Fiberglass is one of the best materials for boat building because it doesn’t cost much, is very strong, easy to repair, and won’t require much maintenance.
However, boats built of fiberglass can still break, and fiberglass can wear down over time. So, whether you are building a boat or repairing an old one, you need the right tools and blades for those tools, and a reciprocating saw is one of the best when working with fiberglass.
A reciprocating saw will work with many materials, including fiberglass. However, you need the right kind of blade fixed onto it for a reciprocating saw to be able to cut fiberglass.
This article discusses the best reciprocating saw blades for fiberglass, so you can easily work on your boat. We have several good options, so let’s get to it.
- Best Reciprocating Saw Blade for Fiberglass: Reviews
- Buyer’s Guide
- FAQ
- Can a Reciprocating Saw Cut Fiberglass?
- What Kind of Reciprocating Saw Blade is Best for Cutting Fiberglass?
- What is the Difference Between a Sawzall and a Reciprocating Saw?
- Is Cutting Fiberglass Safe?
- How Do You Cut Fiberglass Without Dust?
- What is Fiberglass?
- Why is Fiberglass Often Used to Build Boats?
- Conclusion
Best Reciprocating Saw Blade for Fiberglass: Reviews
LENOX Tools Diamond Grit Reciprocating Saw Blade
If you are looking for a high-quality reciprocating saw blade for cutting fiberglass, this is one of the best on our list.
Review
This diamond grit reciprocating saw blade features nickel alloy diamond particles for extreme sharpness. This grit design is like having a high tooth-per-inch count, so it’s ideal for cutting fiberglass. This is one of the sharpest reciprocating saw blades available.
The nickel alloy diamond particles make it a tough and durable blade. It should last for many years and shouldn’t bend or break. Moreover, it features durable chrome alloy backing steel for extra stability and durability.
Moreover, this blade measures 8 inches long and 3/4 inches wide, making it ideal for cutting fiberglass. It also features a very narrow kerf for fast and thin cuts. Finally, remember that its design should allow it to work with most reciprocating saw types and brands.
Pros
- Very hard and durable
- Fast and clean cuts
- Diamond particles for added strength
- Ideal length and width for fiberglass
Cons
Not the cheapest blade
HORUSDY 34-Piece Metal Reciprocating Saw Blade Set
This might be the best option if you want an affordable set of reciprocating saw blades for any purpose.
Review
This set comes with 34 blades—complete sets of wood and metal cutting blades. The metal blades are what we are interested in.
However, boats are often made of wood, and your fiberglass boat may have wood components. We chose this set because it can be used to cut wood, metal, and fiberglass. Of course, the high TPI bi-metal cutting blades would be used for cutting fiberglass.
You get two 6-inch blades with 18 teeth per inch, two 6-inch long blades with 24 teeth per inch, four 6-inch blades with 14 teeth per inch, and three 4-inch blades with 24 feet per inch. Then, there’s a complete set of wood cutting blades of various lengths with varying teeth per inch. These blades come in different sizes is ideal as well.
The black metal reciprocating saw blades are made of bi-metal, explicitly designed for cutting very durable and rugged materials, such as metal and fiberglass.
Moreover, these blades are solid and rigid, so they won’t bend. Furthermore, the blades come with a special bag for easy carrying. Finally, don’t forget that this set is reasonably priced.
Pros
- Great metal and fiberglass cutting blades
- Huge set for a low price
- Bi-metal blades are very durable and ideal for fiberglass
- Many different blade lengths
- Wood cutting blades included
Cons
The wood cutting blades are not ideal for fiberglass
Runmoglon Tungsten Carbide Reciprocating Saw Blade
This might be the best for you if you need a reciprocating saw blade for tough materials, especially if you need something to demolish fiberglass and quickly take it apart.
Review
This reciprocating saw blade comes in various lengths—10, 12, or 18 inches. Generally speaking, for cutting fiberglass, we would go for the shortest.
This blade features alloy teeth that are very strong and durable. They will easily cut through the hardest materials. In addition, this saw blade is long-lasting due to its high impact and heat resistance.
However, this saw blade does not have the highest tooth-per-inch count, and the teeth are spaced apart. Therefore, although it will cut fast, the cuts will not be overly clean. Therefore, this saw blade is best used when you need to rip fiberglass pieces apart, but you don’t need an overly clean cut.
Moreover, this saw blade can provide very precise cuts. They might not be the cleanest cuts, but they are precise due to the shape of the blade.
The other thing worth noting is that this blade should fit all common brands and reciprocating saw sizes.
Pros
- Fits most saws
- Ideal for very fast work
- Makes precise cuts
- Extremely hard and durable
- Very heat resistant
Cons
A bit long
Diablo Steel Demon Bi-Metal Reciprocating Saw Blades
This is a fantastic option if you want highly durable reciprocating saw blades with a high tooth per inch count.
Review
These reciprocating saw blades are technically designed for automotive dismantling and cutting tough steel and other metals. Now, although these blades are not explicitly advertised as being ideal for cutting fiberglass, due to their construction, they will cut through fiberglass with ease.
These reciprocating saw blades are made of alloy steel; they are made with a bi-metal construction which is ideal for cutting various materials such as metal, fiberglass, and more. This material is tough and durable, impact and heat resistant, and won’t bend much.
In addition, these are very rigid blades that won’t bend or break on you if you saw through hard materials. These blades come with a special coating that helps protect the blades and keep them sharper for longer, preventing them from becoming damaged with regular use. Even better is that these blades come with a limited one-year warranty.
Remember that you get a pack of 25 blades; half are designed with 14 teeth per inch, whereas the other half have 18. This very high tooth-per-inch count makes them ideal for cutting fiberglass. They are also suitable for cutting fiberglass because the blades are 6 inches long and highly rigid.
Pros
- Bi-metal alloy steel construction
- Protective coating
- Set of 25 for a low price
- Ideal for many purposes
- Perfect length for cutting fiberglass
- High tooth per inch count
Cons
Not all sets seem to have the full 25 blades
BOSCH RCB8DG Diamond Grit Reciprocating Saw Blade
To end our list, this is one of the most durable, damage-resistant, and sharpest reciprocating saw blades due to the diamond grit design.
Review
One of the best aspects of this saw blade is the diamond grit. It features a heavy-duty alloy steel backing combined with that diamond grit. This makes this blade tough, durable, long-lasting, and impact-resistant.
The material is also very resistant to heat and highly rigid. This means that it can create very precise and clean cuts without damaging the material.
Although this blade is advertised as the best for cutting cinder blocks, brick, cast iron, and other abrasive materials, it also works well for fiberglass. Fiberglass is quite abrasive, so a heavy-duty diamond-coated blade is ideal.
On that note, the blade here is 9 inches long. Generally speaking, we would say that this is a bit long for cutting fiberglass. However, due to its durable construction and rigidity, it will work. All in all, this might just be one of the best options on our list.
Pros
- Very hard and rigid
- Diamond coating for added stability
- Fits most standard reciprocating saws
- Ideal for a variety of abrasive materials
- Not that expensive
Cons
A bit long
Buyer’s Guide
Before we end, we want to provide a few valuable tips on choosing the best reciprocating saw blade for fiberglass.
The Blade Material
One of the most important things to consider when choosing a reciprocating saw blade to cut fiberglass is what that blade is made of. First, high carbon steel blades are the most common and inexpensive reciprocating saw blades. However, they tend to be the least durable; they dull fast and are therefore not ideal for hard materials such as fiberglass.
Then, there are high-speed steel blades, which are durable compared to high carbon steel blades. However, they are not very flexible and are very hard. Therefore, they’re prone to breaking and cracking when working through things like fiberglass.
A much better blade for cutting fiberglass is a bi-metal blade. These are known for their durability, heat resistance, and hardness. These can last up to 10 times longer than carbon steel blades. They are ideal for cutting fiberglass and have a very long blade life.
A carbide tip or carbide grit blade is even better for cutting fiberglass. Adding carbide, tungsten carbide, or even titanium carbide allows for significant impact, heat resistance, and hardness. Moreover, this allows a carbide blade to last up to 20 times longer than other blades we have listed. This is the perfect blade for cutting fiberglass.
Finally, the diamond-studded blade is the best blade for cutting fiberglass. Diamond blades are the most expensive because of the diamonds. However, their hardness and durability are ideal for cutting fiberglass, and they even last up to 20 times longer than the average carbide blade.
Tooth Per Inch Count
The number of teeth per inch, otherwise known as TPI, is another thing to consider when choosing a reciprocating saw blade for cutting fiberglass.
This teeth number will determine how fast you can cut through fiberglass and how smooth or rough the cut will be. A blade with a low TPI count, such as between 3 and 11, will cut fast and leave a fairly rough edge. This is not ideal for cutting fiberglass.
To cut fiberglass, you want a relatively high tooth per inch count. A blade with between 12 and 18 teeth per inch is ideal for various dense materials and metal, with anywhere between 18 and 24 per inch being best.
Reciprocating Saw Blade Length
The next point to consider when choosing a reciprocating saw blade for fiberglass is how long the blade is. The average reciprocating saw blade will measure between 6 and 9 inches, with 3 to 12 inches available.
If you are looking for a rigid blade to cut through hard and dense materials, such as fiberglass, use something shorter or of average length.
Generally, anywhere between 4-9 inches should be ideal for fiberglass. However, you don’t want anything longer because the blade might bend, start to wobble, and might even crack.
Blade Thickness
Reciprocating saw blades for cutting fiberglass should be relatively thick. Thinner blades create cleaner cuts but can wobble and even break. Therefore, want to use something a bit thicker, generally between 0.042-0.062 inches.
Shape of the Blade
The shape of the blade must be considered when choosing a reciprocating saw blade for cutting fiberglass. For example, a blade with a straight design is best for cutting edges, whereas blades with a sloped design are best for plunge cutting. You could also go for a blade with a sloped or a notched tip or even a semi-tapered back.
FAQ
Can a Reciprocating Saw Cut Fiberglass?
Yes, a reciprocating saw can cut fiberglass and many other materials. These demolition saws cut through many materials, including fiberglass, drywall, stucco, plaster, masonry, metal, wood, plastic, and more.
What Kind of Reciprocating Saw Blade is Best for Cutting Fiberglass?
When choosing a blade for cutting fiberglass with a reciprocating saw, the fiberglass’ abrasive nature should be considered. Because fiberglass is so abrasive, you want to use a carbide grit or carbide-tipped reciprocating blade. Generally, any standard metal cutting blade will do fine for this purpose.
What is the Difference Between a Sawzall and a Reciprocating Saw?
This can cause a bit of confusion, but they are actually the same thing. Reciprocating saw is the tool’s name, whereas a Sawzall is a brand name. Specifically, the Milwaukee Tool Company introduced the reciprocating saw to the market, and they called it the Sawzall.
Is Cutting Fiberglass Safe?
You must take great caution when cutting fiberglass. Small fiberglass particles get into the air; if they get on your skin, it may lead to irritation and itchiness. Very sharp particles may even scratch or tear through your skin. Therefore, wear long-sleeve clothing. At the same time, to avoid inhaling fiberglass, a face mask or breathing protection is recommended.
How Do You Cut Fiberglass Without Dust?
If you want to cut fiberglass without creating a lot of dust, you can use a wet tile cutting saw. The water from the wet tile saw will prevent t fiberglass particles from getting into the air.
What is Fiberglass?
Fiberglass is not glass but a type of reinforced plastic that uses small glass fibers. Therefore, it is a mixture of both glass and plastic.
Why is Fiberglass Often Used to Build Boats?
There are many reasons why fiberglass is often used for boat building, including its relatively low cost, ease of repair, low maintenance, and high strength.
Conclusion
If you are looking for the best reciprocating saw blade for cutting fiberglass, we recommend the LENOX Tools Diamond Grit Reciprocating Saw Blade. This is the best blade to consider for clean cuts and the ultimate durability and hardness.
However, as a close runner-up, for a complete set of reciprocating saw blades made for cutting metal, fiberglass, and wood, the HORUSDY 34-Piece Metal Reciprocating Saw Blade Set is the option to consider.
