PS Magazine - TB 43-PS-671
PS, The Preventative Maintenance Monthly
ISSUE 671
OCTOBER 2008
A hacksaw is used to cut tubing, bolts and small metal parts. It has a handle
attached to a metal frame. A saw blade fastens to both ends of the frame. You must
keep the blade tight or it will break. The saw teeth should face away from the
handle.
When you begin sawing, guide the blade with your thumb, but be careful not to
touch the blade teeth. Pull the saw back slowly and lightly. Once you’ve made a cut,
grip the front of the frame with one hand to guide the blade and apply pressure.
57
PS 671
OCT 08
Hacksaws
Saw blades come in a variety of teeth sizes, known as pitch. Pitch is measured in
teeth per inch (TPI). Hacksaw blades usually have 18 or 24 TPI. What’s the rule of
thumb for which pitch to use? Choose a blade that always has two teeth in contact
with the metal. That means you use a blade with a lower pitch to cut thick metal, and
one with a higher pitch to cut thin metal or tubing.
•
Using a hammer for the
wrong job
•
Hitting one hammer with
another
•
Using broken, chipped or
mushroomed hammers
•
Using soft-faced hammers
to drive nails
•
Striking a screwdriver
with a hammer to pry open
boxes. (Use a hammer and
chisel instead.)
•
Striking chisels that are
bent, chipped, cracked,
broken or mushroomed
pound for pound, a
hammer takes more
of a beating than
any other tool.
here are the
most common
abuses…
now,
class,
what
have we
learned
about
hammers?
select
the
right
hammer
for the
job.
a ball peen
hammer is
used for
working
with metal
when it’s not
important if
the material
becomes
slightly
marred.
a soft
hammer is
used when
you want
to protect
the working
surface.
a sledge
hammer is
used only for
heavy-duty
work.
use it with
caution
and always
wear safety
glasses.
excellent, class.
truly you have
struck a blow for
tool knowledge
this morning.
now before
we proceed,
here’s a word
about hammer
abuse…
now class,
I wish to
make a few
cutting-edge
remarks…
…ahem…
…about a
small but
mighty tool,
the hacksaw.
the saw cuts
only when pushed
forward, so
apply
pressure on the
forward stroke.
lighten
pressure
on the
backward
stroke.
and use
long, slow
strokes.
never force the
saw; that can
dull the teeth.
now, class,
what have we
learned about
hacksaws?
they cut
bolts,
tubing
and small
metal
parts.
a hacksaw
cuts only
when you
push it
forward.
use long,
slow
strokes
when you
saw.
always
use the
correct
size
blade.
excellent, class!
today you are truly
the sharpest tools
in the shed.
I don’t think it’ll
matter much if I hit
this screwdriver
with a hammer to
pry open this crate!
671.56-57.indd
1-2
8/25/08
6:39:00 PM
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