Pin It

Tool Test: Demolition Blades

The price you pay for these reciprocating-saw blades doesn’t necessarily correspond to the performance you get

by David Crosby

Manufacturers have designed unique reciprocating-saw blades for cutting through a variety of specific materials. For demolition and remodeling work, though, a single blade is expected to cut through them all. One minute you’re in clean wood, the next you’re in wood with nails, plastic, insulation, joist hangers, steel studs, or worst of all, asphalt roofing. This type of work requires a demolition blade, and author David Crosby put 15 of these blades through an ordeal that tested their durability and flexibility. Despite these blades’ similarities, the testing revealed some rather dramatic differences in performance that didn't necessarily correspond with price. Crosby identifies the three most common sources of demolition blade destruction—heat, tooth damage, and bending—and describes how the best blades are designed to ward off destruction for as long as possible.

requires Adobe Reader
(Download for free)

From Fine Homebuilding213 , pp. 42-45 July 15, 2010

Stay connected with Fine Homebuilding

Special Sections

2013 HOUSES Awards

Remodel of the Week by Marvin

Fine Homebuilding’s Remodeling Showcase

Breaktime Discussions

what is this Rafter Strength Breaking glue joint Bad Customers Best way to remove slave / secondary hot water tank (originally part of hot tub / solar system)New gable roof addition. Please help.Cherry live edge table water stains on wood - how to fix? All discussions...

Product Finder: Related Products

DeWalt - DWE-357 Reciprocating Saw
The variable-speed trigger lets you control the 1-1⁄8-in. blade

Milwaukee - M12 Hackzall Mini Reciprocating Saw
The Milwaukee M12 Hackzall delivers power-tool performace to tedious handwork without sacrificing accuracy

Hitachi - CR10DL Mini Reciprocating Saw
The Hitachi CR10DL mini reciprocating saw is a compact yet powerful saw that makes handsaw work easy, quick and accurate

(2 user reviews) Ridgid - R3030 Mini Reciprocating Saw
The Ridgid Fuego Sawzall R3030 mini reciprocating saw is good for speeding up handsaw tasks but is too powerful and fast-cutting for really precise work but performs tasks that exhaust many other corless saws such as sawing easily through nail-embeded framing and 3/4-in. subflooring

(2 user reviews) Ridgid - R3000 Reciprocating Saw
This reciprocating saw from Ridgid is lightweight and has decent speed/trigger control and a comfortable handgrip