Grandfather taught how to simply and easily sharpen a hacksaw with a file

There is no need to explain how important a good, serviceable tool is for a craftsman. At home, the easiest way to sharpen a hacksaw is with a file. Half an hour - and she will cut wood like butter.

Sharpening a hacksaw with a file step by step

To quickly return the hacksaw to working condition, arm yourself with pliers and a file. Progress:

1. First you need to inspect the cutting edge. The teeth of the saw face each other in different directions. If one of the teeth is bent, we return it to its place using pliers.
2. Now you can sharpen the hacksaw with a file. We install the tool at an angle away from ourselves (approximately 45–50 degrees).
3. We find the first tooth, which is directed outward.
4. We run a file over it from ourselves several times. We sharpen the tooth on both sides so that it looks like a shark tooth. This is what it should look like:
   
   
5. We skip the next tooth, directed inward.
6. We sharpen the third tooth following the example of the first. We process all the teeth (one at a time) until the end of the hacksaw.
7. We turn the hacksaw over to the other side and again install it at an angle away from us.
8. We sharpen all the teeth directed outward.

When moving the file, it is important not to obstruct the edges of the teeth. They are located at angles that are optimal from the manufacturer’s point of view. It is not recommended to change them without a good reason.

Important nuances

Not every master can sharpen a tool correctly. To do this, you need to know the technology well and have considerable experience behind you.Do you want to learn plumbing? We assume not.

To sharpen a hacksaw at home, it is enough to learn a few rules:

• A hacksaw for wood with small teeth is sharpened with a file with a sharpening angle of 30 degrees, and with large teeth - 75 degrees. They should have a rough or fine velvet notch. It is best to use a new, sharp file.
• When spreading the saw teeth, it is necessary to ensure that the bend is symmetrical along the entire cutting edge. For cutting dry material, the optimal cutting width is 0.3–0.5 mm, for green wood – 0.5–1 mm (in each direction). The bend is made from the middle of the tooth, and not from the base. This way there is less chance that it will break off.
  
• The teeth must be the same height. Press the cutting part vertically onto a flat board covered with paper. You will see which teeth are protruding. Align them with the other teeth. If some teeth are more ground down than others, leave it as is. In a situation where all the teeth are out of alignment, they are approximately equalized.
• Properly sharpen the tool in a vice or other clamping tool. In addition, you should wear protective gloves. These are basic safety rules and should not be neglected.
• Movements with the file should only be made in one direction - away from you. At the same time, they need to be carried out smoothly, with even pressure if possible.
• If burrs have formed on the teeth, it is necessary to remove them from the side edge of the blade using a wet whetstone. Otherwise, they will chip and the cutting edge will quickly become dull.

Sharpening a hacksaw is a painstaking job that requires 100% attention. It is recommended to perform it in silence and solitude.If you are distracted by conversation or music, you risk cutting the wrong area or getting injured.

A simple device to help

It is difficult to sharpen a hacksaw efficiently without special tools and a machine, by eye. You have to constantly inspect the teeth to make sure that they are not deformed, but become sharp.

If the saw is used frequently, it makes sense to make a device that makes sharpening several times easier and faster.

You will need:

• old boards;
• screws and a screwdriver.

Progress:

1. We connect two boards slightly larger than a hacksaw to each other at an angle of 37 degrees. To fasten the parts we use two corners.
2. Place the hacksaw on the board so that the cutting edge protrudes.
3. We fix it using 3 bosses, self-tapping screws and a screwdriver.
4. We fix the device itself on the table using 2 clamps.

Questions and answers

How else can you sharpen a hacksaw?

Some craftsmen use a grinder mounted on a table to sharpen hacksaws at home. This method is very extreme and can result in serious injury. It takes longer to use a file, but the risk of injury is minimized.

What hacksaws cannot be sharpened at home?

Hacksaws made of hardened steel are the most durable. But, unfortunately, once dulled, they cannot be restored. If the saw teeth have a characteristic black color with a bluish tint, sharpening with a file will not bring results.

A wood saw is as important a tool in the household as a hammer and an ax. You need to not only know how to use it, but also sharpen it if necessary. The described old-fashioned method is the easiest to implement and is suitable for everyone who does not have machines, vices and other special equipment.Use it if the hacksaw has lost its effectiveness: it gets stuck in the wood, makes an uneven cut, or makes a characteristic grinding noise.