In 2018, the Milwaukee Sawzall blade lineup expanded with the introduction of the Milwaukee Torch with Carbide Teeth. Following the successful launch of the brandโs Ax with Carbide Teeth for wood cutting, the Torch now sports a new grill as well.
Of course, carbide is the buzzword around reciprocating saw blades these days. Weโve been taking advantage of carbide-tipped circular saw blades for much longer, but itโs taken longer to get a foothold with reciprocating saws.
So whatโs the big advantage? Durability is the name of the game. Itโs not unusual for a bi-metal blade to cut more quickly in wood and metal than carbide, but itโs very limited in life. Once you start moving into tougher material like the thick metals the Milwaukee Torch with Carbide Teeth is designed for, bi-metal can have trouble completing just one cut.
Performance Testing
There is a slew of materials we could test the new Carbide Torch with. We chose to go with 5/8โณ rebar (#5). With a relatively small diameter but made of solid metal, it forces the teeth to work the entire cut. In larger pipes, the responsibility shifts from the top to the outside and back into the bottom of the cut.
We also assigned Milwaukeeโs M18 Fuel Sawzall with One-Key to the job. With the ability to dial in the exact material youโre cutting and the blade youโre using, it dials in the soft start and cutting speed thatโs optimal for the job.
One of Milwaukeeโs claims is that the Carbide Torch can make up to 50 cuts in 1/2โณ rebar. With the diameter a 1/8โณ bigger, we made 42 cuts before the blade gave up its ability to cut effectively. Thatโs pretty solid.
When it comes to speed, the blade starts quickly before settling in. Our fastest cut was 11.3 seconds. By the time it settled into a rhythm, we were looking at an average of around 17 seconds.
For thickness, Milwaukee is slightly thinner than Lenoxโ and slightly thicker than Diabloโs respective carbide blades. Dialing in the thickness helps stabilize the cut and reduce chatter, but there are clearly multiple theories on whatโs exactly right.
Starting at cut #8, sparks started showing up, and they were pretty frequent by cut #12. Still, the blade continued cutting well, despite an increase in vibrationย and chatter. The increase in chatter is something we expect as the blade starts to wear. At just 7 TPI, itโs a really low tooth count compared to bi-metal blades and even 1 less than the major carbide competitors.ย By the time we called it at cut #42, my arms were begging for a break.
The Bottom Line
Given our testing in rebar, the Milwaukee Torch with Carbide Teeth doesnโt cut like a first-generation carbide blade. It has a longer lifespan than we expect and a solid cutting speed. Itโs not the best weโve tested (sorry, no spoilers this time), but it is a solid all-rounder. With 7 TPI, youโll notice more chatter as you get towards the end of its life. However, if you keep your blade speed down for thick metal, it will last a good long time.
Milwaukee Torch with Carbide Teeth Key Features
- 7 TPI tooth count
- Rated for thick metals, including cast iron, stainless steel, rebar, angle iron, black pipe, rigid conduit, boron, and more
- Made in the USA with Global Materials
Milwaukee Torch with Carbide Teeth Specifications
- Model: Milwaukee 48-00-5202 (9โณ blade)
- TPI: 7
- Length: 6โณ, 9โณ (tested). 12โณ
- Height: 1โณ
- Construction: Steel with carbide teeth
