Hack-Saw Blade Orientation

[Gomer]

Do you install your hack-saw blades to make it a pull saw or a push saw? I have seen most blades installed as a push saw, and this makes the blade somewhat unstable because the frame of the saw will flex some. I have changed over to make mine a pull saw and it will cut much straighter. Am I the only one?

 

[timcasbolt]

(quoted from post at 13:16:26 04/06/22) Do you install your hack-saw blades to make it a pull saw or a push saw? I have seen most blades installed as a push saw, and this makes the blade somewhat unstable because the frame of the saw will flex some. I have changed over to make mine a pull saw and it will cut much straighter. [b:7883f077d9]Am I the only one[/b:7883f077d9]?

Probably.

 

[Janicholson]

Probably not, but if it works for you make it so. Others using your saw will tear the teeth edges off immediately. I have done it upon occasion for clearance reasons, and it is used in my Jab saw permanently. jim

 

[leroy in ne]

Cheap saw frames flex and the blade can not be properly tensioned resulting in crooked cuts blade damage ect. I only use good frames like LENOX, SANDVIK ect. $40.00 and up.

 

[old]

Last time I got a new blade it had an arrow on it saying this end to the handle

 

[unc]

As students, we were taught to use two hands on the hacksaw, one on the handle, and one on the front of the frame. Used this way, the frame pulls the blade. I use a hacksaw a lot to cut tool and alloy steel, and to cut out small parts. My good quality blades last forever, and cut very precisely. I don't let others use my hacksaws. In reply to the original thread, I often pull files, rather than push them. unc

 

[rustred]

the teeth have to facing forward so they cut on a push stroke. sometime the blade would get turned around for a joke for the next guy. i have found the blades on backwards and just say idiots and put it on correctly. lol. i dont think pulling on the cutting stroke would work very good, as once our used to relaxing on the pull stroke. plus on one final test there was a question, how many strokes per minute using a hacksaw? 40 s. p. m. i believe it was. dont think a hacksaw would even be mentioned in todays classes. the same with hand files. that was over 40 years ago.

 

[cjunrau]

Yes. Much better results and once you are used to it that way it becomes natural. Just like the old 2 man tree saws. If you push they bend.

 

[Phill Tibbetts]

buy a good solid frame saw and you won't have a frame flexing problem.

 

[Janicholson]

I teach both standard filing and draw filing in my Manufacturing class. I also use hacksaws and teach their correct use, full length strokes, 60 or fewer strokes/min, 2 hands (one on each end), starting by knuckling the blade in position, and #of teeth in the work. Jim

 

[tractorguy2]

I have both of my saws set for push cutting. I only hold the saw with one hand. My dad lost his right arm in a farm accident in 1943 at the age of four. I have learned to do most things one handed. Even drive my zero turn mower with one hand.

 

[David Snipes]

Should work; Japanese hand saws cut on the pull stroke.

 

[SVcummins]

What blades are you using ? The ones I get will cut hardened
steel cost about 8$ each