Thread: Hack saw teeth >>>>or <<<<

Perhaps an experienced metalhead may be able to help me.
The natural tendency seems to be to insert hacksaw blades with the teeth pointing forward but when I was young I read that the teeth should point to the back. I am confused.
Please help.

if theres an arrow on your blades fit your blades so the arrow faces away from you if not still fit blades with the teeth faceing away from you ,the cutting force is applied to the blade in the forward direction

Your choice, actually. Teeth forward cuts on the push stroke, like a conventional woodworking hand saw - more familiar to most of us. Teeth backward cuts on the pull stroke, like Japanese saws and planes. Depending on the task at hand, I sometimes find it convenient to clamp the saw in a vise and move the workpiece; push or pull, all depends. In either case, best to lift, or at least unload, the saw to prevent damage to the teeth on the non-cutting stroke. Except when cutting softer materials, such as aluminium or plastic, where such loading can help to clear the cuttings.

Joe

Thanks fellas that is as I thought.