Reciprocating saws and compass saws are small hand or power saws with interchangeable blades for cutting curves and internal profiles in various materials. They are useful for confined spaces and cutting awkwardly shaped holes. Blade length and tooth pitch vary depending on the material being cut.
A reciprocating saw is a small hand or power saw with a narrow tapered blade used for cutting curves and internal profiles in wood paneling, PVC and drywall sheets. These devices are also useful for use in small, confined spaces where larger saws aren’t practical. Compass saws feature fixed or retractable blades that are typically interchangeable. This allows the replacement of dull blades and different blade lengths and tooth pitches to be used with one handle. Compass saws are similar to hole saws, except they are slightly larger with typical blade lengths between 5 and 15 inches (127 and 381 mm).
Compass saws are typically used to cut awkwardly shaped holes from the interior surfaces of a variety of common building materials. They are also often used to cut PVC pipe or lumber in small, tight spaces. The compass saw can be used to cut most plastics, non-ferrous metals, softwood panels, pressed wood and drywall sheets. The narrow, tapered blades make it easy to cut round holes and small radius curves. These saws are usually hand-operated although alternative electric pocket saws are available.
The blade of a reciprocating saw has a fixed or retractable design. They are typically interchangeable allowing for easy replacement of dull or broken blades. This also allows you to use a range of blade lengths and tooth pitches with one handle for cuts in a selection of materials. The most common blade lengths range from 10 to 12 inches (254 to 304 mm), although different lengths for specific applications are also commonly used. Short blades, for example, allow you to use saws to cut shapes out of one side of a drywall without penetrating the opposite sheet.
When cutting holes in soft materials such as drywall, the narrow point blade allows you to get initial penetration without having to pre-drill pilot holes. The ability to retract the blade to an optimal length on some saws also prevents unwanted blade deflection and blade breakage when cutting harder materials. Most reciprocating saw blades have teeth that only cut on the pull stroke, thus helping to keep the blades from binding while cutting. This feature also ensures clean cuts even when working in confined spaces.
As with most models of saws, the blade of the compass saw must be adapted to the material to be cut. The general rule is that the denser and harder the material, the finer the tooth pitch should be. A general purpose blade will have a tooth pitch of 8 to 10 teeth per inch (25.4 mm). A blade designed for harder wood and aluminum may have tooth densities as low as 20 teeth per inch. Reciprocating saw blades used for softer fiberboard or drywall have only five teeth per inch.
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