The best hacksaw blades

[richard7761]

I'm going to buy a new set of hacksaw blades, and they have to be the better quality ones.

I'm not sure there is much difference between a particular group of manufacturers.

I don't know, but if we were going to make a list of the top grouping of manufacturers I think we would have:

Sandvik
Eclipse
Lenox
Irwin

Not sure about Starrett blades. Some say no to them.

In general it seems Bi-metal is a good choice.

I'm thinking about getting Irwin brand.

Any comments?

 

[r896neo]

I use the bahco sandflex ones and they seem good.

 

[foxhole]

Hardly a life changing decision, buy one of each and see for yourself.

 

[wotan]

the best blades are bi-metallic, Eclipse and Sandvic.

flexibility with good cutting performance, but choose the TPI to suit material being cut.

Wotan

 

[merlin50]

Eclipse for hand saw Starrett for machine

 

[TicklyT]

Whichever brand you decide on, choose an appropriate pitch blade for the work.

18TPI (teeth per inch) for faster cutting of heavier gauge metal, say 6mm and above.

24TPI for 3 - 6mm, and generally the best 'all rounder'

32TPI for thinner gauges.

The general rule of thumb is choose a tooth pitch that will keep at least three teeth cutting at any time. Since they are generally used at an angle to the work, the saw kerf is usually longer than the metal thickness.

Certainly avoid cheap unbranded blades - IME the hardened teeth tend to shear off and stick in the bottom of the kerf, ready to blunt the next blade you try at the first stroke!