Cutting 25 thou grooves for a couple of circlips

[Andrew TinsleyParticipant @andrewtinsley63637]

Pondering how to do this operation, it suddenly occurred to me that my standard hacksaw blades are 25 thou thick in the backing area. Are any of the commonly available blades made from HSS, if so, I may have found the ideal grooving tool.

However I suspect that modern blades have the teeth strip, electron beam welded to the backing. So the backing is unlikely to be HSS. I can give it a try tomorrow, but does anyone know of a blade that could cut the grooves required. It doesn’t have to last very long!

Andrew.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I’ve ground HSS that thin, just don’t make the narrow end any longer than needed but these days use inserts.

[peak4Participant @peak4]

Many of the better blades may be bi-metal welded but some blades are “All Hard”
Amongst the all hard ones are carbon steel and HSS.
This is just a random example; I’m assuming you only need one or two
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/267697539540
I have a selection here at home, but only 24tpi in all hard.
If you want to go down that route and struggle to find any, drop me a message.

Bill

[DurhambuilderParticipant @durhambuilder]

I quite often use broken hacksaw blades as either grooving tools or narrow parting off tools. Some hold their edge quite well others not so. A simple rough holder can be knocked up on a few minutes, one day I’ll make a more photogenic one. Pictured also is a 5/32 silver steel valve stem with a  25 thou e clip grove.

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

Be careful with your choice of blades you need all hard ones not bimetal. If you have grinder you change them down to 10 or 12 thou!

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Starrett RedStripe

MichaelG.

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Eclipse all hard. If the blade is broken, stick a short end in the vice and bend, if it snaps then it will be all hard and make a good parting/ grooving tool. Noel.

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