Recipricating Saw Blades

DScott · Jan 8, 2010

I have a 18v Dewalt recip saw that I use for a power hack saw most of the time. I have used the Dewalt and a couple of other brand bi-metal blades from Home Depot/Lowes with pretty good results but the sure wear out quickly when cutting bolts and etc. The regular hack saw blades I have cut good and last a long time but the hack saw plays havoc on my bad shoulder if I use it very much. Doesn't anyone make a good quality hack saw blade for the recip saw?

Anonymous-0 · Jan 8, 2010

I have in the past reused hack saw blades that wore out in the 1-1/2 space on the blade. What I have done in a pinch is to remove the blade from the saw and take a 4 1/2 in hand grinder and cut it off below the bad spot and grind on a new notch that fits in the saw. The blade has to be long enough in the begining to do this..also to make the blades last longer slow the saw down if it is variable. I most usually use Milwauke blades but that is neither here nor there. Dewalt blades are also good but I have heard dewalt is getting inferior...not sure..

Butch(OH) · Jan 8, 2010

Know what you mean about the blades and buying the right ones is only about 10% or the equation for long life. Personaly I use Lennox and Morse but A far more important factor and the reason your hand held blades will cut more bolts than a sawzaw blade is heat. There are four easy ways to lower the heat. In an order of importance.
1. Slow the saw down, wide open in any sawzall I have used is twice too fast for any kind of life cutting steel.
2. Pull it back and forth and/or rock the saw while cutting so that differant teeth are being used and thus have a chance to cool down
3. Keep it cutting with some pressure, it is a falicy that light pressure is always better. The chip load against each tooth as it cuts does more cooling and taking it away from the teeth than any cutting fluid will do. No pressure equals rubbing and that builds heat fast.
3. Lubrication never hurts unless it causes the teeth to clog. Light oil is much better than heavy "cutting" fluids.

GordoSD · Jan 8, 2010

One word. LENOX Give me your snail mail address and I'll send you one.

Gordo

john *.?-!.* cub owner · Jan 8, 2010

I will second GordoSD, Lennox is about the best I have seen.

Uncle Ernie · Jan 9, 2010

Milwaukee makes a line of blades called Torch and Axe. These are SOME TOUGH Mothers! Much deeper blade top to bottom so they do not break or bend. Stay sharp a good long time too. The have a diamond grit one as well that is supposed to stay sharp 30X longer than a regular blade. I have not tried the diamond grit nnes yet but they seem impressive in their video.

John Harmon · Jan 9, 2010

I have used and use Dewalt-Lenox and Milwaukee reciprocating saw blades in my old B@D Saw and my newer Dewalt Saw and see no difference in performance. Speed and pressure have a whole lot to do in blade life. Material being cut is another factor.IMHO

DScott · Jan 9, 2010

Thanks for the info. I have a set of Lenox Gold Blades on order so I will try that. As I stop and think about it, I have probably been guilty of running the saw too fast in a lot of cases as patience isn't one of my strong points but I'm working on it. It makes since that excessive heat would ruin one of these thin blades pretty quick. I'll adjust my technique with the new blades and see if that solves my problem.
Thanks

Recipricating Saw Blades

DScott

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Anonymous-0

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Butch(OH)

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GordoSD

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john .?-!. cub owner

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Uncle Ernie

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John Harmon

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DScott

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