Hand Tools

Set & Rake Pipe Wrench Chain Wrench Monkey Wrench Pipe Cutter Pipe Reamer Pipe Vise Gasket Cutter Pipe Threading Taps & Wrench

Hacksaw

Hacksaws are available in many different styles and sizes, some adjust to accept different blade lengths. Blades vary by the number of teeth per inch (pitch). The correct pitch or number of teeth for particular job is determined by the size of the section, and the material to be cut. Blades are also available fully hardened and rigid (All-Hard), maintaining straight cuts in soft material like brass, or flexible blade with hardened cutting edge and a flexible, none hardened backing. Rod blades produced of bonded tungsten-carbide particles have no teeth and cut on both forward and back strokes, and can be used to cut intricate shapes.

The blade is normally installed in the saw frame with the teeth pointing away from the saw handle as cutting pressure is most easily put on the forward stroke. Using a file to mark a cut by filing a small nick will aid in starting a cut. Pressure is applied on the forward stroke and released on the back stroke at a rate of 40-50 strokes per minute. When coming to the end of a cut reduce cutting speed and pressure.

Three or more teeth need to be in contact with the work so the teeth will not straddle the work and be striped from the blade. Copper tubing and sheet metal require a fine pitch blade, 32 teeth per inch, angle iron and heavy pipe 24 teeth per inch, drill rod and tool steel 18 teeth per inch, cast iron or soft steel 14 teeth per inch.

Stab Saw

For cutting metal in tight quarters, uses standard 10 inch hack saw blades.

Hacksaw Blades

The term referring to the amount or degree the teeth of a hacksaw blade are pushed out or canted from the blade center is known as set.

Double Alternate - Two adjoining teeth are staggered to the right, then two to the left. Not shown

Pipe Wrench

Also known as a Stillson wrench has adjustable parallel jaws with teeth for gripping. Used to assemble and disassemble pipes. Should only be used on round objects. Wrench functions best when the bite is taken midway up the jaw teeth.

Chain Pipe Wrench

Chain wrenches grip pipe, square, hexagonal, and irregular shapes for easy turning. Uses include threading, cutting, assembly, and disassembly.

Monkey Wrench

Adjustable flat parallel jaws. Used to assemble and disassemble fittings with flats or hex, such as Square Head Plugs, Reducing Bushings, and Unions.

Pipe Cutter

Hand cut pipe and tubing. Available in many different sizes and compositions. 4 wheel model cuts with less then a full turn. Two handle models cut up to 6" pipe.

Pipe Reamer

Used to cut the ridge formed by pipe cutter. Reaming is a good practice and increases flow.

Pipe Vise

Pipe vise opens to accommodate long lengths and configurations. Teeth on jaws hold secure for cutting, reaming and threading.

Gasket Cutter

All faced and grooved flanges are assembled with gaskets. Gasket cutters used to cut gaskets from sheets materials such as cork, rubber, leather, asbestos and fiber composition. Hole punches are available in various sizes and are used to punch bolt holes.

Stock and Die Set

Stock or Die Heads are used with various size Dies. When cutting tapered pipe threads continue turning until the end of the pipe has gone through the die and is flush with the die face to provide full contact.

Tap and Tap Wrench

Taps are available in all standard and metric screw thread sizes, and pipe threads. Pipe taps ( NPT American Standard Taper Pipe Threads ) are used to for internal threading of pipe, pipe fittings, and holes in which you'll be assembling threaded pipe. Most taps are made of high-speed steel for use on ferrous and nonferrous materials.

Taps are chamfered at the front of the tap to help guide the tap into the hole. There are three screw thread types.

Taper - Has 7 to 10 chamfered threads. Used in through holes and starting threads.

Plug - Has 3 to 5 chamfered threads. Used through holes as well as blind holes with sufficient space at the bottom for chips.

Bottoming - Has 1 to 2 threads. Used in blind holes where threads must come as close to the bottom as possible.

Tap handles are used to hold taps, and are available in many designs. When taping a hole by hand, use cutting oil, and turn the tap back in counter-clockwise direction every 1/4 turn to break the chip. Never force a tap as they are hardened and will break easy.