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From the Collection |
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Can Metal Cut Metal?
At the turn of the century, any well-equipped carpenter probably
had a minimum of five hand saws in his toolbox. These saws,
along with all the associated sharpening tools, usually occupied
a special drawer and a dedicated till. Cabinetmakers who worked
only at the bench tended to have a larger selection, solely
because they likely had larger storage facilities. At a minimum,
all had at least a rip and crosscut at 26-28", a panel
crosscut at 18-24", a keyhole or compass saw and either
a tenon or dovetail saw, or perhaps both. These basic saws covered
the majority of work encountered by the average woodworker of
the time. Specialty saws were obtained as needed. The two saws
shown here are examples of a specialty niche that was needed
pre-electricity.
Can metal cut metal? The answer is yes, when the two materials
are of different hardness. We all remember the TV ad of the
scissors cutting the copper penny. Most hand saws and scrapers
of a hundred years ago were made with a hardness of 38-42 on
the Rockwell C scale. (Most modern saws have a hardness in the
range of 48-52.) Non-ferrous metals such as brass and aluminum
usually have a hardness too low to have much meaning on the
Rockwell C scale. They are soft enough to be cut with a hand
saw, though at a lower rate than cutting wood.
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| Close-up
of tooth pattern. |
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Close-up
of worn teeth. |
It is important to note that the tooth patterns to accomplish
such a task are much different from those of the standard wood-cutting
hand saw. These saws will have no set and have a much finer
pitch configuration. In the case of one of the saws shown, please
note the grouping of teeth followed by a large gullet. This
saw has extraordinary wear in the center of its blade. Larger
versions of these saws were used to cut rail and other larger
sections of metal where mechanical or electric devices could
not be used. It was thought that a hand saw of this type would
make a straighter and cleaner cut than a conventional frame
or hack saw. Their use in industry was slowly phased out with
the introduction of carbides and tougher tool steels, coupled
with improved manufacturing processes, giving the consumer better
devices for cutting metal. |
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Other Articles from this Issue |
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