The Lenox Tools88300 Lightweight Hacksaw in the Process of Fabricating a Step for a Large Vehicle
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Submitted By 3RdEyeQueen Words 1561 Pages 7
THE LENOX TOOLS 88300 LIGHTWEIGHT HACKSAW iN THE PROCESS OF FABRICATING A STEP FOR A LARGE VEHICLE
INTRODUCTION
The construction industry encompasses many areas including but not limited to Administration, Production, Maintenance and Freighting. Large and small equipment of all kinds are used on a daily basis in the industry. The Lenox Tools 88300 Hacksaw as seen in Figure 1: is a lightweight hand tool used for cutting metal and hard plastics. The hacksaw is made entirely of metal with an added cap for comfort and support while in use. Five parts, all separate and detachable make up this mechanism as follows: * The Frame * The Handle * The ergonomic cap
The Blade * The frame
The Turn Key Attachment * The Ergonomic Cap
The turn key attachment
The blade
The handle
Figure 1: The Lenox Tools 88300 Lightweight Hacksaw
Source: www.lenoxtools.com
The Frame
The L shaped chrome frame is made of one piece of hollowed metal; the top is twelve inches long and rounded at the corner with the side six inches high. The frame is half inch wide on one edge and one inch on the other. The tag line “MORE TENSION. MORE CUTS” along with the tension capacity; a figure showing the maximum tension the saw can bare is printed in black on one of the one inch edges. Up to six spear blades can be stored in the top part of the handle.
The Handle
The Handle is a light ash grey with the company royal blue and lust red logo printed at the top on one side. It is rectangular and one of the shorter four inch sides attaches to the longer side of the frame which is inserted through a hole in the handle. The opposite end, the bottom has cut outs which allow the blade to be attached at the front for standard vertical cuts or at the base of the handle for horizontal cutting. One of the longer sides, the hand grip, is rounded on the inside for a comfortable grip when in use. The hand grip is large enough for workmen’s gloves to be worn when using the saw.
The Blade
The Blade is thin and shatter-resistant, twelve inches long and half inch wide with a small hole at either end for attaching it to the frame and the handle. The blade is made of two separate metals joined together “which allows it to flex without breaking” ~ www.lenoxtools.com. The blade can be attached to the handle and the frame either vertically or horizontally and is strong enough to cut through hardened steel. The standard blade has thirty teeth per inch.
The Turn Key Attachment
The Turn Key Attachment is made up of two separate parts as seen in figure 2 on the following page; the turn key and the hook screw. These two parts connect to each other allowing the blade to be attached to the frame.
The Turn key
The Turn Key is also light ash grey and is shaped like a tear drop, it is used for removing the blade from the frame and it also creates the tension in the saw. The turn key has a hole with threads on the inside through which the hook bolt is attached.
The Hook Bolt
The Hook Bolt is two and a half inches long, goes through a hole in the hacksaw frame and attaches to the turn key via threads on the outer edge of the bolt. There is a cutout with a hook in the bolt at the end opposite to where the turn key attaches. The hook goes through one of the holes in the blade to attach to the hacksaw frame.
The hook
The blade
The turn key
The frame
The hook bolt
Figure 2: The Turn Key Attachment
Source: http://www.lenoxtools.com
The Ergonomic Cap
The Ergonomic Cap is a thin sheet of royal blue molded metal that attaches to the curved part of the L shaped frame. The Cap allows the user a firm grip and support when cutting.
The Lenox Tools 88300 Lightweight Hacksaw weights two and a half pounds making it very easy to use and carry. It can be used with any compatible blade but the Lenox T2 heavy duty technology blade is recommended by the manufacturer. When using this hacksaw, the operator should wear safety gloves and goggles for personal protection from the fragments as the material is cut. The hacksaw can be used in the process of fabricating a step for mounting and dismounting large vehicles, for example, concrete mixers and cement tankers.
The mechanisms and material needed to complete the fabrication are: * Rebar * A measuring instrument/ruler * A hacksaw * Oxygen cylinder * Acetylene Cylinder * Welding torch * A stationery vice grip
There are three main stages in this process as seen in figure 3, these are: 1. Mounting the vice grip 2. Cutting the rebar 3. Welding the pieces together
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1. Mounting the vice grip
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Secure the vice grip to the work table
------------------------------------------------- 2. Cutting the rebar ------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------
Position hacksaw and apply pressure with a push/pull motion
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3. Welding the pieces together
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Figure 3: Flowchart showing the stages and steps of the fabrication of a step for a large vehicle.
Stage One: Mounting the vice grip
The mounting of the vice grip as seen in figure 4, is the process of securing the vice grip to the work table. The vice grip is a very heavy mechanism and should be carried by two persons for safety. Once the vice grip is on the table, it should be bolted down and the clap at the side engaged to secure the vice grip to the table.
Stationery vice grip
Stage two: Cutting the rebar
After the vice grip is secured to the work table, the rebar should be cut. The three steps necessary in cutting the rebar, as seen in figure 5, on page seven, are:
1) Securing the rebar in the vice grip
2) Measuring the lengths of rebar
3) Sawing the rebar
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Securing the rebar in the vice grip
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Measuring the lengths of rebar
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Sawing the rebar
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Figure 5: Steps in cutting the rebar
Step one: Securing the rebar in the vice grip
After ensuring that the vice grip is secured to the work table the rebar must be secured. Depending on the size of the rebar to be used, the clamp will be opened to accommodate it and then tightened so that it is completely secure with no movement.
Step two: Measuring the lengths of rebar
Once the rebar is secured in the vice grip, a ruler should be used to measure six or seven pieces of rebar twelve inches long and three or four pieces six inches long. Measuring and cutting one piece at a time and readjusting the rebar in the vice grip for each piece.
Step three: Sawing the rebar
After the correct length of rebar has been measured, the user should then use the hacksaw to cut each of the required pieces. Wearing gloves and safety goggles, the user should stand to cut the rebar, applying pressure with a push/pull motion as the saw blade is positioned against the rebar. The cutting happens on the push motion.
Stage three: Welding the pieces together
After the required pieces of rebar have been cut, the pieces must then be welded together in the correct way to form the step. Using oxygen and acetylene cylinders with a blow torch, the long pieces and the short pieces are bonded together in the formation of a step ladder, an example of which can be seen in figure 6.
Step ladder
Figure 6: A Step ladder
CONCLUSION
Hence the fabrication of a step for a large vehicle is completed in three stages; mounting the vice grip, cutting the rebar and welding the pieces together. After the step is completed it is then mounted to the vehicle, making it easy for the driver and/or passengers to mount and dismount. In the construction industry hacksaws are used for a variety of purposes particularly in maintenance departments as in this case. The Lenox 88300 Lightweight Hacksaw is a very sturdy and useful tool with a life expectancy of about twice that of most other hacksaws about eight years once well maintained.
Proper maintenance of the hacksaw entails immediately changing damaged parts, cleaning with a damp cloth after every use and storing in a cool, dry place. The Lenox Tools 88300 Lightweight Hacksaw can be purchased internationally and retails in the range of fourteen to twenty-two United States dollars.
The entire fabrication process from the mounting of the vice grip to completing the welding takes approximately an hour and a half to complete. The finished step once mounted can be expected to last anywhere from three to five years with regular everyday use. Minor welding might be required on occasion to prolong the life span and maintain safety.
Table of Figures Figure 1: The Lenox Tools 88300 Lightweight Hacksaw 1 Figure 2: The Turn Key Attachment 4
Figure 3: Flowchart showing the stages and steps of the fabrication of a step for a large vehicle……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….5
Figure 4: Stationery Vice Grip…………………………………………………………………………………………………….6
Figure 5: Steps in cutting the rebar…………………………………………………………………………………………….7
Figure 6: A Step ladder……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….8
