🔍 Key Concepts

• Teeth per inch (TPI) and how it relates to material thickness • Difference between cutting thick/heavy stock vs thin/light stock • How many teeth should be in contact with the workpiece at one time when using a hacksaw

💭 Think About

• For a given TPI, think about whether it is better suited to thick, hard materials or thinner, softer materials. • Recall the general rule: should you use fewer teeth per inch for thicker stock, or more teeth per inch for thin stock? • Which of the listed materials are likely to be thicker, heavier sections, and which are usually thin (like tubing or sheet)?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify which TPI range is commonly recommended for thin sheet metal versus heavy pipe or angle iron. • Check the guideline about keeping at least 2–3 teeth in contact with the material while cutting to prevent tooth breakage. • Match the 14 TPI blade to the type of material thickness it is generally designed for (coarse vs fine cut).