Saw-z-all/ Reciprocating Saw how thick will it cut

Thanks for the info.

Bill

T_Bone

Easy does it when using a recprocating saw. Use a sharp blade and don't force it.

For the best non-heat metal cutting, I have a 5" Makita 10,000rpm side grinder with a 6" x .0625 thick 10,000rpm fibeglass blade, about $1eh. I've cut some 3/4" SS plate with good results and the blades last a long time. It's just like using a mini chop saw in your hand but 10 times faster.

Use with a full face shield and leather gloves. Only cut with the blade throwing sparks at you with a light blade feed. Cutting pipe is only for the very experienced user.

This is a tool that demands lots of respect.

Draw back, if you smell leather burning it's time to go get stitchs as your cut and usually deep.

T_Bone

In this case for the use I described, PLEASE not use any other sidegrinder. It's a safety thing. When we first started using these blades we used the Milwaukee 4.5". That put the blade too close to the knuckle and when the blade would hang you couldn't get your hands away fast enough. Lots of minor injuries (stitchs). On a 6wk job we planed 1/3 of the crew to have been cut, of that 1/2 would need stitchs. We cut alot of SS pipe and there layed the problem as someone would use one hand to hold the pipe. It takes two hands on the grinder at all times.

The larger 7" and 9" doesn't have the high rpm so you tend to push on the blade thus breaking the blade more often. I have seen a 1/2 of blade stuck part way thru a full face shield (very rare). I've also had more than one bruse on my stomach from a part of a blade. There also very clumbsy to use for this application.

The 5" has a long enough body to keep your hands as safe as they can be with this type of cutting. Thats not that safe as you can tell. I have a Makita 5", Model 9024D, that I've for 25yrs and it's still going strong. There about $120 or was 12yrs ago LOL.

The blades that work the best are Apollo Abrasive, Grade A60TB2F

For field working SS, theres not a better tool made.

T_Bone

• Abrasive Sales

You can buy long blades for wood and metal. I have metal cutting blades that are about 4 inches, and I bet you can get longer ones. I seldom use the whole blade because I seldom cut anything much thicker than a 20 penny nail with it.

The longer the blade, the more apt it is to flex while cutting and give you a crooked cut.

I would not buy a saw-z-all to cut metal for fabrication. You can buy abrasive metal cutting blades for a hand-held circular saw. Relatively cheap ($2 - $4 each)and are much faster than a recip saw, and work great for a limited amount of metal cutting.

Scott

If you are going to be cutting metal pieces for fabrication type work, I recommend you consider a portable metal cutting band saw instead. I have one and love it. In many cases I will use that instead of a cutting torch or plasma cutter. They will smooth cut up to about a 4" dimension and work well...fairly easy to cut reasonably straight and square if you are careful.

Rod