If you’re looking to cut a piece of steel tubing, there’s no need to go out and buy a special saw. In fact, a reciprocating saw can do the job just fine – as long as you know how to use it properly. Here are a few tips for getting accurate cuts every time.
How to cut steel tubing with a reciprocating saw?
First and foremost, you’ll need to secure the tubing so it doesn’t slip around when you apply pressure. A dowel placed through the tube can provide enough resistance for cutting, but will also allow the tube to spin freely after being cut. In other words, make sure the spot where you’re about to cut is the only place where the dowel has contact with the tube.
Step 1: Preparation
Before you start cutting, it’s important that you secure the correct blade for the job. A metal blade will provide clean cuts but may leave a jagged edge on thicker materials like steel tubing. On the other hand, a wood-cutting saw or reciprocating saw blade is perfect for thin-gauge metal, but will only make a mess of thicker steel.
Step 2: Marking the cut line
Take your time marking where you want to cut. Once that piece of steel tubing is clamped into place, it’s going to be extremely difficult to reposition the tubing if not impossible without breaking either the tubing or clamp itself. So mark carefully and take several measurements if necessary before definitively deciding on a cutting path.
Marking the cut line on a metal tube with a grease pencil or marker pen will help save time later on since both of those markings can be easily wiped off if need-be. In, giving yourself plenty of room to get a straight cut is always a good idea. And don’t forget to account for the width of the saw blade itself, since that will be inserted into the tubing before cutting begins.
Step 3: Cut along your marked line
Once you’re sure you’ve got your mark lined up properly, it’s time to begin cutting. Simply slide the saw blade near and parallel with your marked cut line and brace the saw firmly against the tubing so there isn’t any give when you pull on the trigger or apply pressure. Always remember: using extra caution when working around moving parts like blades is always advised even if it doesn’t look like anything could go wrong at first glance!
Some people find it easier to push rather than pull while making the cut. The choice is entirely yours just be sure not to push or pull too much, as that can cause your blade to bind and quickly overheat which could result in a broken blade.
Expert tip:
With some saws you can flip the blade around and use the teeth instead of the smooth part of the blade for added security when making angled cuts. This technique will work well with thin-gauge steel tubing but may not be strong enough for thick materials like steel I-beams. If you’re not comfortable using such blades, it’s always safest to use an angle grinder instead.
Step 4: Clean up
You’ve marked, marked, and cut along your marked line now it’s time to clean up the mess. A bench grinder or a file will clean up any leftover metal shards that might still cling onto the tube, and then you’ll be all good to go!
But of course, you can always choose to spend a little extra time cleaning up your cut with a wire brush if needed. That may not be necessary for most cuts, but it’s always better to err on the side of caution when working around combustible materials like steel.
So there you have it: if you follow these simple steps, cutting steel tubing is simple enough for anyone to do. Just remember: take your time and pay attention to what you’re doing while using the right blades at the right times, and no one should get hurt in the process!
What is the best way to cut steel tubing with a reciprocating saw blade?
While using a reciprocating saw to cut steel tubing might seem like the best option, it is actually recommended that you use an angle grinder instead. This is due to how blades work with reciprocating saws. Since most reciprocating saw blades are designed to be used with wood cutting, they tend to jam when used on metal. This is because of the speed that the blade starts and stops as well as its forward and reverse direction.
While this may not pose much of a problem for thin-gauge materials like steel tubing, thicker metals such as steel I-beams will cause problems for reciprocating saw blades due to the increased density of the material being cut. If you do choose to use a reciprocating saw instead, be sure to check your blade carefully to make sure it is right for the job. Some blades may claim they can cut steel tubing, but in reality they pose too much of a risk when compared to an angle grinder.
While using a reciprocating saw to cut steel tubing might seem like the best option, it is actually recommended that you use an angle grinder instead. This is due to how blades work with reciprocating saws. Since most reciprocating saw blades are designed to be used with wood cutting, they tend to jam when used on metal. This is because of the speed that the blade starts and stops as well as its forward and reverse direction.
While this may not pose much of a problem for thin-gauge materials like steel tubing, thicker metals such as steel I-beams will cause problems for reciprocating saw blades due to the increased density of the material being cut. If you do choose to use a reciprocating saw instead, be sure to check your blade carefully to make sure it is right for the job. Some blades may claim they can cut steel tubing, but in reality they pose too much of a risk when compared to an angle grinder.
What safety precautions should be taken while cutting steel tubes?
As with all work involving tools and combustible materials like metal, always wear protective gloves and eye protection before getting started. Even if you think there’s no way anything could go wrong as you’re working with such thin-gauge metal, it only takes a moment for a bad situation to arise. So be safe, and have fun!
What blades should you use when cutting steel tubing?
While using a reciprocating saw blade might seem like the best way to cut through steel tubing, it’s actually recommended that you use an angle grinder instead. This is because most reciprocating saw blades are designed to be used with wood cutting, so they don’t work well on metal. In fact, they can cause more problems than solve them by completely jamming up during the process of cutting through thicker metals such as steel I-beams.
If you do choose to use a reciprocating saw instead, just make sure your blade is right for the job by checking its specifications carefully. Some blades claim they can cut through steel tubing, but they pose too much of a risk for your safety when compared to an angle grinder.
Reciprocating saw blades are not designed to be used with metal like steel tubing, so it’s recommended that you use an angle grinder instead. This is because most reciprocating saw blades are designed to be used with wood cutting, so the blade jams up when trying to cut through thick metals such as steel I-beams due to how quickly it starts and stops as well as its forward and reverse direction.
If you do choose to use a reciprocating saw instead, just make sure your blade is right for the job by checking its specifications carefully. Some blades claim they can cut through steel tubing, but they pose too much of a risk for your safety and the blade will not last as long as it would with an angle grinder.
What should you wear to protect yourself from potential injury?
As is always recommended when working with any kind of tools that have blades or high-speed moving parts, you’ll want to make sure you’re wearing protective gloves and eye protection before getting started. Even though most situations won’t cause problems as long as the thickness of the metal being cut is relatively thin like steel tubing, it’s still better to be safe than sorry.
Can you use a jigsaw to cut steel tubing?
No. While using a reciprocating saw blade may seem like the best way to cut through steel tubing, it’s actually recommended that you use an angle grinder instead. This is because most reciprocating saw blades are designed to be used with wood cutting, so they don’t work well on metal. In fact, they can cause more problems than solve them by completely jamming up during the process of cutting through thicker metals such as steel I-beams.
If you do choose to use a reciprocating saw instead, just make sure your blade is right for the job by checking its specifications carefully. Some blades claim they can cut through steel tubing, but they pose too much of a risk for your safety when compared to an angle grinder.
Reciprocating saw blades are not designed to be used with metal like steel tubing, so it’s recommended that you use an angle grinder instead. This is because most reciprocating saw blades are designed to be used with wood cutting, so the blade jams up when trying to cut through thick metals such as steel I-beams due to how quickly it starts and stops as well as its forward and reverse direction.
What are some tips for avoiding mistakes when cutting steel tubing?
As is always recommended when working with any kind of tools that have blades or high-speed moving parts, you’ll want to make sure you’re wearing protective gloves and eye protection before getting started. Even though most situations won’t cause problems as long as the thickness of the metal being cut is relatively thin like steel tubing, it’s still better to be safe than sorry.
Since a reciprocating saw blade isn’t designed for cutting through steel tubing, it’s recommended that you use an angle grinder instead if you have one available. This advise goes double even though some reciprocating saw blades claim they can cut through steel tubing since those types of blades are known for jamming up during the process due to how quickly it starts and stops by going in reverse in addition to it forward direction.
If you do choose to use a reciprocating saw instead, just make sure your blade is right for the job by checking its specifications carefully. Some blades claim they can cut through steel tubing, but they pose too much of a risk for your safety and the blade will not last as long as would with an angle grinder.
While reciprocating saw blades are not designed for thick metals like steel tubing, an angle grinder is still preferred since it poses less risk of injury due to how quickly it starts and stops in addition to its forward and reverse direction. If you do choose to use a reciprocating saw instead, just make sure your blade is right for the job by checking its specifications carefully.
Conclusion
We have looked at the best ways to cut steel tubing with a reciprocating saw. We have seen that using the right blade and following a few simple steps will help you to achieve accurate and clean cuts every time. So what are you waiting for? Get started on those DIY projects today!
