What TPI should I choose?

14-18 TPI cuts thick, soft sections fastest; thin sheet and tube need 24-32 TPI. At least three teeth should touch the section at once.

Which way does the blade face?

Teeth pointing forward, cutting on the push stroke. Fitted backwards, the blade will not cut and dulls quickly.

Insufficient tension, too much pressure, or too few teeth for the section. Breaking teeth usually means the three-tooth rule is being broken.

What is a coping saw for?

Curved and fine cuts — its narrow blade turns tight radii. It is not suited to thick sections.

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Saws

Tooth count decides how a hand saw cuts: more teeth per inch (TPI) gives a finer finish, fewer gives a faster cut. The range here covers hacksaws, wood saws and coping saws plus replacement blades.

Choosing TPI and tensioning

Thick, soft sections cut fastest at low TPI (14-18); thin sheet and tube need high TPI (24-32). The rule is that at least three teeth should be in contact with the section at once — fewer breaks teeth.

A hacksaw blade must be properly tensioned; a slack blade wanders off the line and snaps. Fit the blade to cut on the push stroke.

Frequently Asked Questions

What TPI should I choose?
14-18 TPI cuts thick, soft sections fastest; thin sheet and tube need 24-32 TPI. At least three teeth should touch the section at once.
Which way does the blade face?
Teeth pointing forward, cutting on the push stroke. Fitted backwards, the blade will not cut and dulls quickly.
Why do blades break?
Insufficient tension, too much pressure, or too few teeth for the section. Breaking teeth usually means the three-tooth rule is being broken.
What is a coping saw for?
Curved and fine cuts — its narrow blade turns tight radii. It is not suited to thick sections.