Temp Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 Some time ago I picked up a junior hacksaw at one of the sheds. Today I needed to hack some pipe in half to fit it in the car. This is the straightest cut it would make. Soon as it starts I'm twisting the saw as far as I can trying to steer it left. Totally useless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 I bought a packet of standard hacksaw blades from a "hardware shop" they were just so weak and brittle you could hardly use it for a minute before the blade just snapped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottishjohn Posted December 19, 2019 Share Posted December 19, 2019 5 hours ago, ProDave said: I bought a packet of standard hacksaw blades from a "hardware shop" they were just so weak and brittle you could hardly use it for a minute before the blade just snapped. bi metal type is the way to go --with a GOOD frame . If they are cheap they will be crap-get sandvik or something with a name you can always tell who can use a hacksaw --the paint will be off 80% of the blade --not just the middle 5" and use the right no of teeeth blade for what you are cutting very important with mechanical hacksaw where the blades can be £15 a time minimum of 3 teeth should be inthe thickness of the metal you are cutting at all time -- for most hand hack saw jobs 24 -28teeth is best option . and junior hacksaws have always been a joke,virtually extinct since multi cut tools came onthe scene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 Sandvik have always been my go to ever since my old man worked for BG ? If you want a step up then the white, 8% cobalt ones by Morse are a dream imho. (As are their red hole saws). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe90 Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 Well I hardly ever break hacksaw blades and here’s why. In school (back in the dark ages) our metalwork master had been a prisoner of war with the Japanese and their saws always cut on the pull rather than on the push, and all hacksaw blades in his workshop were inserted “backwards “, a hacksaw blade snaps because it jams and bends, they cannot bend when cutting on the pull. I have always done this with my hacksaw. It takes a little getting used to but I find it works well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted December 20, 2019 Share Posted December 20, 2019 5 minutes ago, joe90 said: Well I hardly ever break hacksaw blades and here’s why. In school (back in the dark ages) our metalwork master had been a prisoner of war with the Japanese and their saws always cut on the pull rather than on the push, and all hacksaw blades in his workshop were inserted “backwards “, a hacksaw blade snaps because it jams and bends, they cannot bend when cutting on the pull. I have always done this with my hacksaw. It takes a little getting used to but I find it works well. Lucky he wasn't a prisoner of the Australians! I bet an upside down blade takes some getting used to ? Always cut on the push here. Get more weight behind it. As an apprentice we were expected to be able to cut accurately to 20 thou. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamyTea Posted December 21, 2019 Share Posted December 21, 2019 (edited) 21 hours ago, Onoff said: As an apprentice we were expected to be able to cut accurately to 20 thou That will be 1/2 mill in Roman Catholic. 40 years after starting my apprenticeship (toolmaking), I was wandering around the craft centre at my local college and some poor boy was hand filing a block of steel. I think the reason they make/made us do this is because there are better ways of getting things done. Can you imagine what it would cost to just get door hinges made by hand, let alone a car body panel. When I see the words 'Artisan', I always think that I prefer training, skill, expertise and professionalism, especially if food is involved. Edited December 21, 2019 by SteamyTea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ProDave Posted December 21, 2019 Share Posted December 21, 2019 1 hour ago, SteamyTea said: Can you imagine what it would cost to just get door hinges made by hand, let alone a car body panel. I still have the barn tool box I made as an apprentice, including making the hinges. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onoff Posted December 21, 2019 Share Posted December 21, 2019 34 minutes ago, ProDave said: I still have the barn tool box I made as an apprentice, including making the hinges. Me too. Mines in the citric acid bath still. Complete with little folded tray that sits in it. I painted mine gold hammered finish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Temp Posted December 21, 2019 Author Share Posted December 21, 2019 23 hours ago, Onoff said: Lucky he wasn't a prisoner of the Australians! I bet an upside down blade takes some getting used to Now you mention it my junior hack must have been Australian. It wouldn't cut at all until I took the blade out and turned it teeth down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Davies Posted December 21, 2019 Share Posted December 21, 2019 It can, once in a very long while, be useful to have the blade on a hacksaw teeth up, of course. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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