What can you cut with a reciprocating saw?

by Sam Wood | Last Updated: 21/10/2020

Everyone knows that a reciprocating saw can cut a lot of different things, but what exactly can you cut with a reciprocating saw? Join us as we list everything you can cut with a reciprocating or sabre saw below.

What can you cut with a reciprocating saw?

Timber

Tree Pruning (check out our best reciprocating saws for tree pruning)

PVC

Metal

Nails

Pipe

Plasterboard

Walls

Tile

Stone

As you can see a reciprocating saw (Sawzall) will go through pretty much anything! With the correct blade, you can cut many, many different materials with a reciprocating saw.

Reciprocating Saw Blades

For metal you will want a metal cutting blade, these will have very fine teeth much as you would find on a hacksaw. Wood will need a different blade entirely with large, well-spaced teeth.

For tile and stone, your blade often won’t have teeth at all and will instead be coated in a rough grit often made from tungsten carbide.

So lots of different blades are available for reciprocating saws. However, you don’t need to feel overwhelmed; they are always very well labelled. Just make sure you have the correct blade to hand for what you want to cut through, simple.

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Wood by name, wood by nature. I am a fully qualified, time-served, award-winning joiner with an NVQ Level 3 in Carpentry and Joinery as well as an HNC in Construction. Beyond my joinery qualifications, I have also earned a degree in building surveying. I believe these qualifications make me perfectly positioned to provide expert advice on many different areas of DIY as well as share all of the tips I have picked up in over a decade working on building sites!