Junior Hacksaw Blades

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

The last lot of junior blades I purchased from B&Q have not lasted very long, they cut well at first but sooner went dull. I was thinking of getting some Eclipes but before doing so I thought I'd asking what the forum members are using ?

Thanks

H

[John RuddParticipant @johnrudd16576]

Eclipse…..

Buy cheap buy twice…

[Brian HParticipant @brianh50089]

I'm using Eclipse; once bitten etc.

Brian

[Gary WoodingParticipant @garywooding25363]

Eclipse for me, too.

[Brian GParticipant @briang]

Eclipse, I'm still working through my father's 1970s stock I have bought some Groz blades to try, but it is too early to say how they compare (although they are much better than the blades that come with cheap junior hacksaws).

Brian

[Brian OldfordParticipant @brianoldford70365]

Do B&Q actually use metal in their junior hacksaw blades?

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Sandvik is what I,ve been using and they seem to cut well and stay sharp.

[DalboyParticipant @dalboy]

I have only ever used eclipse had no problems with them

[Thor 🇳🇴Participant @thor]

Like Ron, I use Sandvik because that is what is available where I live.

Thor

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

I am using up old stock of eclipse that I found whilst clearing up my old toolbox, have used blades from B & Q… rubbish. you can generally tell a good blade… eclipse blades have a spring feel to them when you bend them ,& snap cleanly & crisply whereas other cheapo diy blades will easily bend & break without a clean snap, you can actually feel the diy blade failing ( crackling sound / sensation ), so when ever I find eclipse blades I buy half a dozen or so to keep stocks up.

George.

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

By mistake, I bought Junior hacksaw blades which were marked "For Wood". OK for cutting up Chedar Cheese, but not much else !
BobH

[Harry WilkesParticipant @harrywilkes58467]

Posted by Brian Oldford on 14/09/2018 15:29:19:

Do B&Q actually use metal in their junior hacksaw blades?

They taste like metal ! Thanks guy's I will get some Eclipse

Thanks

H

[the artfull-codgerParticipant @theartfull-codger]

Eclipse make good hacksaw & jnr hacksaw blades which I use but I don't rate their piercing saw blades though,much prefer vallorbe swiss blades [more pricey !!] but much more accurate & easier to use.

[pete hammondParticipant @petehammond94283]

The beauty of an old/well lived workshop is- you tidy up behind a bench or cupboard and find new unused but old in years, meaning sharp and good ,hack saw blades other similar goodies and lots of swarf that's out to get you!

[larry phelan 1Participant @larryphelan1]

B&Q and others do use metal in their blades,but it,s mixed with putty,and not even good putty !

No doubt they have their uses,I just have not found what they might be.

[Dod MoleParticipant @georgeclarihew]

Ah, but which direction do the above users fit the blade, cut on the push stroke or cut on the pull stroke.

I find that blades last much longer cutting on the pull stroke, at least they do in the pupils hands at work.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Posted by George Clarihew on 14/09/2018 22:57:08:

Ah, but which direction do the above users fit the blade, cut on the push stroke or cut on the pull stroke.

I find that blades last much longer cutting on the pull stroke, at least they do in the pupils hands at work.

Standard procedure in some European countries. I always wondered why the Swiss and Italian guys I worked with did that. All they could tell me was "because it is the correct way". Maybe you have discovered the secret. Makes sense when you think about it.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

The direction of cut may well depend on the frame. Every push cut, with a flimsy sprung frame, may well reduce the blade tension. Not good.

[Brian GParticipant @briang]

I wonder if our practice comes originally from woodwork, a coping saw is (edit: usually) pushed so that any splinters are on the back of the work, and a fretsaw is pulled so that any splinters are underneath. Similarly we push a junior hacksaw and pull a piercing saw.

Brian

Edited By Brian G on 15/09/2018 08:05:22

[john carruthersParticipant @johncarruthers46255]

I thought I was buying Eclipse but as the tooth profile was 'rounded' and they could be tied in a knot I doubt they were the genuine article. Beware.
Luckily a neighbour is issued blades at work and he gave me a box full.
No name but excellent blades.

[Brian WoodParticipant @brianwood45127]

Japanese wood saws cut in the pull stroke and are therefore very slim and flexible They also leave a nice clean cut

Brian

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

I use Eclipse blades, my regular frame is one of the screw tensioned type and I push on that, I have a deep frame spring one, and pull on that(its about Xs 3 the depth of a standard frame. Once when exploring one of the hard ware retailers in Christchurch I'm sure I spotted Bi-metal junior blades (15/20 yrs ago). Then there is this.

Ian S C

[Bill PhinnParticipant @billphinn90025]

Posted by Hopper on 15/09/2018 02:45:12:

Posted by George Clarihew on 14/09/2018 22:57:08:

Ah, but which direction do the above users fit the blade, cut on the push stroke or cut on the pull stroke.

I find that blades last much longer cutting on the pull stroke, at least they do in the pupils hands at work.

Standard procedure in some European countries. I always wondered why the Swiss and Italian guys I worked with did that. All they could tell me was "because it is the correct way". Maybe you have discovered the secret. Makes sense when you think about it.

In the case of jewellers' saws there's a very straightforward utilitarian reason why the blades are orientated with the teeth pointing towards the handle: the default position for the saw in use is vertical, with the handle at the bottom. Among other things, this allows gravity to assist the cut. The workpiece is usually held flat on the wooden benchpeg and shifted about as cutting proceeds.

[michael howarth 1Participant @michaelhowarth1]

I always used Eclipse blades because of their superiority but found that my supplier had sold out and could only offer me another make…..Bahco, made in Germany. It is sad to say and with great regret that I have to admit that the Bahco blades are imho better than the Eclipse by a good margin.

Mick

[Author]

Posts