A hacksaw is a hand-held tool with removable blades used to cut plastic and metal pipes. Blades vary in length and teeth per inch (TPI), and should be secured to the frame before use. Users should follow safety guidelines to prevent injury and damage to materials and tools.
A hacksaw is a hand-held tool used to cut materials such as plastic pipes and metal pipes. Its cutting mechanism is provided by removable blades that feature sharp teeth along the outer edge. Before using a hacksaw, it’s important to understand how the tool works, as failure to do so can lead to broken blades, waste materials, and even injury.
In most cases, a hacksaw consists of a metal frame that looks like a U pointing down. A plastic, wooden or metal handle is usually attached to one end of the frame. The ends of the frame feature adjustable pegs that can be tightened to secure a blade in place and loosened to remove it.
Hacksaw blades are long, thin strips of hardened steel that have a row of teeth along the cutting edge. Each end of the blade is drilled with a small hole that fits the saw frame pegs. Most blades range in length from 12 to 25.4 cm, although 30.48 cm (15.24 inch) blades can be purchased to fit smaller jigsaw models.
The number of teeth on a blade can also vary. This figure is expressed as teeth per inch (TPI). Most hacksaw blades have a tooth distribution ranging from 14 to 32 TPI. Tool experts recommend that, when cutting, at least two teeth are in contact with the material to be cut at all times. Therefore, blades with a higher TPI are better suited for small, thin materials, while those with a lower TPI are good for large or thick materials.
When cutting with a hacksaw, the user must first select an appropriate blade and, using the blade pegs, secure it to the saw frame. The object to be cut should be secured in place, ideally with a vise or similar device. To start sawing, the user must center the teeth of the tool on the cutting target. He should then make long back-and-forth strokes with the saw, applying light pressure if necessary, until the desired cut is achieved.
To avoid broken tools, wasted material, and injury, hacksaw users should follow a few basic operating principles. First, all parts of the body must be kept away from the saw blade during use. In addition, the object to be sawn must be securely fixed in place to prevent it from slipping and hitting or cutting the user. Finally, to avoid breakage, saw blades should be oiled before use and cleaned thoroughly after.
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