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Pneumatic body saw/blade recommendations

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Fordguy1964

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Joined
Mar 3, 2015
Messages
3,915
Location
Houston County, Alabama
I am looking to purchase a body saw for cutting light sheet metal when doing body repairs on my current project. This is for hobbyist type use not professional repairs and daily use. The tool will see limited use.

I have looked at the air saws from HF and Northern Tool. While Northern Tool is usually a little better it is not by much. I am not looking to spend a fortune but then I also don't want to go cheap and have a junk tool that I can't use.

What is the best bang for the buck?

I also would like to know since I have never owned one before, how are the blades held into the saw? Are there more than one method? I have seen lately that there are a couple different types of jigsaw blade styles of attachment. Do body saws all have a standard method of blade attachment? If not what is the best style?

Finally- tooth count. What is the best tooth count for cutting body panels off of a car? I have seen many different ones and they have gone as high as 32 TPI. Am I thinking correct that with the thin metal I am cutting that I would need a finer tooth count?

Thanks. I look forward to your answers and my education.
 
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jdepiero

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Feb 9, 2014
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195
Location
NE, Ohio
The HF I bought went directly in the trash first time I tried to use it. I was too aggravated to even return it! Bought an IR and was very pleased. Not cheap compared to the HF ($150.00) but you cannot stall it
 
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nczo6

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Dec 29, 2009
Messages
93
Location
winston-salem nc
I have the traditional looking blue point one and a snap on pts1000 the blue point one is great and good for real tight spots or sheet metal and the snap on one kicks *** on everything!!!! The blue point is more in your price range and can be had on eBay for around 50 bucks I highly recommend both.
 
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Hammer1963

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Jan 2, 2011
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2,048
Location
Kentucky
There really is no low cost air saw that works well. I know this from experience. I own both a Matco and Snap-on saws and both work well. The Matco is my preferred saw. I happen to have a CP industrial saw that I happened to run across and it is very close to the performance of the above mentioned. If interested, let me know. Very low usage and is in great condition.

As far as blades, I use scroll type blades and I also use hacksaw blades. I snap off the appropriate length and relieve the back side as needed with a grinder. This works very well. Good quality hacksaw blades seem to be readily available at a decent cost. I tend to use 24 and 32 TPI blades
 
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Burl

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Sep 21, 2007
Messages
791
Location
Where Mountaineers are free
I bought the HF one a few months ago, it went about 1 inch and quit, wouldn't work again, so I returned it. I then bought the IR mentioned (through Amazon) and it works great. I use it more than I thought I would, its much easier than a cut-off tool, much safer in my opinion. Always buy the quality brand tool first, you'll (usually) never be sorry.
 
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Danglerb

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Sep 6, 2007
Messages
9,736
Location
SoCal
The guys in my area that tow away old cars and sell them as scrap metal have to cut them in half if they don't have a pink. They all use a Sawzall.
 
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F

Fordguy1964

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Mar 3, 2015
Messages
3,915
Location
Houston County, Alabama
Well, I decided to avoid the cheap ones and got the Blue Point AT192A. I think from what people have said about this one that it will do the job for me.

What are the best blades to buy? Any that I should stay away from? I am guessing that since I am cutting sheet metal that the higher the TPI the better? Looking at blades with 32 TPI... Would that be right? Suggestions?

Thanks!
 
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