A hacksaw is a very handy tool when working with metal or plastics and is a cheap way to cut these materials. This video shows how to fit the blade and cut metal using a hacksaw. Brought to you by www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk
Master's mechanical engineering student here. Just wanted to say that the blade will actually last longer if you leave it tensioned when you put it away. Things don't break from having constant tension in them, but they do fail from alternating between no load and high tension load through a phenomenon called fatigue. Much the same way as a metal coat hanger will break after you bend it back and forth several times.
Won't the blade become unusable though if it's stretched to a point where the hack-saw can no longer provide tension, because the tensioner is bottomed out? Is releasing the tension and then tightening it up again later really adding that much wear to it, the fatigue from actual use I would imagine is much greater. This would be an interesting thing to test
@@TheIVJackal You're probably right. The tension from tightening it's by far not the same as bending a blade. And maybe the blade will last a bit longer... but the hacksaw will not.
Thanks! Watching this video helped me successfully lower an Ikea bed. All in all, took about an hour, including measuring, rotating the bed, etc. One extra piece of advise for others doing the same: put some newspaper on the floor to collect the metal dust.
Didn't know it was possible to cut through steel using a hacksaw (in 1 minute 10 seconds, no less, that's faster than setting up the machine)! Great tutorial, thanks for posting.
Really decent advice, cheers mate! Did a really shit job on cutting pieces of steel today and the shame brought me here. Kept missing the cut-line by centimetres and got yelled at -- gah, was horrible. But then again, there was no clamp provided, and the bench was knee-height, so getting enough force into the cut was hard-as-anything. Practice makes perfect I hope. Let's hope I get better at it!
Thank you, man! This is very useful guide, I didn't even know the hacksaw was capable of cutting such heavy gauge metal pipes and square steel bars, I'm suing it to cut wood branches with the bigger teeth side. Next time I have to cut something metal, I'm not going to bother about using the hacksaw. By the way you've got an awesome workplace!
@@saurisco338 almost all hacksaws are structurally weaker at the far side, due to less bulk; it's much safer to put the pressure on the side with the handle and avoids breaking the frame.
Meanwhile I had to straighten the pipes to get them threaded for my project. It was such a pain to do that (but finally done them with a makeshift vise called "firewood pile") and hearing about the importance of teeth facing certain way I'll have to check on it if they're facing the correct way.
Thanks for another excellent vid UHM. A little extra knowledge can help you get a lot more out of even a simple hand tool. One thing though - I'm never quite sure if these are just good DIY tutorials or really excellent glove and PPE fetish videos! LOL
I've always been frustrated using this type saw which I only use rarely. Thanks for the great tips. I wished you had addressed not having your kerf wander on you while cutting. By the time I'm half way through the cut my blade is twisting on me.
hi great vid as usual. I am Interested in installing my own pvc windows, no vid on youtube on this subject. Is this something you can do a vid on. many thanks
muy buen video ilustrativo para los que empiezan con herreria, Excellent video, I'm about to buy a hacksaw bow, which you recommend: craftsman or stanley, both are professional ...?
I'm not familiar with craftsman but Stanley normally make decent quality tools! The hacksaw I used in this video is a Teng, but they are quite expensive. Thanks for the comment
Thank you for the video! I've struggled to cut some thin steel C-frames today, it was difficult to get the saw to run smoothly. After watching your video I think the next round will you much better. I'm looking forward to trying again!
+Lucy R. It's much easier with a vice, but sometimes you just have to improvise and clamp the material to a bench or workmate etc. Thanks for the comment
+palmero8877 It's not something I have ever tried cutting but I would guess a regular blade would cut it. I only use a blade with more teeth per inch when cutting thin material. If the zinc is thin you might want to clamp it in some scrap pieces of timber ;-)
Thanks for posting! Nice video with some good tips and instructions. Well done!(: You said that the hacksaw will only cut one direction, the forward stroke. Which is true if you put the blade in with the teeth pointing forward. My question is why must the blade be set this way? I’m just trying to figure out why wouldn’t you want to turn the blade “backwards” and cut on the pull stroke instead? Can anyone like explain the advantages of cutting metal using a push stroke as opposed to cutting with a pull stroke? Thanks!!!
Very helpful. Trying to cut through some metal blind frames at the moment with a junior hacksaw, absolute nightmare 😂 Think it’s worth a trip to B&Q to get properly kitted out.
Ah, the art of the 'acksaw....:) let's see if I got it right: in artford, ereford and ampshire, urricanes ardly appen! :) But more seriously, I enjoyed this video. As far as I've read, aside from a higher TPI, getting a bi-metal blade is important...today I have to cut an old box spring in half to get it downstairs. It has a tubular metal frame about 5 mm thick cylindrical metal. It'll be my first time with an 'acksaw! :) And oh, I'm a bit nervous about fine metal dust so I think I'll wear a mask. These Covid-19 masks sure come handy! :)
@@ultimatehandyman just split an old box spring in half to carry down the stairs and out of the house. First time with an 'acksaw! 24 TPI, bimetal. Milwaukee brand in the USA. Worked great! The metal rod was only 5 mm thick.
Cut some bamboo with a junior hack saw today, it worked okay but I now realise I had the blade in backwards. I'll stick with the hacksaw for cutting bamboo though, for now. What other saw would you recommend for cutting bamboo?
we use diy hacksaw frame made from rebar sometimes small pipes so its heavier and let gravity help in applying pressure so that we can use one only on hand moving the saw and use the other hand to hold whatever we are cutting especially when no clamps are available hahaha
You can't really make your own to a decent standard as they are made from hardened steel. Record vice jaws are a complete rip off, I priced some up for the vice in this video and they were over £100, you can get similar sized jaws (but with the incorrect hole centres for £20). Sorry I can't be of much help!
Ali Madma Thanks, Cutting straight is difficult, it's best not to apply too much pressure and ensure the blade is tight. Once you veer offline it is impossible to get back on line again. When making critical sized components we normally cut to the side of the line and then file the metal so that it's the exact size, as cutting with an hack saw is difficult!
How tight should I make the blade? I had to use pliers to turn my tightening adjustment to get it to maybe the lowest pitch or detuned guitar string level when I plucked the blade in the saw. It’s a very cheap hacksaw, maybe a b&q budget one with a simple wing nut to tighten.
On the blade sides you should always buy the expensive ones with a pack of one or two. They outlast the chinese packs of 10, the tend to snap or teeth break of about 5 cuts.
If they’re circular, I’d go for a steel pipe cutter. Be sure it’s suited to cut steel, some rotary knife pipe cutters can only cope with copper pipes (which are much softer than steel).
Hi, I'm looking to cut a steel piece of metal about the same size of the first piece of metal your cutting. Is there a certain type of blade I should be looking for? Or can any hacksaw cut it? Oh also, would a dremel be better?
+Gregory Lee Any hacksaw will cut it, but it can be made easier by choosing the correct blade. For thin metal you need more teeth per inch (TPI) for think metal a blade with less TPI will cut quicker. I have never used a Dremel, but have heard that they are useless for this type of thing.
Totally agree the cheap chinese blades are awful but they do have their uses. Certain industrial plastics, vulcanised rubber especially, can be very abrasive, cheap blades are perfect for these jobs. Also when you need to slide a thin blade between something with no handle for support, blades will often snap doing this but if its a cheapy it doesn't matter.
blades on backstroke pull cut better and last longer , with lubrication will last long and not get so hot ,its the blade that cuts, less likely to bind in my experience
got a prety decent hacksaw from poundland lasted me for over 6 years now but the blades are rubbish 4 strokes and they over heat and shatter lol nice reveiw
Can I use this to cut the leaf spring bar that is hanging from the back of my truck It just broke today and I have it wired up It rusted off the u clamp
You could, but it will be difficult. An angle grinder and metal cutting disc will be much easier, but if you have to use a hacksaw I would use some blades containing cobalt, example here- www.amazon.co.uk/Bahco-3906-300-18-10P-Hacksaw-Blades-12/dp/B0001IX7Y2?th=1
Ty for your reply Yeah I tried to use the hack saw couldn’t get through the inside pipe so I just wired it up tight until I can get it cut off I did learn a lot about using the hack saw which I’ll use some other time I really like the idea of turning the blade inside to saw it will give me better leverage 👍🏻😁✌️ thanks
I am trying to saw through a metal pin to remove it from a toilet, to put on a new seat.The nut will not move and I can't provide traction on the pin because of tight space. The blade seems to be wearing down rather than the pin. What is supposed to be a simple job has turned into 4 days of frustration and discomfort ! Any help gratefully received !
It might be hardened steel, or it might have work hardened. If it is hardened steel, anything with teeth won’t work. You might have to use a grinder and cutting disk. I had to do that here- ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-y4AdckesOlg.html
A good vice is very expensive to buy brand new, I think mine is a Record number 25 or number 24 (can't remember which). To buy this brand new you are looking at £450 but you can often pick them up locally via Ebay etc. much cheaper. I paid about £40 for mine. I'd always get the biggest one you can afford as long as it can safely fit on your bench.
Haha I found this video by searching fastest hacksaw. I wondered what world champion hacksaw speed looked like. I guess it's just a split seconds game.
If you put the blade in "backwards" and cut on the back stroke then the blade will be in tension better due to the frame of the saw. .....that is what I was taught at apprentice school years ago!
+Ultimate Handyman Oh hang on....my memory isn't what it was.....Sorry I was thinking of the junior hacksaw... that deffo needs the blade in backwards..........sorry again
Pulling cuts better than pushing. It's a fact. It's biology. It's built in our muscles. Push cutting is a waste of time. Besides, you can't push cut if you only have the blade in your hand without the saw. But you can pull cut with the blade if you just make a duct tape handle to the blade. Can't fit the saw under your dashboard when trying to cut heater core piping.
i think cutting backwards, the teeth of the saw will tend to get caught more easily in the edges which could make it jump and damage the teeth and so it will be a safety issue too, also is more comfortable to cut forwards, a blade always must cut at an angle between 20 and 30 degrees never totally even
I'm an old woman, fairly strong. Got a hacksaw, got a vice, got plenty of time. Need to shorten 8 legs of a metal bed, before I assemble it. Got vaseline/baby oil to lubricate. What are the chances I could do this job and survive?
