The Reciprocating Saw Explained
A reciprocating saw can quickly cut through a large corner post with the right blade hooked up. These saws are used to cut through big parts of timber swiftly. They can also cut through little wooden pieces very easily. They can cut through most kinds of steel when utilizing a steel blade. They can be used to reduce overgrown branches, demolish rooms, cut floorboards joist, and many other kinds of work around the house.
Versatility is One of its most attractive attributes of a reciprocating saw. There are a variety of different blades that can be fitted onto reciprocating saws, depending on what you need to do. You can fit them to cut wood or metal, for instance, and you can choose blades for a variety of thicknesses.
Reciprocating Saw Blades
Dimensions
Reciprocating saw blades can range in length from 2.5 to 12 inches. Know ahead of time how deep you want the cut to be, so you can choose the right length. A greater width reduces bending or wobbling. The thickness you want also depends on what you’re planning to do: most tasks require a thickness of about.035 inches, while.05 inches is better for the really hard jobs.
Teeth per Inch
Recipro Saw blades can have as few as 3 or as many as 24 teeth per inch (TPI). A blade’s TPI is one of its most important qualities and greatly affects how the saw will cut. A lower TPI means faster, rougher cuts; higher TPIs are suited for slow, smooth cuts. Which one you want depends largely on the material you’ll be using the blade on. When cutting metal, for example, you’ll definitely need a blade with a high TPI. There are also “variable-pitch” reciprocating saw blades, which have more teeth in one section of the blade than another.
Material
Most blades are made out of one of four types of material:
1. Carbon steel: flexible, cheap, but easily worn out.
2. High-speed steel: more durable but less flexible than carbon steel.
3. Bi-metal: combines the advantages of carbon and high-speed steel and can last significantly longer than either.
4. Carbide grit: best used for materials such as fiberglass, ceramic tile, and cement board.
Since some blades are cheaper than others because they are less durable, think about what you need before you buy. If you plan on reusing the same blade again and again, it will be worth the price in the long run to purchase one that lasts a long time; if not, it might be wiser to pick the less expensive option.
Common Reciprocating Saw Blades
Four of the most common types of reciprocating saw blades are:
1. Course-tooth: designed to cut green wood.
2. Fine-tooth: for smooth cuts in wood, plastic, and hardboard.
3. Hack saw: for cutting metal up to 1/8 inch in thickness.
4. Knife: versatile design good for cutting materials such as cloth, leather, linoleum, and rubber.
In addition, there are many specialty blades made to perform more specific tasks.
Other Considerations
Some reciprocating saw blades require a little maintenance. Those designed to cut heavy materials should be regularly lubricated with oil.
One final thing to note is that some tools make it much easier than others to change out the blades. A saw with a key-less blade clamp will let you fit new reciprocating saw blades with less time and effort than one without it, so that feature is something to look for if you anticipate frequent blade-changing.