Robbie
Robbie GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
6/19/18 8:57 a.m.

Did a lot of work last night with my trusty sawzall. Man I love those things! Amazing what you can do bending the blade, riding along perpendicular sheet metal, and going around curves. Even just starting a cut without a pre existing hole.

Anyway, I killed about 6 hf metal sawzall blades in maybe 1.5 hours. Didn't even use up the entire battery on the saw.

What out there has better longevity? Or should I just buy cheap in bulk since I think I'm pretty hard on the poor things?

jfryjfry
jfryjfry HalfDork
6/19/18 8:59 a.m.

I’m surprised you got that much life out of the harbor freight blades.  

I found that the teeth flattened out super quick.  

While I haven’t compared any blades, I have found that the name-Brand ones last longer and work better.  The last set I bought was called “the torch” I think by Milwaukee??  Work great

RevRico
RevRico GRM+ Memberand UberDork
6/19/18 9:04 a.m.

The only DeWalt anything I'll recommend is their "demo blades" for most basic stuff, including mixed media (wood with nails, ceramics, thinner metal). 

For more difficult applications, Lennox gold all the way. 

I still have a bunch of old Milwaukee blades with the guide saying what they're for, but demo blades save me a lot of blade changes. 

Contrary to what makes sense, I actually like slightly more course blades for cutting metal. It might not be super smooth and pretty, but proper high TPI metal cutting blades regardless of brand always take forever. 

Or you could get a plasma cutter.

dculberson
dculberson UltimaDork
6/19/18 9:10 a.m.

Milwaukee blades have treated me well. I did not have a good experience with Diablo blades; they tend to break. I haven't broken a Milwaukee blade before, even in the same application and usage with the same saw.

I haven't used Lennox gold but I've had great luck with their hole saws so have no doubt their sawzall blades are good.

1988RedT2
1988RedT2 UltimaDork
6/19/18 9:13 a.m.

+1 for Milwaukee.

WonkoTheSane
WonkoTheSane GRM+ Memberand Dork
6/19/18 9:20 a.m.

Yeah, consumables like that are always worth buying name brand.   Contrary to RevRico, I like Dewalt cut off discs better than any other store brand I've found..


For this, I'll 3rd or 4th Milwaukee and Lennox, although I've also had great luck with the dewalt ones I bought years ago.   So, name brand :)

Professor_Brap
Professor_Brap Reader
6/19/18 9:23 a.m.

Image result for diablo demolition blade

Diablo ones are all we use when cutting up simi traliers/Tractors/bread trucks to scrap them. One Sawzaw blade usually last the whole truck. 

RealMiniParker
RealMiniParker PowerDork
6/19/18 9:38 a.m.

Milwaukee "Torch" or the curved Lennox have been most successful, for me.

TenToeTurbo
TenToeTurbo Dork
6/19/18 9:47 a.m.

Diablo Steel Demon Carbide. They come in a variety of sizes and tooth configurations.

93gsxturbo
93gsxturbo SuperDork
6/19/18 9:50 a.m.

Bought a pack of Lennox bi-metal and demo/construction blades and i am getting a lot of mileage out of them.  The DeWalt ones I had did not last super long without breaking the teeth off.  Milwaukee has been treating me well too.

Tyler H
Tyler H GRM+ Memberand UltraDork
6/19/18 10:17 a.m.

+3 for Milwaukee Metal Torch blades.  I use the HF sawzall, but not the HF blades.  They literally dull in 20 seconds.

 

markwemple
markwemple UberDork
6/19/18 10:52 a.m.

My Ace Hardware brand ones blasted through the PITA rear engine bolt in my 900ss.

californiamilleghia
californiamilleghia New Reader
6/19/18 11:33 a.m.

thru the years I have always had good luck with Milwaukee  Bi-metal blades ,

The cheap ones are just too brittle and brake , these bi-metal ones will bend and not brake ,

if you can cut up a whole bread truck with a Diablo blade thats pretty impressive !

GTXVette
GTXVette SuperDork
6/19/18 11:43 a.m.

EL Diablo,

                  home depot has a fair price.   mine look like a pretzel before i trash them, they still have some teeth

SVreX
SVreX MegaDork
6/19/18 12:34 p.m.

Lennox

Jaynen
Jaynen UltraDork
6/19/18 2:44 p.m.

So for cutting hood vents do I want a sawzall or an angle grinder? I already have a dremel for fine work

Robbie
Robbie GRM+ Memberand PowerDork
6/19/18 2:55 p.m.
Jaynen said:

So for cutting hood vents do I want a sawzall or an angle grinder? I already have a dremel for fine work

Much easier and more control to 'plunge' a cut (meaning start the cut in the middle of a piece of metal) with a grinder. It can be done with a sawzall but not for finish work.

AwesomeAuto
AwesomeAuto New Reader
6/19/18 8:57 p.m.

The carbide Diablo blades. Not the normal diablo blades. I use the carbide ones to cut through truck frames so I can scrap them. Like a hot knife through butter. 

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