Beginner's Guide to Cordless Reciprocating Saws
Published by Adam Pol,
With close to half a dozen different names, reciprocating saws are a tool that can replace three different tools in your drawer. If you need a mitre, circular and a jigsaw then you could just go for a reciprocating saw as it can do everything these three tools are able to do. Reciprocating saws work by having a blade move forwards an backwards in a rapid motion much like a jigsaw does. But the difference here is that reciprocating saws are more versatile since they can be used for almost everything. From demolition work to cutting windows, joists, and plasterboard as well as through fixings frames and materials around doors. A cordless reciprocating saw is the ultimate tool for any DIYer as it offers more than just a simple tool for cutting.
Important Features of Reciprocating Saws
Speeds
Almost every cordless reciprocating saw nowadays comes with a variable speed trigger and there's a good reason for that. Variable speeds are what make the typical 54V reciprocating saw versatile since they allow you to cut at slower speeds and faster ones too. This allows you to make finer cuts and cut much faster at times when that's needed.
Orbital Action
If woodcutting is something you want to master then you should consider a reciprocating saw's orbital action. This feature makes a big difference as it makes the cutting itself more aggressive thanks to its elliptical motion. Instead of the blade going backwards and forwards the blade goes in a close to circular motion. Orbital action comes as a function that can be activated when you need it most, it doesn't replace the existing mechanism for the blade.
Stroke Length
The length of the strokes or movements going back and forth plays an important role in the speed of the cut. The longer the stroke length the aster you'll be able to cut through and the shorter the stroke length the more you'll spend cutting a piece of wood. But shorter length strokes are better in situations where you need to do a plunge cut with no starting hole.
Motor
The heart of every power tool is the motor. The motor itself can make or break even the standard 54V reciprocating saw. If you go with a brushed motor you can expect a more affordable tool but also a less efficient and powerful tool that requires more maintenance than say a brushless motor. Brushless motors are not only more efficient and more powerful than brushed motors but they are also less prone to issues since they don't make use of brushes. Instead, the magnet in these motors turns with the help of induction, nothing is getting in contact with it.
What Blade Should You Use
Teeth
What makes a blade useful for a certain application is its teeth and design. Starting from the teeth you have to consider the material the set of teeth there are on the blade. TPI or teeth per inch are how they are grouped with the most common range being from 2 to 24. The more teeth per inch you have on the blade the smoother the cut you're going to make.
The fewer teeth per inch the faster you'll be able to cut. If you want a fast cut but don't mind some rigid corners or edges the go for a long stroke length with fewer teeth per inch. If you don't mind a cut taking a long time and want it to be as smooth as it gets then go for a blade with a short stroke length and high teeth per inch ratio. A blade that has a lower TPI count is going to be better for you if you mainly cut wood but if you cut mostly metal then you should get a blade with a higher TPI count.
Design
The design of reciprocating blades can vary and it usually comes in three different variations high-speed steel, high-carbon steel, and the mix of the two called bi-metal blade. High-speed steel blades are tough blades but also flexible which allows them to cut hardwoods and some metals. These blades are more likely to break when forced to bend.
High-carbon steel blades are the more common option since they are affordable and extremely flexible. They do not break when bent. But unfortunately, these blades are sued to cut softer materials such as plastic and softwoods. They are also less durable and become blunt when used on metals and hardwoods.
Bi-metal blades give you the best of both worlds since they offer the flexibility of high-carbon blades and the durability of high-speed blades. Bi-metal blades will last you up to ten times more and you can put them through a lot of abuse without worrying about breaking them. This doesn't mean you should always go for bi-metal blades as they don't perform as well with all materials. You'll still need to consider the other two as they might be a better fit for you.