What Is a Reciprocating Saw Blade?
Reciprocating saw blades are replacement blades for saber saws, which are power tools used to cut pipes, wood, and thin steel plates.
The blade is attached to the body of the saber saw and used to cut objects by reciprocating motion. There are several types of blades depending on the material of the object to be cut.
By using dedicated blades, it is possible to cut a variety of materials, such as stainless steel and ALC. Note that a saber saw is also called a “reciprocating saw.”
Uses of Reciprocating Saw Blades
Reciprocating saw blades are used to replace the blades on a saber saw in accordance with the material to be cut. The coarser the blade, the rougher the cutting surface. Therefore, they are not suitable for precision cutting. It is suitable for cutting work such as logging and demolition.
They are also used when blades are damaged or become hard to cut. If the blade is not sharp or has rust, it should be replaced with a new one. Blades in poor condition require extra force and cannot be worked safely.
Principle of Reciprocating Saw Blades
Reciprocating saw blades have a common standard and can be installed on all brands of saber saws. Since the shape of the mounting part is the same and they are interchangeable, there is no need to stick to the genuine product.
When installing the blade, loosen the sleeve on the main unit and insert the blade into the back to lock it in place. When the blade is in contact with the object and the main unit is switched on, the blade moves back and forth to cut the object.
When installing or removing the blade, the battery must be removed from the main unit. If the main unit is activated when replacing the blade, it is dangerous because it could lead to unexpected injury or accident.
How to Select Reciprocating Saw Blades
When selecting reciprocating saw blades, it is important to consider the following four factors:
1. Material to Be Cut
It is important to select reciprocating saw blades that are appropriate for the material to be cut. Not only will the blade be less likely to break, but it will also improve the efficiency of the cutting operation. There are special blades for different materials such as stainless steel, steel plate, wood, bamboo, ALC, cast iron pipe, and PVC.
Also, if the material to be cut is made of hard material, the blade thickness will be thicker. For example, a stainless steel pipe of 3 mm thickness requires a blade of 1.3 mm thickness.
2. Size of Workpiece to Be Cut
The length of reciprocating saw blades should be selected based on the size of the workpiece to be cut. Commercially available blades are 150 to 300 mm in length, so it is necessary to check whether the blade is compatible with the main unit.
The shorter the length, the easier it is to work with less blurring. However, since blades have “total length” and “effective length,” it is necessary to select a blade that is longer than the size of the workpiece to be cut. Check the cutting capacity specifications to determine the size of the workpiece that can be safely cut.
3. Shape of the Workpiece to Be Cut
Most reciprocating saw blades are of the straight type for general-purpose use. However, when cutting pipe material, a curved type blade is easier to cut because it fits the material to be cut. Using different types of blades depending on the shape of the workpiece increases work efficiency.
4. Finish of the Cut Material
The finish of the cut piece is determined by the blade’s grain (number of peaks). Coarse blades produce a rougher cut surface but cut faster. Conversely, dense blades cut slower but produce a relatively clean-cut surface. Select the number of blade peaks according to the required finish.
The number of teeth is the number of teeth per inch (25.4 mm). Typically, 6, 10, 14, or 18 teeth are used, but there are also “10/14 teeth” blades, which are called combination blades.
Half of an inch (0.5″) has 10-pit eyes, and the other half has 14-pit eyes, providing a good balance of cutting speed and finish.