Picking the right reciprocating blade is super important because if your customer chooses the wrong one, their job is going to be really hard. The trick is to know exactly what they need for their project and find a blade that fits.
So what should they be looking for? Think about stuff like what materials they're working with, how long the blade should be, what kind of teeth it has, and how fast it cuts.
What should be considered when choosing the right recip blade?
TPI (Teeth Per Inch)
The relationship between TPI and material thickness is important. Typically, the TPI (Teeth Per Inch) increases for thinner materials and decreases for thicker ones. A general guideline is to aim for at least three teeth in the material at any given time. This ensures optimal cutting performance and helps achieve clean and efficient cuts.
Tooth Geometry
Tooth geometry plays a vital role in the performance of reciprocating blades, especially when it comes to the material being cut. Take, for example, the Destructor Demolition blades, which feature a unique “Nail Guard” tooth geometry. This design stops nails from getting wedged between the teeth, reducing the risk of breakage. The Rippa Timber blades have an aggressive tooth geometry specifically engineered to swiftly clear wood shavings and prevent clogging.
For most other reciprocating blades, a “milled and wavy” tooth geometry is common which has a balance between cutting speed, debris clearance, and cutting quality across a wide range of materials.
Blade Thickness
Blade Thickness relates to the type of work the user is undertaking. Thick blades are more suited to demolition where the user is working fast and cutting many materials. It can also be important in heavy metal cutting where a straight cut is required. Thinner blades are more suited to thinner materials, also where a curve cut may be required.
Blade Shape & Height
Certain blades are equipped with tapered ends designed for “plunge cutting,” enabling the cutting of soft materials such as timber and plastic in a plunging motion. Blades with greater height offer increased rigidity and are better suited for straight cutting, whereas shorter blades are more suitable for cutting curves.
Blade Length
It is recommended to provide a minimum of 50mm extra blade length beyond the thickness of the material. This additional length accounts for the reciprocating motion of the blade during cutting.
By allowing for this extra blade length, the blade can move freely through the material. This prevents the blade from getting stuck or binding, leading to smoother and more efficient cuts.
Unique features of our Alpha reciprocating blades
- Ice Hardened: This process changes the structure of the tool steel, giving the ultimate toughness and long life.
- PTFE premium quality anti friction coating: This helps provide smooth effortless cutting in all materials.
- 8% cobalt bi-metal construction: Produces blades that are flexible and break-resistant with super tough, long-lasting teeth.
Different Types of Alpha Reciprocating Blades
Metal Cutting
When it comes to metal cutting, choosing the right reciprocating blade can make the job easy and efficient. Alpha offers a metal cutting reciprocating blade known as the Slicer, aptly named for its ability to slice through metal effortlessly.
This blade is ice-hardened, ensuring exceptional toughness and a long lifespan. It incorporates Proshield technology to reduce (or minimise) friction and is made from Cobalt Bi-Metal HSS for flexibility and breakage resistance. Additionally, it features a strong thin kerf blade, allowing for fast, flexible cuts and comes in multiple lengths suitable for cutting various material thicknesses and diameters.
The Slicer Reciprocating Blade is highly suitable for applications requiring clean and straight cuts, such as fabrication work. Its thin blade generates less heat, enabling fine and controlled cuts. It can be effectively used for cutting plastic, metal, and stainless steel, providing versatility for various projects. With its durability, precision, and ability to produce high-quality results, Alpha’s Slicer Reciprocating Blade is an excellent choice for any metal-cutting project.
Alpha also has a few other options for metal cutting blades including the Sheet Metal Slicer Reciprocating Blade, or the Destructor Reciprocating Blade range which has the option of a Metal or a Metal & Timber Blade.
Wood Cutting
Our wood reciprocating blades are engineered to deliver outstanding performance and precision. We have a range of blades that are specifically optimised to cut through various types of wood with ease.
Each blade is designed with precision-ground teeth that effortlessly move through wood, maximising cutting efficiency and minimising the strain on your reciprocating saw.
The Rippa Recip Blade is specialised for use on timber and is ideal for greenwood, softwood and hardwood. Its rough, curved and plunged cutting type provides the ultimate performance in any wood material. It is ice hardened for ultimate toughness and long life and features ProShield technology for smooth and effortless cutting.
Plus, the Cobalt Bi-Metal HSS increases flexibility and break resistance perfect for those tough hardwood projects.
Alpha also has a few other options for timber cutting including the Demolition Wood and Nails Destructor Recip Blade, or the Demolition Metal and Timber Destructor Recip Blade.
Demolition
We have a range of blades that excel in cutting through a wide variety of materials encountered in demolition work, including wood, metal, iron and plastics.
Our demolition reciprocating blades are engineered using Cobalt Bi-Metal HSS and advanced manufacturing techniques, ensuring they can withstand demolition projects and last up to 10x longer than the market standard. Each blade is designed with reinforced teeth and ProShield technology to tackle even the most challenging materials, providing you with exceptional cutting speed and longevity.
Our selection of demolition reciprocating blades caters to different demolition tasks and preferences. Whether you’re dismantling a structure, removing tiles, cutting through nails, or demolishing walls, we have the right blade for the job.
Our demolition range includes the Wood and Nails Destructor, the Metal Destructor and the Metal and Timber Destructor.
With various tooth configurations, blade lengths, and thicknesses, you can easily find the perfect Alpha blade that matches your specific project requirements.