| While the hack saw could be used for cutting during
emergencies, it was a slow method. It was generally used
for cutting items such as tubing during non-emergency
repairs. To use a hack saw properly, the blade had to be
mounted with the teeth pointed away from the handle and
tightened until it hummed when plucked with the thumb.
Long, even and steady strokes of about 40 or 50 per
minute were used, with pressure applied on the forward
stroke and release on the return stroke. The blade was
to be kept tight and the teeth protected to avoid
breaking it. If the blade broke during a cut, another
blade was mounted in the frame, and a fresh cut started.
A new blade had more set than an old one; if used t |
