A Posting From Forum Moderator Ron Moore:
Recip saw blades will effectively cut both decorative and "structural" plastic, rubber, foam rubber, mastic adhesive, even styrofoam material if the proper tooth-per-inch blade is matched to the proper blade strokes-per-minute speed and used properly by an experienced recip saw operator.
A course-tooth blade is more effective with these materials than a finer tooth one. Consider 10tpi for metal cutting or no more than a 14tpi blade. An 18tpi or 24tpi will be a useless "butter knife".
I like to demonstrate roof removal with a 5/8 vari-tooth wood blade on the DeWalt 24v. It really cuts through roof pillars if the operator is just as mean and aggressive as the blade is.
Your saw should be a variable speed unit. Just like the gas pedal on your car, you don't always have the 'pedal to the metal'. Same principle with a vari-speed recip saw. Feather your cutting speed, favoring a slower stroke-per-inch if there appears to be a build-up of plastic junk at the cut.
Keep the shoe on the metal and you'll succeed.
Regarding cutting wiring with a recip saw, it's the same principle as trying to use a seatbelt cutter to cut a slacked seatbelt. The webbing of the belt has to be drawn tight in order for the knife blade to do its job. A recip saw that is being asked to cut a wiring harness won't work if the wires are loose and move all over the place. Pull the electrical wiring tight and you'll be more successful.
Recip saw blades will effectively cut both decorative and "structural" plastic, rubber, foam rubber, mastic adhesive, even styrofoam material if the proper tooth-per-inch blade is matched to the proper blade strokes-per-minute speed and used properly by an experienced recip saw operator.
A course-tooth blade is more effective with these materials than a finer tooth one. Consider 10tpi for metal cutting or no more than a 14tpi blade. An 18tpi or 24tpi will be a useless "butter knife".
I like to demonstrate roof removal with a 5/8 vari-tooth wood blade on the DeWalt 24v. It really cuts through roof pillars if the operator is just as mean and aggressive as the blade is.
Your saw should be a variable speed unit. Just like the gas pedal on your car, you don't always have the 'pedal to the metal'. Same principle with a vari-speed recip saw. Feather your cutting speed, favoring a slower stroke-per-inch if there appears to be a build-up of plastic junk at the cut.
Keep the shoe on the metal and you'll succeed.
Regarding cutting wiring with a recip saw, it's the same principle as trying to use a seatbelt cutter to cut a slacked seatbelt. The webbing of the belt has to be drawn tight in order for the knife blade to do its job. A recip saw that is being asked to cut a wiring harness won't work if the wires are loose and move all over the place. Pull the electrical wiring tight and you'll be more successful.
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