A: Hercules brand saw blades (from Germany) come in two basic versions. The black-label blades are intended for precious metals. The white-label ones, though, are intended for “hard” metals. They’re intended as much for the tool and die makers who might need such sawblades, as for jewelers, and cutting steel is the kind of thing they’re optimized for. That does mean they themselves are harder and more brittle, though, than the usual jewelers’ blades. But you will have less problem with them dulling quickly.