How to Hacksaw Aluminum

Aluminum is a lightweight, soft, flexible metal. It is used to make pipes, car parts, tubing, culverts and even soup cans. To cut this soft metal with a hacksaw, you need to use the correct blade. If you do not use the right blade, the blade will flex when trying to cut the aluminum. Instead of making a clean cut, the cut will be jagged or you may not be able to cut all the way through the aluminum. For aluminum, use a 32-teeth per inch blade.

Hacksaw with 32-teeth-per-inch blade
Spray lubricant
Grease pencil

Instructions

- 1
  Inspect the hacksaw. If your blade is not new, make sure that they teeth of the blade are sharp and not ground down; if they are ground down, replace the blade.
- 2
  Spray the lubricant along the teeth of the hacksaw blade, this will make your job of manually cutting easier.
- 3
  Lay out the aluminum and mark where you will cut it with a grease pencil. This will give you a trajectory when cutting.
- 4
  Place the hacksaw blade against the aluminum where you marked it for cutting. Move the blade back and forth while exerting pressure on the hacksaw to make it through the aluminum. Continue this motion until you have cut all the way through the aluminum.

How to Get a Storm Door From Slamming

Repairing a Ripped RV Awning

Exterior Home Repair