I'm going to #asknostr because I don't know who else to ask.
When using a hack saw to cut steel do you oil the blade/workpiece?
I always use some sort of lubricant when drilling holes through metal but never really thought about doing the same when cutting. I was working on a small project that required cutting and then drilling a piece of 3/4" bar steel and it pictured to me that perhaps oiling the cut might prolong the life of the saw.
#metalworking #welding #welder #metalworker #grownostr
No. I never do because if I'm cutting stuff, I'm likely to weld it after and I hate cleaning lubricants off before welding.
Get good bi-metal blades with the correct too count for the thickness of metal you are cutting, install the blade the correct way, get a slow, clean start of the cut, don't apply too much pressure (letting the tool do the work) , and make sure the blade is tensioned very taut. Loose blades are the biggest mistake with hacksaws.
Thanks for the advice. I had a couple of cuts to make and so I tried both with and without oil but didn't really notice a difference. I did adjust the tension before the last cut and that did make a difference. Thanks again.
You're welcome. Please do hit me up with any metal questions. I've been doing this stuff for over 20 years, and I really love it, so I'm exceptionally knowledgeable about most metalworking.
Great time to build a rocket stove.
I just don't have enough wall space in my trailer for a wood stove of any kind. It makes be a bit sad.
Rocket stoves are tiny, mega-efficient and probably should only be used outdoors.
I've seen a few designs for indoor use that are set up to maximize draw and are therefore supposedly safe for indoor use.
I didn't think about outdoor use since I have no use for one at this time.
Are you in need of one?
Never used oil with a hacksaw myself. There are specific saw blade lubricants people use with bandsaws, but any random oil might gum up the cut and be counter productive. I’d treat hacksaw blades as consumables and replace as needed, they’re fairly inexpensive
I hate using hacksaw, I'm all about the carbon cut-off discs
In my experience, the oil is for reducing the friction buildup in higher speeds associated with the motorized drill. With a hacksaw this is not necessary as the blade will naturally cool in the air without an excessive buildup of heat.
