cutting metal
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kennyd
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Is this a joke question?
ultrarunner
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Depends on the metal? By hacksaw, did you mean power hacksaw?
sandman2234
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A hand held hacksaw won't hold a candle to a torch, unless the torch is out of fuel or oxygen.
I use a hand held portaband saw almost as much as my torch. Blades are reasonable and one will cut most metals I deal with when fabricating things.
David from jax
I use a hand held portaband saw almost as much as my torch. Blades are reasonable and one will cut most metals I deal with when fabricating things.
David from jax
ultrarunner
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I asked what type of metal because a cutting torch works best on ferris metal. Heat causes problems with stainless hardening and then we have Aluminum....
wushaw
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A hacksaw if you want a clean cut and hacksaws come in handy if you falling behind in your exercise regiment.... also a hacksaw won't catch flamable materials on fire like field, barn, house, self...etc.
RonMar
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Mit
Not enough information. This is definitely a case of the right tool for the job. I use a metal chop saw with abrasive wheel for most of my steel stock cutting. A metal bandsaw would also work well for this with a neater cut, but typically slower. For thin sheet steel, I prefer a plasma cutter as it leaves a nice clean cut. For thicker steel, a torch is probably better but the heat can lead to distortions and the cut requires more cleanup. As mentioned stainless and aluminum are different animals. For aluminum stock, I use my compound mitre saw with a high tooth count carbide blade(cuts a lot like hardwood) or the sawsall with metal blade. Stainless is probably best left to the bandsaw. For me, a hacksaw is only as a last resort where nothing else would fit, or out somewhere with no power source but my tired old elbow... I would turn to my battery powered sawsall with metal blade(and often do) long before I dug out the hacksaw...
Not enough information. This is definitely a case of the right tool for the job. I use a metal chop saw with abrasive wheel for most of my steel stock cutting. A metal bandsaw would also work well for this with a neater cut, but typically slower. For thin sheet steel, I prefer a plasma cutter as it leaves a nice clean cut. For thicker steel, a torch is probably better but the heat can lead to distortions and the cut requires more cleanup. As mentioned stainless and aluminum are different animals. For aluminum stock, I use my compound mitre saw with a high tooth count carbide blade(cuts a lot like hardwood) or the sawsall with metal blade. Stainless is probably best left to the bandsaw. For me, a hacksaw is only as a last resort where nothing else would fit, or out somewhere with no power source but my tired old elbow... I would turn to my battery powered sawsall with metal blade(and often do) long before I dug out the hacksaw...
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mit said:
Neither. A plasma cutter is 'best to cut metal'.
JayC
djw250
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I bought a metal cutting tool recently that just blows me away every time I use it. It is a Steelmax metal cutting circular saw. I got it on eBay, thinking it might be OK but not really expecting much. When I tried it out, I couldn't believe how well it worked. It will rip through a piece of 3X1/4 channel almost like a regular circular saw cuts a 2X4, and the cut is clean, burr free, and cool to the touch as soon as you finish. It will cut up to 5/16 thickness, and up to 2.5 inch depth (like pipe or tubing). Not sure how long the blade will last, and they are a little pricy (about $40) but I think well worth it if they last a decent time. Several companies make a saw like this, and they even have one from Harbor Freight that comes with a blade for $99. Some of you may want to check these things out.
