Which statement about hacksaw blades is true?

Which statement about hacksaw blades is true?

• A. An 18 pitch hacksaw blade is satisfactory for general hacksawing.
• B. An 18 pitch hacksaw blade is unsatisfactory for general hacksawing.
• C. Wave set blades are used to cut thick-wall tubing.
• D. Wave set blades are not used for thin-wall tubing.

Answer: (A)

Pitch, or teeth per inch, controls how the blade behaves in metal: coarser blades cut faster but leave rougher finishes, while finer blades cut more smoothly but slower. For general hacksawing on a variety of metals, an 18 teeth-per-inch blade hits a sweet spot between speed and finish, making it a reliable all-purpose choice. That balance is why an 18-pitch blade is satisfactory for general hacksawing. Wave-set blades have a different purpose: their teeth are arranged in a wavy pattern to try to improve chip clearance and reduce binding in some situations, such as cutting tubing or narrow sections. But this specialization means they aren’t universally better for every general cut, and their advantage depends on the specific material and workpiece. So while wave-set blades can be useful in certain cases, they aren’t a blanket replacement for a standard general-purpose blade.

Pitch, or teeth per inch, controls how the blade behaves in metal: coarser blades cut faster but leave rougher finishes, while finer blades cut more smoothly but slower. For general hacksawing on a variety of metals, an 18 teeth-per-inch blade hits a sweet spot between speed and finish, making it a reliable all-purpose choice. That balance is why an 18-pitch blade is satisfactory for general hacksawing.

Wave-set blades have a different purpose: their teeth are arranged in a wavy pattern to try to improve chip clearance and reduce binding in some situations, such as cutting tubing or narrow sections. But this specialization means they aren’t universally better for every general cut, and their advantage depends on the specific material and workpiece. So while wave-set blades can be useful in certain cases, they aren’t a blanket replacement for a standard general-purpose blade.