Whether you’re using a full-sized, compact, or one-handed reciprocating saw, making accurate and quick cuts with the least amount of vibration is likely your top objective. In remodeling this objective can be difficult as the variety of materials change rapidly depending on what you encounter during demolition, repair, room creation, plumbing work, opening walls or even yard clean up. The job is never a one-size-fits-all solution and below we will outline some ways to make these cuts consistently smooth.
Cuts in nail-embedded wood. Some of the most common cuts when starting a remodel job are to remove a wall, cut up the floor, take out deck boards or in some way demolish the existing structure or pieces of it. In this situation it’s typically best to use a nail-embedded wood reciprocating blade. This type of blade can power through unseen nails or other metals you may need to push through. A larger blade with a 1 inch body will provide more stability and less vibration when making these rough cuts. It’s also good to look for a blade with a plunge tip design that can make getting the cut started much easier. Lastly, a specialized blend of carbide in the teeth will ensure the blade you buy stays cutting sharper for much longer.
Tough cuts. The demolition part of remodels is only the start and oftentimes the new structures being worked on will be custom designed, fit and redone with new wood. When cutting notches and lap joints in deck posts and beams or any other application involving thick pressure treated lumber it’s good to have a dedicated reciprocating blade for a few reasons. The cuts can be repetitive or long when doing this kind of work and it pays off to have a blade that will stay cool with a industrial cooling coating. The heat protection will help keep a cordless saw cutting longer as the blade stays sharper and less battery power is consumed. These clean wood blades are often labeled as “pruning” blades as well which means they are optimized for roots and limbs too. This extra bonus can come in handy if you are clearing a fence line or prepping an overgrown area for construction.
Cuts in metals. Another common cutting challenge when remodeling can be encountering metals. Even if it is a rare application it can be costly if your blade fails or the material is cut incorrectly. For copper pipe, cast iron pipes or bath tubs, EMT, stainless steel and any other metal cut you will want to use a dedicated higher TPI blade. Similar to the demolition and pruning blades you will want identify a blade with heat protection, an oversized body and specialized carbide teeth. One other tip is to identify which thickness of metal materials you will come across most and purchase a blade that is specifically designed with the tooth geometry and count to make smooth cuts in that material for the long run.
Diablo Tools has expanded the AMPED™ reciprocating saw blades lineup to set a new standard in extreme cutting life and enhanced productivity by combining Diablo’s Black Industrial Cooling Element (I.C.E.) coating with its Hi-Density Carbide. When combined, these industry-first features provide unprecedented blade life and defense against inevitable wear-and-tear. Professional users can get up to 100X the blade life and performance in every application requiring a reciprocating blade—ranging from extreme thick metal to everyday wood cutting—when compared to standard bi-metal blades. Diablo’s innovative carbide technology also outpaces standard carbide blades by offering up to 2X the productivity and durability. To learn more visit diablotools.com/explore/recip-blades.
