Suitable for
The material for which the saw was originally intended to work.
Each material has its own requirements for the shape and size of the teeth, the material of the blade, etc.: for example, wood allows large teeth (4 – 6 TPI, see below), but for metal they must be very small. Therefore, sawing “non-native” material with a saw is highly discouraged: at best, it will be ineffective, at worst, damage to the tool or damage to the workpiece is possible.
In addition to classic saws
for wood or
metal, more specific tools are also produced — for example,
for drywall or
foam concrete. A separate category is
multi-purpose saws suitable for several types of materials (specific options should be specified separately). Note that in saws with interchangeable blades (such as bow or jigsaw blades), you can install different types of blades, adjusting them to a specific material. However, for them, the purpose is indicated by the complete canvas, and such models are considered multi-purpose only if several different types of canvases are initially supplied in the kit. In addition, “omnivores” can be saws with a non-replaceable blade having a specific design and sharpening of teeth. When choosing by this parameter, it is worth remembering that tools of the same purpose may differ in type (see above), and, accor
...dingly, in the specifics of the work for which they are intended.Blade length
The total length of the hacksaw blade.
The value of this parameter is directly related to the saw type (see above). The general rule for choosing is as follows: the blade should be twice as long as the thickness of the largest workpiece that is planned to be sawn. This will provide an optimal range of motion to avoid unnecessary fatigue, and the tool, on the other hand, will not be too bulky. However, a long blade tends to spring back, so when working with hardwoods or other difficult-to-cut materials, shorter saws can also be taken. And in models with interchangeable blades (beam and jigsaw, some
mini-saws), length data will be required to search for spare blades.
In general, for simple household tasks for sawing wood, a length of 280 – 300 mm is considered optimal. For a private house with a garden, simple construction work, you should pay attention to larger models — up to half a metre. And the largest
two-handed saws can have a length of 1000 mm and even more. More detailed recommendations on the optimal blade length for certain tasks can be found in special sources.
Tooth sharpening
The type of sharpening used in saw teeth. In fact, this parameter determines the shape of the tooth.
— Standard. The teeth of standard sharpening are usually made in a triangular shape; the only exception is saws for foam concrete, in which “standard” teeth can have rather specific outlines. Standard sharpening is quite functional and suitable for almost any application; in addition, if the teeth are not hardened (see above) and are large enough, they can be sharpened if necessary.
—
Triangular. Externally, trihedral teeth can be almost indistinguishable from standard ones; however, if you look closely, you can see an additional edge — as if someone cut the tip of a triangular tooth obliquely and sharpened the resulting surface. Also, this sharpening is called 3D. It is considered to be more efficient and advanced than the standard one: in particular, the saw moves more easily in reverse and the teeth wear less on this move, which reduces fatigue and increases the life of the blade. On the other hand, trihedral blades are expensive, and it is impossible to sharpen dull teeth on your own — you need to change the saw (at best, the blade itself).
Blade coating
The type of additional coating applied to the regular hacksaw blade (if such a coating is provided at all).
-
Anti -corrosion. A coating designed to protect the canvas from corrosion. The tool steel from which modern saws are made is not stainless; therefore, if the tool is planned to be constantly used outdoors or in conditions of high humidity, this feature will not hurt.
- To reduce friction. A coating that reduces the friction force of the blade against the material being cut (usually wood, since this feature is mainly characteristic of saws for this material). Such a coating performs several tasks at once: it facilitates the movement of the hacksaw, reducing fatigue, reduces the degree of heating of the blade (and its tendency to deformation) and reduces the likelihood of jamming the tool in the cut.
Teeth cover
Availability of an overlay on teeths in a set of delivery of a hacksaw.
Such an overlay, in fact, is a simplified version of the cover (see below), covering only the most dangerous and at the same time delicate part of the canvas — sharp teeth. A saw with a guard installed can be safely stored and transported without fear of contact between the teeth and surrounding objects (which could lead to both damage to these objects and damage to the blade). At the same time, the pads are more compact and cheaper than full-size cases.