Dewalt has come out with a new break-away reciprocating saw blade with a 2-in-1 design. It’s available in 2 sizes, a 6″ blade that breaks up to give you a second 4″ blade, and a 9″ blade that breaks up to give you a second 6″ blade.
The new BREAKAWAY break-away saw blade is made in the USA with global materials, in Shelbyville, Kentucky.
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The blades have a 14/18 TPI variable tooth pattern and is designed for metal-cutting applications. The kerf is 0.042″ thick, for durability.
Dewalt designed the blade to tackle common cutting applications, for use on galvanized steel pipe, copper pipe, conduit, metal studs, EMT, and other metallic materials.
Here is how it works:
You load the blade into your reciprocating saw and get to work.
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You use and wear out a fraction of the cutting surface. Typical.
Snap the blade, and it separates into 2 parts.
Discard the spent part of the blade and load the fresh blade into your reciprocating saw.
There you go, a fresh blade ready to go!
Here is my first impression in 8 words: Brilliant! Why didn’t anyone think of this sooner?
Pricing and Purchasing Options
- 10pc set with case (DWABK410SETCS): $24.99
- 8pc set with case (DWABK48SETCS): $19.99
- 6″ 3-pack (DWABK461418P3): $8.99
- 6″ 5-pack (DWABK461418): $13.99
- 6″ individual (DWABK461418B25): $3.10
- 9″ 3-pack (DWABK491418P3): $9.99
- 9″ 5-pack (DWABK491418): $16.99
- 9″ individual (DWABK491418B25): $3.20
It’s not apples to apples, but a 5-pack of DW4811 18 TPI 6-inch metal-cutting blades is $10 on Amazon. A 5-pack of Dewalt FlexVolt DWAFV461418 14/18 TPI 6-inch reciprocating saw blades is $14.39 at Acme Tool, and $18 at Home Depot.
The DW4811 blade does not have a variable tooth profile, and the FlexVolt blade looks to be wider and might have other enhancements.
$2 to $2.50 is pretty typical for a 6-inch reciprocating saw blade that’s packaged in low quantities. These new 6″ blades, in a 5-pack, come to around $2.80 each.
BUT you get 2 blades. So I guess that comes down to $1.40 per cutting surface.
First Thoughts
Sounds like a great idea to me! But I’d say it’s not for all applications, and I would be especially hesitant in using it in any application where there might be side play.
Can you see any downsides to these blades?
Chris
I’m curious as to whether theses blades might break apart in the middle of a cut if it jams up.
Bremon
Looks like they’ll snap if the tip hits something. An adjustable shoe on their recips would solve the problem they’re trying to address.
jtr165
haven’t even considered upgrading my older 20v max recip for that exact reason. The newer models got LED’s, plus a 60v and 20v brushless model…but all of them dropped the adjustable shoe to my knowledge, and many of them don’t have the 4 position clutch any longer iirc…
haven’t looked in a while, especially the flexvolt saw…but i’m positive the ‘compact’ models have a fixed shoe, and vibration to spare…
BonPacific
The hell? Why would anyone get rid of the adjustable shoe? That’s a critical feature. I had not noticed new models were getting rid of it.
Szymon
I would be afraid that the blade would breakaway while in use. Pretty much when you don’t need it to and causeing harm and or damaged.
Other than that it’s a great idea
Often blades are wasted cause only half is used and there is no good way use still use the better half. .
(zip ties follow the same principle. . Often a 6 inch zip tie is used bind 1 inch of cables etc)
DaveP
My corded Milwaukee Super Sawzall has an adjustable shoe which allows me to use different parts of a blade by simply adjusting the shoe. I can buy single piece blades for less that I know will not break when jammed.
The these new blades by DeWalt are to fix a problem that shouldn’t really exist with better designed cordless tools.
Adam
I completely understand the notion that it could break in prematurely while in use, but I don’t believe you would be using the blade ‘correctly.’ most of your cutting is going to happen close to the shoe, not out on the 2nd half. You get a much better cut when pressed up against the shoe, so I don’t see think I’d be trying to use the 2nd half before necessary. Whats the point of the break-away then.
Great idea. I currently adjust the shoe on Fuel One-Key to sort of do the same thing. I still have couple Spyder double edged blades. I’m surprised that method didn’t take off, but maybe they filed a stupid patent for the idea.
My only peeve with what I read, is they have branded their blade with FlexVolt. I get what the idea, but these are blades not 20v/60v tools. I guess FlexBlades would be more applicable?
Cr8on
I too am a tiny concerned with the premature breakage, but realistically a metal cut if done right is straight and shouldn’t be a problem, and hey if it does breaker, just use it! I’d also add I hope to never see a wood or demo blade made this way….
fred
Interesting concept. I’d like to see how the reviews stack up once they get sold to enough folks to put them through their paces.
Part of the issue is that we might be using too long a blade for what we are cutting. A 2 inch long blade (if they were available) might be fine for a lot of cuts – but might not cost much less than a longer blade that could work with both thick and thin materials.
On a scroll saw – you also tend to wear out just a few teeth near the table. One work around for scroll saws is to add a thick sheet of melamine on top of the table – with a cutout in it to clear the blade – thus covering up the worn teeth and using the upper “fresh” teeth for cutting.
I had an old Skil reciprocating saw – where the shoe was a solid piece of steel curved plate/attaching rod – that was held in place by a set screw. You could extend the shoe out about 1/4 or 3/8 inch form its fully seated position and lock it down with the set screw. While not the most secure position for the shoe, this had the result of exposing some fresh blade teeth – and you could go back to cutting nails or thin sheet. Maybe a saw with a more modern-design extendable shoe would sell.
red92s
Lenox offers something similar on their diamond-abrasive recip blades. There is a tang on both ends of the blade, so you can flip it over and use a different part of the cutting edge. Makes a lot of sense on something like a diamond-grit blade where the edge material is really expensive, but you only use a small area of it for cutting through a cast iron pipe.
http://www.lenoxtools.com/pages/double-tang-diamond-reciprocating-saw-blades.aspx
Nathan
for a metal blade it makes sense – for some wood blades and use I think it also makes sense.
I agree though I don’t see a demo (nail in wood) blade working out for this. Could be wrong though.
And yes dewalt – adjustable shoe. I mean my corded milwaukee has one – it’s not that adjustable but I do use it often.
Kevin
I prefer to avoid the premature breakage completely. I often flex the blade to get a certain angle. For straight cuts on tubing, I really like these.
https://www.amazon.com/Diablo-DS0620CF-Carbide-Cutting-Reciprocating/dp/B015091TGY
Jared Richael
A perfect example of when 1 of the main 5 tool brands comes up with an idea like this everyone tries to come up with reasons or applications where it may work best. However if anyone else where to create something like this they would all be saying ” GIMMICK “. Well I’m gonna call it what it seems like to me and that’s a gimmick. I wouldn’t like to think that a company that prides itself on making good quality steel products like Bosch would ever create an inferior product like this. Other than that great idea.
Mizzourob
I’d almost be willing to bet money on these getting a CPSC recall and a lawsuit. Great idea but way too much product liability here , and am very surprised SBD/DeWalt would bring this to market. Not sure the upside justifies the liabilities here. If I owned a construction company, no way I’d buy these for my team, the last thing I want is more risk associated with a saw blade. The moment this jams, breaks , and goes flying is the moment the lawyers will come flocking to town.
Michael
I agree completely
Michael
If I can snap it with my fingers, I doubt it would hold up demo work. Also cutting through pipe or square tubing could very well snap it. Only time will tell
John
My luck it would break off inside an inaccessible place and imbed itself like behind an electrical box. Now I’d have a hardened 2 – 4 inch piece of steal to have to cut through then. :/
Chip
In a pinch,a grinder and drill can make this in 3 minutes.
Simply use another blade as a pattern.
Very seldom use a blade without bowing/flexing it,don’t think it would hold up.
Steven
Great idea.
Skye
If they work and don’t break while in use, and those are big IFs and if they end up costing about the same as a normal blade, maybe.. but is it just me or do you all dislike DeWalt sawsall blades too? I hate them,just like their 7 1\4 framing circular saw blades. I like the tools.just just not the blades
Steven
This all comes down to using the right tool for the job. If your using a sawzall for cutting steel within 1″ of the backplate and not utilizing the whole blade. Use a bandsaw or a metal cutting skillsaw.
This is very interesting, however as any field user knows that blades get laterally loaded all the time, whether accidentally or intentionally. Id place concern on that scenario and the safety of premature snappage.
Adjust backplate to engage unused teeth or use a different tool. I have never been a fan of using a sawzall for repeated steel cutting and firmly believe that shared contact time of all available cutting surface yields the best end result.
Sawzall is a messy demolition tool and you have to assume that any blade you put in it will turn to useless crap regardless of cost or brand.
Sorry dewalt, I will take a pass.
JoeM
Question: Could you also snap it apart before use, and use that back section as its own precision saw blade? ‘Cause… if so, then that’s a pretty big use. Or… Adjust the Shoe beyond the snap point, wear out the big blade, snap it off, and make fine, or even Jigsaw-like cuts in the item in question without changing blades. Just slide the shoe back, Snap, Jigsaw…
Otherwise… Meh? Blades are cheap, and my Recip Saw has a quick-change lever. Nice thought, but if they’re going to snap apart, there needs to be more of a difference between blades to really be innovative. But… that’s me… I know I’m a DeWALT guy, but… I have more questions as to how I can actually use this in this form, instead of them making the two blades suit either a specific combo of jobs, or provide some sort of in-field/up a tree value to the blade. Something you can either snap off, or control with the retractable shoe of a decent Recip Saw kind of thing. Sure, everyone is concerned about the lateral motion of Recip blades… I’m more concerned with… Why the lack of variety in the two blades? You snap off the base and continue with a shorter blade? That’s IT? Come on now… Cut a Pipe with the end, pull back the shoe, snap off the end, and cut a connecting notch in the pipe to match the one you’re connecting it to? That I’d buy. Combo blades like this, rather than two of the same… that would make more sense, especially in sheet metal stuff, wouldn’t it?
John Hooper
A great idea but my worry is the metal joining section near the cutting edge is way to small for the force that will be placed on it. Get a jam….and pop goes the blade!