Tryed to reduced my curtain metal rail by using the junior haksaw?

Question

I was unable to saw though the metal is there something else I could use?

Answer 1

Yes. The problem is you do not know what you are doing. You need to use the right tool for the job. I'm not sure what a "curtain rail" is, uinless it is like a curtain rod, but what should work very well is an angle grinder with a metal cut-off disk, which obviously you do not have. I go after anything metal with my angle grinder and it works beautifully, and I can cut through just about anything, including solid steel.

It's very difficult to cut through thin metal with a hacksaw blade because the teeth on the blade are spaced farther apart than the thickness of the metal. In any situation like this the teeth then get hung up on each side of the metal and jam the blade.

If this thing is a tubular thin metal hollow rod, you cannot use a plumbers pipe cutter because the curtain rod has a seam down one side and is too weak to hold up to something like that. It would simply collapse.

Now, you might be able to take a wooden dowel stick the same size as the inside diameter of the rod, insert this into it for support, and then score around the outside of the rod with a utility knife by rolling it on a flat surface. If it is a flat curtain rod this method will not work. You might be able to use a flat metal file to file through the rod instead.

Answer 2

Why were you unable to saw through it ?

Do you mean it gets stuck ?

Thasnk because the curtain rail metal is thinner than the pitch between two teeth on the blade.

Just work yout way around the circumfrence cutting a good width all at once to support the blade, rather than straight down through the rod and trying to cut the metal "end on"

don't use a pipe cutter, it will crack any enamel or varnish on the pole surface

Answer 3

I have never managed to cut anything with a junior hacksaw, I consider them a pretty useless piece of kit. I doubt that plumbers pipe cutters will work because the metal in the rail is so thin. Its not hard metal, so a hacksaw should cut it. I'd use a standard hacksaw with the finest blade you can get 24 tpi or higher. Make sure that the rail is clamped so it cannot move - this may be difficult to do without crushing it.

Answer 4

You are using the right tool!
The method probably isn't the best.
Angle grinders, pipe cutters and hacksaws are not for this, and can cause more problems.

Check your blade is OK.
At the point your cutting place masking tape around the rail, this will aid in stopping the blade slipping.
Mark the tape all around to give yourself a straight cut.
Cut till you just get to the hollow, then 2mm more, and then rotate slightly, so that the hollow is at the front of your blade so as you cutting without the teeth snagging.

Hope that helps.

Answer 5

Try using a proper hacksaw instead of a junior hacksaw ,also get a blade with something like 21 TPI also make sure the balde is the right way round so that the points of the teeth are facing forwards

Answer 6

I can't imagine that you couldn't cut through almost any curtain rod with a hacksaw unless the blade was worn out. A new blade will be less than $2.00 and should cut through a curtain rod like a hot knife through butter. Blades are available at every hardware store, home improvement retailer, many large grocery stores, and any general merchandise store (WalMart, K-Mart etc.) with a hardware to tool department.

Good luck with your curtain rod project.

Answer 7

Hi,
When my husband done our metal cutain rail he had trouble, he used large saw, as the blade was stronger, it did take him ages to do.
A junior hawksaw blade will not be strong enough to go through the curtain rail.
If you do not have a normal saw is there someone who you can borrow one from?

Answer 8

Pipe cutter will do nicest job if metal pole is hollow. Other wise larger hacksaw is best as is neater than grinder.... Best tool for this job however is a bloke - these are readily available at most hardware stores and allow you to nestle down with nice cup of cocco and watch soaps while messy stuff happens elsewhere.......

Answer 9

Yes,but if you are using a regular hacksaw blade it will take a while. Plus it will take a few more blades then if you went to go buy a metal blade to cut through your curtian metal rail.

Answer 10

How about a pipe cutter? I think that's what the tool is called - it clamps onto the edge of the pipe/rail and cuts into it until it goes the whole way through. Most DIY shops will sell them.