you can get blades to lower virtually everything from steel to wood to blades that do both alright.

Even so, a reciprocating saw is much bulkier than a hacksaw and demands much more income, particularly when you factor in batteries and chargers.

tool divider

Conclusion

If you really don't use a hacksaw a good deal, there is no reason to devote a ton of cash on a single. Nevertheless, when the require arises, they are a handy instrument to have around. So, it’s value acquiring at minimum a low-cost 1 to hold in the garage.

Sources
  • First-hand knowledge

 


Featured Image Credit: RossHelen, Shutterstock

Contents