Brentocool
Well-known member
I always see them the wrong way!! So what do you think?
Which direction does a hack saw blade go on?
- Thread starter Brentocool
- Start date
rlitman
Well-known member
Hack saws are meant to cut on the push stroke. Pointy part points forward.
Saws that cut on the pull stroke do not require a frame or spine. Totally different kind of saw.
Saws that cut on the pull stroke do not require a frame or spine. Totally different kind of saw.
ForceFed70
Well-known member
Powered saws on the pull stroke, hand saws on the push.
rburke65
Well-known member
There should be an arrow on the blade.
mrbreezeet1
Banned
^^^^^^
rburke65
Well-known member
what's that mean.
Not all power hacksaws.... The one I have ,with manual, is designed to cut on the push stroke.
lg
no neat sig line
Frank The Plumber
Well-known member
In the west push. European.
In the east pull. Japanese.
In all cutting aspects.
In the east pull. Japanese.
In all cutting aspects.
Steevo
Well-known member
Facing East. You get better Feng Shui for your cuts that way.
Torque1st
MEMBER EMERITUS
^^^+1
-Depends on the application. I run my hacksaw both ways. Normally when I pick it up I check which direction the teeth are going so I know what type of motion to use. If the teeth are wrong for the application I reverse the blade.
With those little blade holders for tight spaces I almost always use the teeth pointing towards me so I cut with the pull.
Frank is correct on conventions.
bgott
Well-known member
14 posts and nobody has pointed out that the teeth are supposed to point down!
rwhite692
Well-known member
North of the equator, the teeth point clockwise
South of the equator, they point counter-clockwise
Excapt during the vernal and autumnal equinox, during which time the above is reversed
South of the equator, they point counter-clockwise
Excapt during the vernal and autumnal equinox, during which time the above is reversed
Torque1st
MEMBER EMERITUS
Only if cutting downward.14 posts and nobody has pointed out that the teeth are supposed to point down!
rlitman
Well-known member
The hacksaw handle is designed to give you a good surface for your palm to push with. When I need a pull stroke (some lathe operations come to mind), I just turn the saw around. I never bother with reversing the blade.
And yes, this only applies to hand hacksaws. With a powerhack, the blade's direction depends on the saw's fixturing, but I've seen more that cut on the pull stroke, than ones that cut on the push.
As for the North of the equator vs South, that's not quite right. It actually refers to the tooth set orientation.
In the northern Hemisphere, they're set right, left, right, left . . .
In the southern Hemisphere, they're set left, right, left, right, etc.
I'd need to go back to my references books to see what the differences are when you've got a wave set blade.
Like the others have said, they cut on the push stroke. While others may switch them around for different things.
I seriously had to stop and think which way they go. It's one of those things that I just do automatically and never think about. You stop to think about it and you start second guessing yourself.
I seriously had to stop and think which way they go. It's one of those things that I just do automatically and never think about. You stop to think about it and you start second guessing yourself.
Torque1st
MEMBER EMERITUS
The handle usually works just as well for pulling. I have also just turned the saw around occasionally for a quick job. I usually prefer to pull if I can since there are fewer chances for injuries when pulling away from the work.
Northstar9126
Well-known member
Not with a coping saw.
ZRX61
Well-known member
Frank The Plumber
Well-known member
The Japanese use a small knife (Dsouki) that pulls through the wood. I have one.
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Will67
Well-known member
Why use a hacksaw when you can use a chainsaw....I think Tim Taylor said that?
PassnThru
Well-known member
I have yet to find a metal cutting blade for my chainsaw.
There is an untapped market there I think....
59 wagon man
Well-known member
for cutting pvc and abs it works better when the blade is backwards
justanengineer
Well-known member
Its called a demo saw...and when youre recycling large pieces of scrap for projects they are worth every penny.
4wd4ever
Well-known member
I use a bandsaw for that, the wood blade cuts it like butter!
Works on thin aluminum too!...well up to 1/8 inch anyway...lol
phoneguy
New member
Hah.. My first 'post'. Hello all of you... Enjoying all your inputs, I was taught No. 1: as a hacksaw blade was 'brittle' and would snap... you'd want to be 'pulling' towards you if/when it snapped for better control of where you'd end up.. away from the work, or into it! No. 2: was always told to 'let the blade do the work' and not to 'force' it.. So, I'll always have the teeth working on the 'pull'.. My $.02 worth. Works for me.
rlitman
Well-known member
Welcome to the forum.
But I really don't buy that argument. I can tie my bi-metal hack saw blades into a knot. There's nothing brittle about them, and the tension on the saw frame is designed specifically to cut on the push stroke (same thing goes for a saw blade with a spine). If you were cutting on the pull stroke, you wouldn't need a frame, would you?
But I really don't buy that argument. I can tie my bi-metal hack saw blades into a knot. There's nothing brittle about them, and the tension on the saw frame is designed specifically to cut on the push stroke (same thing goes for a saw blade with a spine). If you were cutting on the pull stroke, you wouldn't need a frame, would you?
Kevin54
MEMBER EMERITUS
Google that. It's the wrong word evidently.
Are you talking about a Japanese Backsaw? They are not small knives, they come in various sizes and thicknesses. I've had one for years. Fine tooth and very sharp. Also very precise. I think the one I have is only something like .020 thick.
I found it:
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Bennie
Well-known member
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Can't get it to show up right. Way less funny than I had imagined.
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Can't get it to show up right. Way less funny than I had imagined.
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JamieK
Well-known member
I thought hacksaw blades cut on the forward stroke so any metal chips would fly away from you. Thats how I remember to install the blades anyway.
kingofrestriction
Active member
All I remember is CWO Bussi constantly getting on my case for not lifting the hacksaw off the work every time, bringing it back toward me, placing it on the work, and pushing the hacksaw through the metal. Traumatized.
I now use all means of motor/mechanical advantage and avoid the hacksaw like the bubonic plague.
I now use all means of motor/mechanical advantage and avoid the hacksaw like the bubonic plague.
Zeke
Well-known member
Absolutely the best way to use the tool on metal. Blades last for a long time. Cut slowly and deliberately.
nehog
Well-known member
That doesn't help: I can never figure out if the arrow should point towards the handle or away!
kingofrestriction
Active member
Yes, and surprisingly you end up cutting the piece more quickly because you don't damage the teeth dragging them back across the work or cutting too fast.
rlitman
Well-known member
Yes, and surprisingly you end up cutting the piece more quickly because you don't damage the teeth dragging them back across the work or cutting too fast.
That's not a surprise, but hacksaw blades are so cheap and plentiful, I don't really bother being careful with that technique. A gently up and back motion with the handle on the return stroke removes any pressure from the teeth, even if it doesn't completely lift them.
Now with a file on the other hand, this is oh so important.
Yes, Japanese saws such as the dozuki and ryoba are made to cut on the back stroke. Also American flexible flush cut saws that work on the same principle.
These have completely different tooth profiles to hack saws though.
RECox286
Well-known member
Green side up ???
Uncle boB
Uncle boB