[TheForge] Hacksaw trick?

[H and P Foster]

This may not be new to the experienced hands out there, but it was to me
when I figured it out and thought some others might benifit.

I have to cut out of 1/8th" copper plate about 20 maple leaves of different
sizes for a project I'm doing. Am clamping the work to my bench and using an
up and down motion pushing the blade away from me into the work.  I found it
to jam quite often making the job tedious, stopping, backing up etc. I
thought it may be broken teeth or the paint on the blade causing the jam,
but the teeth were good.  The paint may have contributed a bit to the
problem, but my solution was to stick my finger in my can of Yellin oil
finish which was nearby and wipe it on the blade.

This worked wonders, with the blade going through the copper like butter and
no sticking in the work.  What was going to be a long and tedious part of
the project now will be much more reasonable. A little oil every two or
three cuts and that is all it takes.

I use cutting oil when drilling, and have used coolent when using a friends
power hacksaw, but never thought to use any oil when using a hand hacksaw.
Sometings you just can't see the forest for the trees.  :-)


Harry Foster
Rusty Dog Forge
http://pages.infinit.net/rustydog/home.htm