Glossary
hacksaw
A hacksaw is a fine-toothed saw with a narrow blade held under tension in a frame. It is the tool for cutting metal — pipe, rod, angle iron and bolts.
A hacksaw is a fine-toothed saw with a narrow blade held under tension in a C-shaped frame. It is the tool for cutting metal — pipe, rod, angle iron, bolts and small stock — rather than wood.
Because the blade is thin it can start a cut almost anywhere, and its high tooth count, usually 14 to 32 teeth per inch, lets it cut hard material without grabbing. The blade is fitted so the teeth point forward, away from the handle, which means it cuts on the push stroke. Wood saws are the opposite, cutting on the push as well but with far fewer, larger teeth and a much wider blade.
Keep the blade tight in the frame, use light steady pressure, and let the teeth do the work: pushing hard bows the thin blade and snaps it. A hacksaw will not follow a curve, and a blade that binds usually means the work is not clamped or the blade is dull.
Taught in
Related terms
- circular saw — A circular saw is a power saw with a toothed disc that spins up through the base plate. The blade is set to clear the material, and the saw is pushed forward through the cut.
Source: Official ASVAB — subtest descriptions (what each subtest asks) and the CAT-ASVAB scored-question counts (accessed 2026-09)