Thread: Silicon and Diamond coated wire ?

Hi Clinton,
I believe you are refering to an "Abrafile".....it is as you describe, an abrasive coated wire with fittings at each end, and is used in an ordinary hacksaw frame. They are commonly available.
Hope this helps,
Karl

Hi Clinton, I have just scored a hacksaw with one of these blades so I also would like to know what its uses are.

I also have another hand held saw that was the old mans that you might help me identify. the wire blade wraps around the 2 handles. Banded Posci made in France could have come from Vietnam during the war or issued to Aust. SAS. Any ideas?

Very sharp wire, I hope its not a Garrotte - it would take your head clean off.
Sorry about the bad photos.

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Clinton, I don't know where you could buy it but there is some at school that fits in a normal hacksaw frame which is used for cutting acrylic. It is good for some students that have trouble cutting a straight line with a normal blade. IIRC the 'blade' is around 2mm diameter.

The school purchases it through a dedicated school supplies firm, but I'm sure that any decent hardware store may stock it.

Bleeding,
The chain and handles saw is a saw that was/is used to cut timber, i.e. branches and thin tree trunks. It was issued to Aus forces in Vietnam for tasks such as clearing helocoptor landing sites in the bush.
Edit: the wire I'm thinking of looks like wire dipped in powdered glass.

Karl - do you know when the abrafiles would be used.... i.e. when is it more efficient to use over a hacksaw?

Cheers Clinton.

The abrafile is round and fits onto a standard hacksaw via two adapters. (Well the ones i have do anyway)
I have them in several sizes from approx 2mm to 4mm dia and different TPI for want of a better term. More like a file than a saw blade.
Because they're round you can cut in any direction. Very good for fiddly/scroll work. I think they are designed for metal but cut through wood well without clogging.

I've used the silicone carbide ones to cut holes in tiles for taps or floor wastes back before diamond blads were common. Use a masonry drill to pierce the tile, thread the blade through, hook it up to the hacksaw frame and go for it.

Mick

Righto on the thing with two handles. They're sold around here in camping and sporting goods stores for cutting branches.

Aside from cutting hard materials, I think the principal function of the round "blades" in a hacksaw is to cut tighter curves than otherwise feasible. Same with spiral blades in a scrollsaw.

Joe

Thanks all.... consider me informed enough to be dangerous.