hacksaw advise.

[jerrywh]

Over the years I have made a lot of springs and other gun parts out of spring steel or 01 annealed. In spite of the fact that the steel was annealed in a furnace overnight it was still very hard on hacksaw blades. I always bought the best I could find but it was still difficult. A few years ago It became time to change a blade on my power hacksaw because it broke but was still in pretty good shape. It was fine tooth. I couldn't bring myself to throw the broken blade away. Instead I decided I would try and make hacksaw blades out of it. I broke it to length, annealed the ends and drilled the holes in the ends. At my astonishment this hacksaw blade preformed twice as good as any I could buy  lasted three times as long besides.  Now I just buy the best power blades I can find and make my own haclsaw blades. Try it tou'll love it. Cheap ones are never any good.

[Mike Brooks]

Over the years I have made a lot of springs and other gun parts out of spring steel or 01 annealed. In spite of the fact that the steel was annealed in a furnace overnight it was still very hard on hacksaw blades. I always bought the best I could find but it was still difficult. A few years ago It became time to change a blade on my power hacksaw because it broke but was still in pretty good shape. It was fine tooth. I couldn't bring myself to throw the broken blade away. Instead I decided I would try and make hacksaw blades out of it. I broke it to length, annealed the ends and drilled the holes in the ends. At my astonishment this hacksaw blade preformed twice as good as any I could buy  lasted three times as long besides.  Now I just buy the best power blades I can find and make my own haclsaw blades. Try it tou'll love it. Cheap ones are never any good.

I haven't been able to buy a hacksaw blade at a store that will cut metal for 20 years. I buy old-new stock blades at farm auctions. I can usually buy them by the bundle for a couple bucks and they last for ever and really cut.

[jerrywh]

Right Mike it's the new junk.

[WadePatton]

I used to be able to get good ones through a CarQuest store. I think they're no longer distributed here, I'll post the name when I find the one I ran across the other day.  Last time I checked they were available in Europe. I was hacking thinwall 4130 tubing and SS with 'em and they worked better than most.

If I can't get some more of those at some point, I'll certainly try the band-blade conversion technique. Thanks. 

[45-110]

 New blades cut fine if you buy the bi-metal ones...they cost more, and get the correct blade teeth per inch for the metal thickness. Lenox blades are a good one.
A stout hacksaw and proper blade tension makes them last.
kw

[Bob McBride]

I love a power hacksaw because labor with less labor is the cat's meow. I consider this the 'traditional' model as it comes with no fancy power cord.

[Bob Roller]

I do little with a hacksaw but do use a vertical and horizontal bandsaw
a lot.Back in the days when there were first class hardware stores there
were good hacksaw blades everywhere such as the Atkins Silver Steel
brand that I know for a fact would cut a drill shank if need arose.
The junk we get now from China is a hoax on the buyer and ought to
be off the market everywhere.
Bob Roller

[577SXS]

I would try Bi-Metal blades. Starrett is a good brand. MSC has them for $1.91 each.

[Mike Brooks]

I love a power hacksaw because labor with less labor is the cat's meow. I consider this the 'traditional' model as it comes with no fancy power cord.

What will they think of next!

[jerrywh]

New blades cut fine if you buy the bi-metal ones...they cost more, and get the correct blade teeth per inch for the metal thickness. Lenox blades are a good one.
A stout hacksaw and proper blade tension makes them last.
kw

You are probably not cutting spring steel. I never buy anything but the very best when it comes to tools. If a blade cost $1.95 I know it probably isn't any good. I bought the $5.95 blades and they stiil didn't do the job. I noticed the power saw in this post. The blades they sell for them from McMaster are very good.

[P.W.Berkuta]

As stated from some other members above buy the Bi-Metal blades that are made by the top saw blade makers and you will have the best blades you can get on the market. They are reasonable in price McMaster-Carr sells a pack of 5 long life 12' hacksaw blades for $8.90 so why buy low quality carbon steel blades. By the way those Bi-Metal portable band saw blades are the same construction as the Bi-Metal hand hacksaw blades.

Taken from McMaster Carr catalog
Portable Band Saw Blades - These bimetal blades have a steel body with high-speed steel teeth that last up to four times longer than carbon steel teeth.

Long-Life Hacksaw Blades These bimetal blades have a steel body with high-speed steel teeth that last up to four times longer than carbon steel teeth.

[Acer Saccharum]

I still love a hand powered frame saw. This is a real oddball, but it's the most rigid and comfortable saw I've ever used.


And, to Jerry's point, the used HSS fine tooth bi-metal band saw blades make excellent hacksaw blades. I've found I can often drill the blade, which is not as hard as the cutting edge.

[jerrywh]

That hacksaw frame Acer has is a real jewel. I love old stuff like that.
 The metal cutting bi metal blades seem to have a little more set also. More set allows a person to very the direction of the cut a little, jut in case you have to be offa little. Also the blades don't jam in the cut.

[JCKelly]

A suggestion, not thoroughly based, check the fine print and do not ever buy a cutting tool that says "CHINA" on it.
Made in USA is worth the extra few $$

[Scota4570]

After I move I am looking forward to getting a vertical bandsaw with a coolant pump.  I used on in a machine shop class at the local JC.  It was wonderful.