Guide To Best Reciprocating Saw Blades & Re-Sharpening Them
A reciprocating saw is a versatile tool that can be used for a variety of cutting tasks, including wood, metal, plastic, and masonry. The type of blade you use will depend on the material you are cutting.
In this article, we will discuss the different types of reciprocating saw blades available and recommend some of the best blades for specific applications. We will also provide some tips on how to choose the right blade for your needs.
The First Thing We Will Address is Sharpening Reciprocating Saw Blades
Until now, there wasn’t a quick and easy way to re-sharpen worn teeth on reciprocating saw blades. Why is this important? Because carbide and bi-metal blades can be expensive to buy. Yet they likely have enough blade teeth material left on them to be reusable. Some professional quality carbide blades are $45 to $70 for just a three pack. If you can sharpen the dulled teeth even just once on those blades, you’ve cut your cost for the blades by half. You can now sharpen steel, bi-metal and carbide blades pretty quickly. Seriously consider investing in a Tigers Teeth blade sharpener. They hold the patent on the design, so they are the only game in town. Fortunately, they have priced them at about the cost of buying a good quality cordless tool. By the way, one of the best feature is that, they use cordless tool batteries that nearly everybody already owns.
The Tigers Teeth blade sharpener offers several single point grind wheels to sharpen different saw blades…this includes both reciprocating, circular saw, and oscillating saw blades. It’s main grinding wheel is designed to sharpen an entire row of teeth for oscillating blades. There’s too much to really cover on what the sharpener can do. You’re best bet is to simply go to the website to read more about it: https://tigersteethblades.com/collections/sharpeners
Tigers Teeth Reciprocating Blade Sharpener
Types of Reciprocating Saw Blades
There are three main types of reciprocating saw blades:
- Bimetal blades are made of a combination of high-speed steel and carbon steel. They are a good general-purpose blade that can be used for cutting wood, metal, and plastic.
- Carbide blades are made of tungsten carbide, which is a very hard material. They are ideal for cutting through tough materials such as metal, concrete, and masonry.
- Fleam-ground blades are designed for making precise cuts. They have a thin blade that is ground to a very sharp edge.
Best Reciprocating Saw Blades for Specific Applications
- Wood cutting: For general-purpose wood cutting, a bimetal blade with 14-24 teeth per inch (TPI) is a good choice. For cutting thicker wood, a carbide blade with 8-12 TPI is a better option.
- Metal cutting: For cutting mild steel, a bimetal blade with 10-14 TPI is a good choice. For cutting harder metals such as stainless steel or cast iron, a carbide blade with 6-8 TPI is a better option.
- Masonry cutting: For cutting concrete, brick, or block, a carbide blade with 4-6 TPI is a good choice.
- Pruning: For pruning branches, a fleam-ground blade with 5 TPI is a good choice.
Tips for Choosing the Right Reciprocating Saw Blade
- Consider the material you will be cutting. As mentioned above, different types of blades are better suited for different materials.
- Consider the thickness of the material you will be cutting. Thicker materials require a blade with more teeth per inch.
- Consider the precision of the cuts you need to make. Fleam-ground blades are best for making precise cuts.
- Consider the budget you have. Carbide blades are more expensive than bimetal blades, but they will last longer.
Conclusion
Reciprocating saw blades are an important part of any reciprocating saw toolkit. By choosing the right blade for the job, you can ensure that you get the cuts you need quickly and easily.
Here are some additional tips for choosing and using reciprocating saw blades:
- Always wear safety glasses when using a reciprocating saw.
- Make sure the blade is properly installed in the saw.
- Use the right blade for the material you are cutting.
- Do not overload the saw.
- Allow the saw to cool down after extended use.
By following these tips, you can help ensure the safety and longevity of your reciprocating saw and blades.
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