Reciprocating Saw Blade Types

Reciprocating saws churn through metal, masonry, wood, plaster, fiberglass, stucco, composite materials, drywall, and more. The key to a successful cut is using the proper sort of blade for the fabric you're cutting. One blade doesn't fit all, and there are specific types for specific materials; therefore, here, we have described various types of reciprocating saw blades.

What is Reciprocating Saw Blade?

A reciprocating saw is a machine-powered saw through which the cutting action is achieved via a push-and-pull ("reciprocating") motion of the blade. The term is usually applied to a kind of saw utilized in construction and demolition work. This type of saw also referred to as a hognose or recip saw, features a large blade similar to a jigsaw and a handle oriented to permit the saw to be used comfortably on vertical surfaces. This saw's standard design features a foot at the bottom of the blade, almost like that of a jigsaw. The user holds foot on the cutting surface so that the blade's tendency to push aside from or pull towards the cut because the blade travels through its movement is often countered.

Different Types of Reciprocating Saw Blades

Recip Saw blades are rated specifically indeed materials, making it easier to narrow down which one is required. This data will help you avoid dulling or ruining the blade altogether, which may happen shockingly fast if you select the incorrect blade. Another factor to think about is a turnaround because the wrong sort of blade can make the work itself take significantly longer than it must.

Types of reciprocating Saw Blades:

For Aluminum

Reciprocating saw blades that will traverse aluminum pipes, cast aluminum pieces, or aluminum sheets similar to the Metal Cutting Saw Blade. These blades have a smaller TPI count, and fine teeth meant for smooth, slow cuts at a lower speed. When employing a machine on aluminum, confirm to always have eye protection on in the least times. It also helps to possess a lubricant available to assist longer cuts or cuts through thicker aluminum pieces to allow the blade to cut a touch easier.

For Bone

There are reciprocating saw blades for bone and butchering applications, as well. These are usually made from thick, rigid steel that helps them resist bending and binding as you narrow through solid bone pieces.

Many reciprocating saw blades are designed for chopping through bone, and meat is designed for chopping on the push stroke – that's, they need reverse teeth designed to push aside bone and meat from the tool.

For Brick

Reciprocating saw blades designed to chop through brick, stone, and stucco have a teeth design that's different from a standard saw blade. The chainsaw-like design of a brick blade gives it an additional wide gullet, which helps expel dust and brick fragments, and also vent heat away.

For Cement Board

Most general-purpose reciprocating saw blades can traverse cement boards, also as wood and drywall. You'll cross the cement board using your typical 6-inch blade and obtain good results with a TPI of around 6.

Most saw blades designed for this sort of task are made from high steel, and a few of the higher ones accompany carbide coated teeth for extended blade life.

For Branches

Reciprocating saw blades designed to chop through fresh branches and smaller trees are commonly mentioned as handsaw blades. These are designed to possess varying gullet depths and teeth, which will cut on both forward and reverse strokes to attenuate binding, albeit you employ the on wet wood or pressure-treated lumber. Some pruning reciprocating saw blades also are available with a curve to assist you in narrowing through branches and trees efficiently.

For Forged Iron 

Diamond grit blade is the best choice for cutting through forged iron pipes. Abrasive blades don't get dull as quickly as toothed blades, and that they offer you smoother cuts also, which helps you suit your forged iron pipes better.

Always wear eye protection before cutting through forged iron together with your reciprocating saw. Some forged iron pipes are often very thick, as well, during which case you'll use a touch of lubrication to assist the cut along while also cooling down your blade to increase its useful life.

Blades for Pipe 

Traditional clay pipes are often quickly cut with a reciprocating saw and a carbide grit blade. Using an abrasive blade to grind rather than cutting through a pipe minimizes the danger of cracks and breakage too.

For Concrete

Reciprocating saw blades designed to travel through concrete are mostly equivalent ones you employ for bricks and masonry. The additional wide gullet and, therefore, the low TPI count allows you to traverse concrete blocks without the blade getting choked abreast of the debris. For extended blade life, you'll choose a concrete saw blade with carbide-tipped teeth.

For Copper Pipe

You would like a fine-toothed saw blade designed to chop through metal for cutting through a copper pipe with a reciprocating saw. These blades have higher TPI and are designed for chopping slowly, but they provide you smoother results with minimal burrs that need cleaning.

For Foam

You can also traverse spray foam insulation, polyurethane, and Styrofoam with a reciprocating saw. Unlike most reciprocating saw blades, blades meant to chop through foam tend to be very long – expect to swing about a blade that's a minimum of 18 inches long, and a few blades reach 36 inches or more.

Conclusion

Different types of reciprocating saw blades are used for multiple materials. There is a reciprocating saw blade for wood, metal, etc. and each of them has some different characteristics. Metal cutting reciprocating saw blades are required for materials like stainless steel, pipe, and conduit. Carbide-grit is intended for materials like cast iron and fiberglass. Similarly, every other material requires a different type of blade, and this guide will help you select the right reciprocating saw blade for your application.