reciprocating saw blades help

PoorOwner · May 3, 2013

I just got a 12 amp Milwaukee sawzall
I want to cut out some wood with occasional nails and occasionally small tree branches outside.

Do I really need a kit with different type of blades for $25.

I am looking for a budget solution and want to get educated if I don't need to use an array of different blades with different TPI.

Zeke · May 3, 2013

Good bimetal blades are expensive. They will run 10 bucks a piece, so 3 for 25 helps a bit. For the tree stuff normal wood blades clog up with sap and the stick. A trimming blade for a sawzall looks a lot like the blade on a tree trimming hand saw, very coarse.

Read the package and buy blades for demo work, they cut through nails and some metal. Get a good fine tooth metal cutting blade for iron pipe. Actually, you might be better off buying individual selected blades.

I always figure the cost of one blade for every 2-3 hours of demo work. Hard plaster can ruin a blade in minutes. New wood or clean wood you can use a blade for weeks.

It helps to have a few types in the box.

signcrafter · May 3, 2013

You will need different blades for different things as already mentioned.

Like mentioned a normal wood blade in sawzall will **** with tree branches. They do make a tree trimming blade that works.

For demo it can get tricky with blades. I like to buy god blades, which cost money. But there have been times when I put a brand new 10 dollar blade n and hit something during the first minute of demo and the blade bends. You can straighten them and still use them but they aren't the same. So for demo I usually buy the cheaper 10 packs, they don't last as long but if I break one it's not a huge loss. If I know what I'm cutting into I will use a good blade because they cut faster and nicer.

For metal you will want the right TPI for the type and size of metal you are cutting.

If I was you I would just go buy a couple individual blades for what you want and then add as you go.

bobcatdan · May 3, 2013

To me a saw all is a rough cut tool. Buy the most aggressive blades there are. I think you are talking about the demo pack that has the "wrecker" "ax" and "torch" blades in it. Great deal. For what you want to do the ax is a great blade. For metal, the torch is faster then a real torch.

Monte · May 3, 2013

Take a look at the Bosch offering

Southern · May 3, 2013

Bosch, irwin, and DeWalt blades are overpriced chinese junk.

Lennox and Ace blades are the same price as everything else and made in the USA.

Unless I'm doing some really coarse woodcutting like tree pruning or something, I just get the Fire and Rescue oriented multi-material blades and use them on everything.

Monte · May 3, 2013

Southern said:
Bosch, irwin, and DeWalt blades are overpriced chinese junk.

Bosch are swiss made and Dewalt made in USA....

RecipSawBladeLargeTable._V143204745_.gif

bcradio · May 4, 2013

way to go monte... southern does not have the slightest clue what he's talking about. I love my Bosch blades, they seem to outlast any other blade I've used 4 to 1.

5lima30 · May 4, 2013

Lenox blades are great but I have also had very good luck with the DeWalt Demo blades :dunno:

N.I. · May 4, 2013

For clean wood this type is the fastest and stays sharp for ages-

For wood with nails go for the demolition blade like Monte listed.

Bosch, Dewalt and Lennox all sell good blades.

Responder · May 4, 2013

I use bi-metal blades for the most part doing demo work. Usually buy good blades but on the odd occasion the only blades available were the less expensive ones. They work ok for occasional use. As mentioned, it is not uncommon to wreck a blade quickly!

I try to carry a good assortment of not only blade types, but different lengths as well.

djjsr · May 4, 2013

Every brand blade that I've ever tried for wood works ok, so I buy the cheapest recognizable brand I can find.

Metal doesn't work that way. Lennox blades seem to work ok on most things and are reasonably priced, but don't last as long as the high end blades. Dewalt seems to last a little longer.

jmo

cheechi · May 4, 2013

I would agree with you but for one change. Vermont American made really good demo blades, better than the rest. HD clearanced out the ten packs for like 3 bucks, I bought 50 bucks worth of blades that day.

I never use the sawzall much for metal but I have the most success with Diablo.

fireguy · May 4, 2013

Lennox and Milwaukie are the only blades I buy. I also buy enough so I don't have to go to the hardware store and buy ****.

I get most of my tools from Colonial Tool.com

RCL · May 4, 2013

Bosch blades for me.

Southern · May 4, 2013

Monte said:
Bosch are swiss made and Dewalt made in USA....

You know, it's kind of fitting you called me out on that cause it was you I called out in the electric drill thread about saying some **** without knowing what you're talking about.

So it's only fair I do the same as you did there and man up and admit being wrong. My bad. For two companies that offshore just about every single thing in their entire line, I'm actually pleasantly surprised to see this (even though DeWalt doesn't make those blades, Morse does and paints them yellow), but shouldn't have assumed.

Thanks for setting me straight.

As for bcradio, that post makes me laugh. From "cheering" at monte to the pretty fantastic "4 to 1" claim, the whole thing kind of reeks like hurt feelings. I'm sorry I criticized something you like. Really. Can I make it up to you?

Southern · May 4, 2013

To contribute to the conversation I have got to ask, when there's so many US made options for blades (Lennox, Morse, Dewalt, Ace, etc) why do you guys still buy a swiss made blade? It's not like you have to 'cause there's no other options.

wafrederick · May 4, 2013

Milwaukee sawzall blades for me.I tried dewalt sawzall blades,don't last very well and dull quickly

TwoInch · May 4, 2013

Southern said:
To contribute to the conversation I have got to ask, when there's so many US made options for blades (Lennox, Morse, Dewalt, Ace, etc) why do you guys still buy a swiss made blade? It's not like you have to 'cause there's no other options.

i would imagine it would be because the swiss make great blades, of all types.

USA made doesnt mean the best.

0.511MeV · May 4, 2013

Southern said:
To contribute to the conversation I have got to ask, when there's so many US made options for blades (Lennox, Morse, Dewalt, Ace, etc) why do you guys still buy a swiss made blade? It's not like you have to 'cause there's no other options.

Very simply, because the Swiss blades are better. The Bosch blades are some of the best, so I grab them when they are available.

Check out this:
http://www.finehomebuilding.com/PDF/Free/021213042.pdf#page=2&zoom=100,0,23

dwp99 · May 4, 2013

And let's not forget to add one of these. :lol:

racingtadpole · May 4, 2013

dwp99 said:
And let's not forget to add one of these.

Stupid question, what is that?

KnurledNut · May 4, 2013

racingtadpole said:
Stupid question, what is that?

paint can shaker.
google "mixkwik".

Poorowner,
For pruning try Skil "The Ugly" blade; swiss made, cheap at walmart, and work great.

racingtadpole · May 4, 2013

KnurledNut said:
paint can shaker.
google "mixkwik".

Ahh the hitech version of my worn out diamond grit blade and a roll of electrical tape. :lol:

Thanks

fotoflojoe · May 6, 2013

For branches and tree limbs, Diablo makes a 5 tpi pruning blade. The 10 inch was $4.79 at Home Depot. I bought one and tried it out yesterday, to deal with the five or six limbs that came down in my yard over the winter. It had no problem cutting through 6"+ sized limbs. No idea if the rest of Diablo's blades are any good, but these worked great - for the price, you can't go wrong.

Monte · May 6, 2013

Southern said:
(even though DeWalt doesn't make those blades, Morse does and paints them yellow), but shouldn't have assumed.

Black + Decker owns a saw blade factory in Tampa/Florida.

bcradio · May 6, 2013

Southern said:
You know, it's kind of fitting you called me out on that cause it was you I called out in the electric drill thread about saying some **** without knowing what you're talking about.

So it's only fair I do the same as you did there and man up and admit being wrong. My bad. For two companies that offshore just about every single thing in their entire line, I'm actually pleasantly surprised to see this (even though DeWalt doesn't make those blades, Morse does and paints them yellow), but shouldn't have assumed.

Thanks for setting me straight.

As for bcradio, that post makes me laugh. From "cheering" at monte to the pretty fantastic "4 to 1" claim, the whole thing kind of reeks like hurt feelings. I'm sorry I criticized something you like. Really. Can I make it up to you?

Yeah simple, stop spewing **** when you don't know what you're talking about... it'll make us all happy. :thumbup:

bcradio · May 6, 2013

Southern said:
To contribute to the conversation I have got to ask, when there's so many US made options for blades (Lennox, Morse, Dewalt, Ace, etc) why do you guys still buy a swiss made blade? It's not like you have to 'cause there's no other options.

cause we're smart

cheechi · May 6, 2013

KnurledNut said:
For pruning try Skil "The Ugly" blade; swiss made, cheap at walmart, and work great.

fotoflojoe said:
For branches and tree limbs, Diablo makes a 5 tpi pruning blade. The 10 inch was $4.79 at Home Depot. I bought one and tried it out yesterday, to deal with the five or six limbs that came down in my yard over the winter. It had no problem cutting through 6"+ sized limbs. No idea if the rest of Diablo's blades are any good, but these worked great - for the price, you can't go wrong.

I have used both of these recently cutting down junk saplings and pruning in general. In addition, the HF blade which is an exact copy of the Ugly, and I have to say for the price difference, though I would have no problem buying either Bosch (Skil) or Diablo blades for almost any application, man for the cost those HF blades are good enough.

And here's the main thing. Both name brands, if you hit a branch in your pruning or a rock or whatever in the dirt, they bend and deform the same as the HF. And I really mean it; I know all of you have seen a recip saw blade bend and you can still do plenty of work with it till its dull or breaks. Pruning, that happens faster and in more places on the blade since they're deeper teeth and spread further. So you wind up with an S shaped blade after about 10 mins sometimes.

Of the 3 none are more or less durable. The diablo has the red coating that does a great job on my miter saw blade, but I haven't noticed it helping much in pruning. If they're on sale, I will go for the name brands but even then they don't come close to 5 for like 8 bucks from HF.

GTO · May 6, 2013

cheechi said:
I have used both of these recently cutting down junk saplings and pruning in general. In addition, the HF blade which is an exact copy of the Ugly, and I have to say for the price difference, though I would have no problem buying either Bosch (Skil) or Diablo blades for almost any application, man for the cost those HF blades are good enough.

And here's the main thing. Both name brands, if you hit a branch in your pruning or a rock or whatever in the dirt, they bend and deform the same as the HF. And I really mean it; I know all of you have seen a recip saw blade bend and you can still do plenty of work with it till its dull or breaks. Pruning, that happens faster and in more places on the blade since they're deeper teeth and spread further. So you wind up with an S shaped blade after about 10 mins sometimes.

Of the 3 none are more or less durable. The diablo has the red coating that does a great job on my miter saw blade, but I haven't noticed it helping much in pruning. If they're on sale, I will go for the name brands but even then they don't come close to 5 for like 8 bucks from HF.

Irwin makes a prunning blade as well.IIRC 5TPI

PoorOwner · Jun 10, 2013

Update: I bought the 13 blade kit from home depot it's actually good value when you add things up.

However, I have been exclusively using "the Torch" blade the long version to cut up plywood, MDF, 2x4, nails.. Even though, there is "The Ax" which is made for wood, the torch cuts smoother and faster, by smoother I mean less bits and splinters flying out. So, I havn't been stop using the torch blade, as far as Demo of stuff like cabinets

The Ax looks like the type of blade to prune trees though, but it's not really made to encounter nails, even though it cut get thru the nails it's probably not good for the blade. So, using the torch blade I don't have to think too hard about what it is cutting through.

shoturtle · Jun 10, 2013

Just get loose stock Freud Diablo at Home Depot, or Bosch at Lowes. Freud and other brands have blades design to cut through wood with nails embedded in them without issue.

You really do not need more then 2 blade, a long and a short bi-metal. With what you plane on doing you do not need a whole kit.

James2016 · Jan 3, 2017

I see you have a problem with choosing a saw blades.
you’ve got a quantity of choices that will help a person within choosing greatest reciprocating saw blades which match your own require.
There are many kinds of blades for sawzall.
For metal, for wood, even concrete.

Carquest · Jan 3, 2017

Big fan of Milwaukee Ax blades

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

ssdave · Jan 3, 2017

$25 is a good start in buying recip blades. I keep 30 to 50 on hand, in various teeth and lengths. I've gone through 10 in an hour on a tough job. I just did a demo to the studs of a 900 sf house. I did the interior, had a sub do the roof. He went through nearly $100 of lennox blades cutting out the roof. Saved a lot of time to cut it out in sections; and threw it in the dumpster that way. The nails and the rocks in the asphalt shingles eat blades fast. Worth the blade cost in labor savings. I only used up 3 blades on the interior. One metal blade cutting out all the old gsp water pipes, two wood blades cutting out studs and ceiling joists and flooring for a stairwell. Cut a few dozen nails in the process, hit a lot on the flooring in particular.

I buy Lennox, Milwaukee, and Dewalt. All 3 are good blades.

Dagny · Jan 3, 2017

I have always thought a sawzall was expensive to operate seems to me all brands get dull fast. Don't change the fact that it is a very handy tool.

G-ManBart · Jan 3, 2017

42 month old thread brought back to life by a blade spammer....

reciprocating saw blades help

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