Festool Reciprocating Saw Blades
Festool reciprocating saw blades are built for rough cuts, strip-out, pruning and demolition where standard blades burn out or wander off line.
When you're cutting out old pipe, trimming timber with hidden nails, or breaking down awkward material on a refurb, the right blade matters more than the saw. These festool recip saw blades are made for fast stock removal, cleaner tracking, and longer life across wood, metal, and mixed site waste. If you're already running Festool Recip Saws, match the blade to the material and get the job done properly.
What Are Festool Reciprocating Saw Blades Used For?
- Cutting through old studwork, framing timber, and roofing battens on strip-out jobs where nails, screws, and embedded fixings can wreck a standard wood blade.
- Removing old pipework, conduit, trunking, and light steel sections during refurb and maintenance work where you need a blade that starts clean and keeps tracking straight.
- Breaking down mixed site waste like pallets, timber offcuts, plastic, and sheet material before it goes in the skip, saving time at the end of the shift.
- Pruning thick branches and cutting back overgrown timber on external jobs where a longer coarse blade clears wet, fibrous material without clogging up.
- Handling awkward overhead or one-handed cuts in tight voids, under floors, and behind old fittings where the right festool psr blades make the saw work easier.
Choosing the Right Festool Reciprocating Saw Blades
Sorting the right blade is simple. Match it to the material first, then the finish, then how much abuse the job is going to dish out.
1. Wood, Metal, or Mixed Material
If you're just cutting clean timber, go for a coarse wood blade and get through it fast. If there's nails, screws, or unknown rubbish buried in it, use a mixed material or demolition blade instead or you'll blunt a wood blade in no time.
2. Coarse Teeth vs Fine Teeth
Lower TPI is what you want for quick, aggressive cuts in timber, branches, and softer material. Higher TPI suits metal and cleaner cuts, but do not expect it to fly through chunky timber at the same pace.
3. Blade Length
If you're working in shallow sections, a shorter blade stays easier to control and wastes less stroke. For deep timber, pipe, or pruning, step up in length so you're not forcing the saw and rattling the whole cut.
4. Demolition Work Needs Tougher Blades
If the job is pure strip-out, do not buy on price alone. Go for blades built for nail-embedded wood, thicker metal, or general demolition because they last longer and save more than they cost once you're into real site abuse.
Who Uses These on Site?
- Demolition and strip-out teams rely on festool reciprocating saw blades for smashing through old timber, fixings, plastics, and mixed materials without changing blades every five minutes.
- Plumbers use them for cutting out old copper, plastic waste pipe, brackets, and boxing-in during refits, especially where access is tight behind units or under floors.
- Sparkies keep a few types in the van for trunking, conduit, cable tray, and old studwork when first fix turns into a bit of unexpected alteration work.
- Joiners and general builders use festool recip blades for trimming treated timber, cutting out rotten sections, and making rough openings before finishing work starts.
- Maintenance teams and fitters swear by a decent festool recip blade set because one job can mean timber, metal, plastic, and demolition all before lunch.
The Basics: Understanding Festool Reciprocating Saw Blades
These blades all fit the same type of saw, but the tooth pattern, length, and blade material change how they cut and what they survive. Here is the bit that actually matters on site.
1. Tooth Count Changes the Cut
Coarse teeth cut faster and clear waste better in wood, branches, and softer site material. Finer teeth cut metal more cleanly and with less snagging, but they are slower in timber.
2. Blade Length Affects Control
A blade only needs to be longer than the material you are cutting. Too short and it struggles to finish the cut cleanly. Too long and it can whip about in tight spaces or overhead work.
3. Material Specific Blades Last Longer
Using a wood blade on metal or a fine metal blade on dirty demolition timber is false economy. Pick the right festool saw blades reciprocating type for the material and you get faster cuts, less heat, and fewer dead blades in the van.
Accessories That Keep Your Recip Saw Working Properly
A decent blade is only part of it. The right extras save downtime, bad cuts, and repeat trips back to the van.
1. Spare Blade Sets
Get a proper mix of wood, metal, and demolition blades in the van. That stops you trying to finish a metal cut with a timber blade just because it is the only one left.
2. Blade Storage Cases
Loose blades rolling round a box get damaged, rusted, or mixed up fast. A case keeps new and used blades separate so you are not guessing what is still fit for the job.
3. Spare Batteries
Recip work is hard on cordless saws, especially in demolition cuts. A spare pack means you do not end up halfway through a cut in cast pipe or wet timber waiting for a charger.
4. Chargers and System Kit
If your saw is part of a wider Festool setup, keeping chargers and matched batteries ready makes a bigger difference than most admit. It keeps your Festool 18V Recip Saws earning their keep all day.
Choose the Right Festool Reciprocating Saw Blades for the Job
Use this quick guide to avoid burning through the wrong blade.
| Your Job | Blade Type | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Cutting clean timber and sheet material | Coarse wood blade | Low TPI, fast stock removal, clears chips well |
| Strip-out timber with nails and screws hidden in it | Demolition or mixed material blade | Tougher tooth design, handles fixings, better blade life |
| Cutting pipe, conduit, and light steel | Fine tooth metal blade | Higher TPI, smoother metal cutting, less grabbing |
| Pruning branches and wet external timber | Long coarse pruning blade | Long reach, aggressive teeth, clears fibrous waste fast |
| General van stock for unknown materials | Festool recip blade set | Mix of lengths and TPI options, covers wood, metal, and mixed cuts |
Common Buying and Usage Mistakes
- Buying only wood blades for refurb work is the usual mistake. The first hidden nail or screw ruins the teeth, so keep mixed material or demolition blades handy for older buildings.
- Picking the finest TPI for every job slows everything down. Fine teeth are right for metal, but they clog and drag in timber, especially wet or dirty stuff.
- Using a blade that is far too long for the cut makes the saw harder to control. Match blade length to material thickness or you get more vibration and rougher cuts.
- Forcing a blunt blade to finish one more cut overheats the saw and wastes time. Swap it out early and the tool runs smoother with less strain on the motor.
- Leaving loose blades damp in the van shortens their life fast. Dry them off, store them properly, and keep used blades separate from new stock.
Wood Blades vs Metal Blades vs Demolition Blades
Wood Blades
These are the ones for fast cuts in clean timber, sheet goods, and branches. They cut quickly because the teeth are more aggressive, but they do not like hidden nails or screws and will dull fast if the material is dirty.
Metal Blades
Metal blades use finer teeth for pipe, conduit, brackets, and steel sections. They give you more control and a cleaner cut in metal, but they are slower in wood and not what you want for bulky demolition waste.
Demolition Blades
This is the sensible choice for old site timber, mixed waste, and unknown material. They are tougher and more forgiving around fixings, though they will not cut as neatly as a blade picked for one exact material.
Blade Sets
A set makes more sense if your work jumps between pipe, timber, plastics, and strip-out. If you only do one type of cut all week, buy singles or packs of the blade you wear out most.
Maintenance and Care
Clean Off Resin and Dust
After cutting wet timber or dirty material, wipe the blade down before it goes back in the box. Built-up resin and site muck make the next cut hotter and slower.
Store Blades Dry
Do not leave blades loose in a damp case or van floor tray. Dry storage helps stop surface rust and keeps the teeth in better nick between jobs.
Check for Missing or Rounded Teeth
A blade with chipped or polished teeth is done, even if it still cuts a bit. Swap it before it starts shaking through the work or making the saw labour.
Do Not Keep Blunt Blades for Good Material
If a blade has lived on demolition duty, do not put it back into clean finish work. Keep rough blades for rough jobs and save fresh ones for cuts that need better control.
Replace Early on Heavy Metal Work
Metal cutting chews through teeth gradually, so performance drops before the blade looks terrible. If it starts slowing down or heating the work, change it and move on.
Why Shop for Festool Reciprocating Saw Blades at ITS?
Whether you need single replacements, a festool recip blade set, or different TPI options for wood, metal, and demolition work, we stock the range in one place. You will also find Festool Saw Blades, Festool Power Tool Accessories, and the wider Festool Saws range, all held in our own warehouse and ready for next day delivery.
Festool Reciprocating Saw Blade FAQs
What reciprocating saw blades does Festool make?
Festool makes reciprocating saw blades for the usual site jobs including wood, metal, demolition, and pruning work. You will find different lengths and tooth patterns across festool reciprocating saw blades, so you can match the blade to clean timber, nail hit strip-out, pipe, or mixed material.
Are Festool reciprocating saw blades compatible with other brands?
In most cases, yes, provided the saw uses the standard reciprocating blade shank. That said, always check the blade fitting on your saw before ordering. Most modern recip saws use the same pattern, but it is still worth confirming rather than finding out on site that it will not lock in properly.
What materials can Festool reciprocating saw blades cut?
That depends on the blade you fit. Festool recip saw blades cover timber, nail embedded wood, plastic, branches, copper pipe, conduit, and light to heavier metal sections depending on tooth design and blade type. The trick is not guessing. Match the blade to the material and it will cut faster and last longer.
What TPI options are available in Festool recip blades?
Festool recip blades come in different TPI options to suit fast wood cutting through to finer metal work. Lower TPI means bigger teeth and quicker cutting in timber. Higher TPI gives you a smoother, steadier cut in metal and thinner materials. If you jump between both, keep more than one type in the van.
Will these blades hold up on proper strip-out work, or are they just for clean cuts?
Yes, the right demolition and mixed material blades will cope with real strip-out work. They are built for rougher treatment than a clean timber blade, but no blade likes abuse for the sake of it. If the material is full of hidden fixings, use the proper demolition blade and let the saw do the work.
Do I need a blade set or should I just buy singles?
If your work changes from timber to metal to general strip-out, a set makes sense and saves getting caught out. If you do the same cut every day, buy the blade type you use most in larger packs and keep a couple of backup options for the odd jobs.
