How to Cut A-2 Tool Steel
A2 tool steel is an air-cooled, heat-treated steel alloy with chromium, molybdenum, and vanadium trace elements included with the basic carbon and iron of steel. This alloy has an exceptional hardness and wear resistance that allow it to function well in tools that will be used for cutting, drilling, clipping and punching through other materials. Because of this, cutting A2 tool steel can be difficult if you aren't using the right tools and techniques.
Things You'll Need
- Hacksaw
- Hacksaw blade with at least 32 teeth per inch (the more the better)
Instructions
-
-
1
Loosen the nut at the back of the hacksaw to release the tension on the blade. Remove the old blade. Install a new blade with at least 32 teeth per inch if not more. The more teeth per inch, the more easily you will be able to cut through A2 steel.
-
2
Tighten the nut to increase the tension on the blade until it doesn't flex or bend when you press on it. A loose blade will make cutting very difficult.
-
-
3
Hold or clamp the steel as you saw it. Use long, even strokes of the saw with firm but not hard pressure. It's tempting to try to muscle the saw through the steel, but pressing harder will not cut the steel more quickly. Keep sawing rhythmically with the pressure on the forward stroke and no pressure on the back stroke since the saw teeth only cut in the forward direction. Cutting A2 tool steel will take a long time compared to softer metals, but be patient and the hacksaw will do the job.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Change hacksaw blades as soon as they are dull.
Pressing down on the blade won't make it cut more quickly, but it can damage or break the blade.
References
- Photo Credit hack-saw image by Aleksandr Ugorenkov from Fotolia.com
