- Joined
- Jul 26, 2011
- Messages
- 4,142
I just bought a Lancashire pattern hacksaw with the original blade in it. It was made about 1835. The saw is in fine condition,and looks nearly un used. It was never allowed to get rusty.
The most interesting thing about this saw(Other than it being beautiful and in such fine condition) is that it has the original blade.
The blade is still quite usable,but I do not want to deface it. It needs to be preserved for study. Since they made consumable tools like these blades and files and such that will wear out,they made these blades up in large quantities to be sold as ordered. The blade could actually be 18th.C.
It has NO SET to the teeth. There are 20 hand filed teeth per inch. The blade is tapered thinner at the back to provide clearance for the teeth.
You can tell that the teeth were skillfully hand filed,because there are small irregularities in them,though it obviously took long practice and skill to file them as good as they are. There are a few teeth here and there that are a little higher than the others.
The blade is about .035" thick at the teeth,and .020" thick along the back. The width is 1/2" plus about 1/32".
It is not possible to see where the pins are that hold the blade in at each end. They were expertly peened down and filed flush. I shall insert a narrow knife blade against the blade,and hammer it some to spread each end of the saw just a teeny bit. This will cause the pins to sink in a tad and become visible. Then,I can punch them out without hunting about on the saw with a punch,and defacing it. I want to use the saw,as these old hacksaws are more rigid than new saw frames are. I can heat the end of a new blade and drill it to make a 9" blade,or just drill it with a carbide bit.
You can still see the colors pin the ends of this saw where the blade was softened to make the holes.
The blade would make an excellent screw slot cutting blade,having no wavy set. Starrett used to make these,though I do not think they are tapered,cutting only a shallow screw slot. I do not wish to use the blade,though.
I am debating if I should give this blade to Williamsburg museum,as the only original hacksaw blade they have has been through a fire. Any idea of how hard it was tempered has been lost. Mine is in nearly new condition.
The most interesting thing about this saw(Other than it being beautiful and in such fine condition) is that it has the original blade.
The blade is still quite usable,but I do not want to deface it. It needs to be preserved for study. Since they made consumable tools like these blades and files and such that will wear out,they made these blades up in large quantities to be sold as ordered. The blade could actually be 18th.C.
It has NO SET to the teeth. There are 20 hand filed teeth per inch. The blade is tapered thinner at the back to provide clearance for the teeth.
You can tell that the teeth were skillfully hand filed,because there are small irregularities in them,though it obviously took long practice and skill to file them as good as they are. There are a few teeth here and there that are a little higher than the others.
The blade is about .035" thick at the teeth,and .020" thick along the back. The width is 1/2" plus about 1/32".
It is not possible to see where the pins are that hold the blade in at each end. They were expertly peened down and filed flush. I shall insert a narrow knife blade against the blade,and hammer it some to spread each end of the saw just a teeny bit. This will cause the pins to sink in a tad and become visible. Then,I can punch them out without hunting about on the saw with a punch,and defacing it. I want to use the saw,as these old hacksaws are more rigid than new saw frames are. I can heat the end of a new blade and drill it to make a 9" blade,or just drill it with a carbide bit.
You can still see the colors pin the ends of this saw where the blade was softened to make the holes.
The blade would make an excellent screw slot cutting blade,having no wavy set. Starrett used to make these,though I do not think they are tapered,cutting only a shallow screw slot. I do not wish to use the blade,though.
I am debating if I should give this blade to Williamsburg museum,as the only original hacksaw blade they have has been through a fire. Any idea of how hard it was tempered has been lost. Mine is in nearly new condition.
)
