by the Professional Power Tool Guide Crew
One of the most powerful groups of power tools in the world would have to be reciprocating saws. There’s pretty much nothing that these saws can’t cut through. They’re used everywhere, from home repair to the dentist’ chair — that last one should be a bit jarring for most people. These saws are powerful enough to cut through bone, so flesh would pose no problem at all. That news should be enough to make most people think about safety first. Reciprocating saws are very dangerous if used improperly, and proper knowledge is your greatest weapon against serious injury.
The first thing you need to know about reciprocating saws is that you should never use them for anything but their intended purpose. The saw used in one profession may be quite different from the kind used in another. Before you even begin, you should read the safety instructions for your particular saw and wear the appropriate attire. After that, you need to decide if your saw is right for the job that you are about to perform. Don’t be surprised if you need a special kind of blade for your job.
If you are about to cut through wood, you need to firmly anchor both sides of the wood before you begin. The last thing that you want is for a sharpened piece of wood to fly into the air and injure you or someone else. Depending on the type of wood that you are going to use, you may have to change blades. A general rule of thumb is to use a fine tooth saw for a very smooth cut and a course blade for a more “rough” look. Cutting metal with reciprocating saws is much the same way.
Like wood, cutting different types of metal using reciprocating saws require different blades. If you are cutting through a metal that contains iron, you will need to use a fine tooth blade. If no iron is present, a coarse blade will suffice. A major difference between wood and metal, besides the obvious, is the need for an orbital cutting action. In orbital cutting, the blade that is attached to the saw changes positions. The blade is gripped going across the back and forth motion as opposed to going with it (perpendicular instead of parallel). This allows a very quick slicing through most forms of wood. Another big difference is the use of oil. On certain metals, coating the surface in a thin sheen of oil, or some other lubricant, will help the blade cut more easily, guaranteeing less strain on the blade as well as your arms.
