mechanism is also attached to the saw frame on many
models.
The work holding device is normally a vise with
one stationary jaw and one movable jaw. The
movable jaw is mounted over a toothed rack to permit
a rapid and easy initial adjustment close to the
material to be cut. Do final tightening by turning the
vise screw until the material is held securely. An
adjustable stop permits pieces of the same length to be
Figure 4-2.--Hacksaw blade.
cut without measuring each piece separately. A stock
support stand (available for both sides of the saw)
keeps long stock from falling when being cut.
coolant protects the teeth from overheating. This
allows you to increase the rate of cutting beyond the
The power hacksaw illustrated can handle
speed possible without coolant. A soluble oil solution
material up to 4 inches wide and 4 inches thick.
with a mixture of the oil and water will be suitable for
most sawing operations. The normal mixture for
Blade Selection
soluble oil is 40 parts water to 1 part oil. You also
may use a synthetic coolant.
The blade shown in figure 4-2 is especially
designed for use with the power hacksaw. It is made
Feeds and Speeds
with a tough alloy steel back and high-speed steel
teeth. This combination gives a strong blade and
A power hacksaw will have one of three types of
cutting edge suitable for high-speed sawing.
feed mechanisms:
These blades differ by the pitch of the teeth
Mechanical feed, which ranges from 0.001 to
(number of teeth per inch). You should select the
0.025 inch per stroke, depending upon the class
correct pitch of teeth for a particular job according to
and type of material being cut
the size and material composition of the section to be
cut. Use coarse pitch teeth for wide, heavy sections to
Hydraulic feed, which exerts a constant
provide ample chip clearance. For thinner sections,
pressure but is designed so that the feed is
use a blade with a pitch that keeps two or more teeth
automatically stopped or shortened at hard
in contact with the work so that the teeth do not
spots to decrease the pressure on the saw until
straddle the work. Straddling strips the teeth from the
the hard spot has been cut through
blade. In general, select blades according to the
following information:
Gravity feed, in which weights are placed on
the saw frame and shifted to give more or less
Coarse (4 teeth per inch), for soft steel, cast
pressure of the saw blade against the material
iron, and bronze.
being cut
Regular (6 to 8 teeth per inch), for annealed
To prevent unnecessary wear on the back sides of
high carbon steel and high-speed steel.
the saw blade teeth, the saw frame and blade are
automatically raised clear of the surface being cut on
Medium (10 teeth per inch), for solid brass
each return stroke. The rate of feed or the pressure
stock, iron pipe, and heavy tubing.
exerted by the blade on the cutting stroke depends on
several factors--the toughness and hardness of the
Fine (14 teeth per inch), for thin tubing and
material, the size, and in the case of a hollow pipe, the
sheet metals.
wall thickness. You must cut a hard, large diameter
piece of stock with a slower or lighter feed rate than
Coolant
you would use with a soft, small diameter piece of
stock. Cut pipe with thin walls with a relatively light
You should use a coolant for most power
feed rate. This prevents stripping the teeth from the
hacksawing operations. (Cast iron can be sawed dry.)
saw blade or collapsing the walls of the pipe. A feed
The coolant keeps the kerf (narrow slot created by the
rate that is too heavy or fast will often cause the saw
cutting action of the blade) clear of chips so that the
blade to wander, producing an angled cut.
blade does not bind up and start cutting crooked. The
4-2
