Regardless of whether you’re using the hacksaw to simply cut down trees or need it to chop up an entire pile of firewood, it will still come into contact with a number of metals when in use. You may wonder what metals the tool is vulnerable to, and the answer is quite a few. Copper, for instance, is a soft metal that can easily be scratched, but can be easily repaired using a stainless steel blade.

A good way to identify what materials the blade is vulnerable to is to pay attention to the length of the teeth. Saw blades with tapered ends are safer to use than those with flat ends as they do not pass through pipes or other shapes at the same speed. It is common for manufacturers to sell tools that have only one blade, but it’s important to know which tools have more than one blade on them. Blades in multi-bladed tools are normally made of a harder material than blades with just one blade. These tools can sometimes have more than three teeth per inch. Blades with multi-blade capabilities also tend to have better sharpening properties and are more resistant to corrosion.

It’s also important to check the type of saw head that you have on your hacksaw. Different types will perform different cutting tasks and the head is what transfers the power from the blade to the work piece. A dull or damaged head can greatly reduce the performance of a hacksaw. Also look for the security features on the saw. Some models will lock in place when not in use, while others offer tensioned safety stops to prevent injury in the event that the blade does become dull or damaged.

The distance between the teeth on a hacksaw refers to the “stroke width” and is measured in inches. The distance between teeth per inch is referred to as the “stroke length”. If a hacksaw has a long stroke length, it will exert more pressure through the wood than shorter tools which will perform better on finer and lighter materials. Most manufacturers will advise you that you select a hacksaw with a shorter stroke length for soft woods, such as pine, cedar, and spruce. Blades with a longer stroke will perform better on stiffer woods, such as oak and maple.

The combination of a heavy blade and a sharp point will produce very hard cuts. High-tension drills powered by electric motors are another option for cutting hard materials. Hand held power tools such as the circular saw, drill press, and angle iron are also available. With the wide range of tools available today, anyone is sure to find the perfect tool to fit their needs and budget.