Plumbing Picks is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Choose by material and wall thickness: For cast iron or thick steel, compare the Milwaukee TORCH carbide-tooth blade and LENOX diamond grit blade. For medium metal, the LENOX 20578818R is an 8-inch, 18 TPI five-pack. For clean wood and plastic pipe, compare the LENOX 121016W6R. The DeWalt DW4898 is a mixed blade set for a compatible saw you already own.
Start with the pipe, its wall thickness and the space behind it. These are blades, not saw kits. If you need the tool, our reciprocating saw guide compares bare cordless tools and corded models; check battery and charger contents before buying.
Our thick-metal pick: the Milwaukee TORCH 48-00-5202. Check the Milwaukee TORCH blade on Amazon
Reciprocating Saw Blades by Material
Scroll the comparison sideways. The blade names stay visible; focus the table and use the arrow keys with a keyboard.
| Blade | Material | Teeth | Length | Pack | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee TORCH 48-00-5202 | Cast iron, black pipe, thick metal | Carbide, 8 TPI per current maker page; Amazon title says 7 | 9 in. | 1 blade | Milwaukee product page |
| LENOX 10833800RDG | Cast iron; also tile, brick and natural stone | Diamond grit | 8 in. | 1 blade | LENOX exact-model page and catalog |
| LENOX 20578818R | Medium metal | Bi-metal, 18 TPI | 8 in. | 5 blades | LENOX 2024 catalog; exact retail model |
| LENOX 121016W6R | Clean wood, plastic pipe, pruning | Bi-metal, fleam-ground, 6 TPI | 6 in. | Maker lists 5; verify retail pack | LENOX 2024 catalog and listing |
| DeWalt DW4898 | Mixed wood and metal applications | Bi-metal, assorted | 6–9 in. per listing | 10 blades and case; check blade mix | DeWalt product page and listing |
Retail offers and sellers can change. Match the model, length, teeth and pack count on the selected listing. The five linked offers were sold by Amazon.com when checked on October 8, 2026; recheck before ordering.
Match the Teeth to the Pipe
- Cast iron and thick steel: choose a blade explicitly rated for that material. The TORCH uses carbide teeth; the LENOX diamond option uses abrasive grit.
- Medium metal: LENOX’s catalog places the 18 TPI 20578818R in its medium-metal group.
- Thin metal or copper tube: do not assume an 18 TPI medium-metal pack suits every wall thickness. LENOX lists separate 24 TPI thin-metal models. Match the blade maker’s application guidance to your pipe; for a new copper joint, use a tubing cutter when it fits.
- Plastic pipe and clean wood: the 6 TPI fleam-ground 121016W6R is the specific LENOX wood-and-plastic option here. Check a separate nail-embedded-wood rating for demolition framing.
DeWalt’s DCS367 manual gives a general metal-cutting rule: finer blades for ferrous metal and coarser blades for non-ferrous material. It does not approve one TPI for every copper tube. Use your saw’s manual alongside the exact blade’s material and thickness guidance.
Milwaukee TORCH 48-00-5202, 9 in.
Carbide teeth · 9 in. · 8 TPI per Milwaukee (the Amazon title says 7 TPI) · 1/2 in. universal tang · for black pipe, angle iron, rebar, stainless steel and cast iron, per Milwaukee · single blade
Milwaukee’s TORCH with Carbide Teeth is its thick-metal blade. Milwaukee says the carbide teeth give longer life than bi-metal blades in black iron, rebar, stainless steel and cast iron, and lists black pipe, angle iron and cast iron among the cuts. Milwaukee lists a 1/2 inch universal tang, so it is not limited to Milwaukee saws.
One mismatch to know: Milwaukee’s page lists this 9 inch blade as 8 teeth per inch, while the Amazon title says 7 TPI. We go by Milwaukee. For cast iron, compare a snap cutter first where its chain fits and the pipe condition allows.
- Carbide teeth for thick metal, per Milwaukee
- Lists cast iron and black pipe
- Universal 1/2 in. tang
- 9 in. length; check clearance through the full stroke
- Single blade per pack
- Amazon title and Milwaukee disagree on TPI
- Overkill for copper and PVC
Verdict: A thick-metal option for cast iron and suitable steel pipe where a cutter cannot fit. Gas-line work needs a qualified professional.
LENOX 10833800RDG Diamond Grit, 8 in.
Diamond grit · 8 × 3/4 × 0.040 in. · one blade · cast iron, tile, brick and natural stone, per LENOX
This is the exact 8-inch 10833800RDG, not the 9-inch sibling. LENOX’s current model page and its 2024 catalog identify the dimensions and cast-iron application. The catalog describes nickel-alloy-brazed diamond particles and chrome-alloy backing steel.
Choose it when you want an abrasive cast-iron blade instead of carbide teeth. Its broader masonry applications do not make it a general wood-and-plastic blade. Support a cast-iron stack above and below the cut before starting.
- Exact model rated for cast iron by LENOX
- Diamond grit has no teeth to strip
- 8-inch dimensions confirmed by the maker
- Also rated for tile, brick and natural stone
- Single blade per pack
- Specialty abrasive option, not a wood-and-plastic pick
- Check shoe, stroke and clearance before choosing the length
Verdict: Compare this with the TORCH for cast-iron demolition; use a snap cutter first where its chain fits and the pipe condition allows.
LENOX 20578818R, 8 in., 18 TPI, 5-Pack
Bi-metal · 8 × 3/4 × 0.035 in. · 18 TPI · five blades · medium metal, per LENOX’s 2024 catalog
The 20578818R gives you five 8-inch blades without buying a 25-pack. LENOX’s model table places this exact 18 TPI blade under medium metal. The selected listing’s model and five-pack match the catalog.
This is not a blanket recommendation for thin copper or sheet metal. LENOX separately lists 24 TPI thin-metal blades. Check material and wall thickness first. For copper that will take a new soldered or pressed joint, a tubing cutter is usually the more practical choice than a demolition saw.
A model mismatch to avoid: some retail titles call 20494B614R an 18 TPI blade, but LENOX’s current page and catalog identify it as 6-inch, 14 TPI, thick metal. That is a different blade; it is not the pack linked here.
- Exact 18 TPI model confirmed in LENOX’s catalog
- Five blades rather than a bulk 25-pack
- 8-inch length with a 0.035-inch blade body
- Bi-metal construction
- Maker classifies it as medium metal, not thin metal
- No universal copper-wall-thickness claim
- Longer blade still needs clearance behind the cut
Verdict: A replenishment pack for medium-metal jobs once you have confirmed the blade application and saw fit.
LENOX 121016W6R, 6 in., 6 TPI
Bi-metal · fleam-ground teeth · 6 × 3/4 × 0.050 in. · 6 TPI · clean wood, plastic pipe and pruning · maker catalog lists a five-pack
LENOX’s catalog identifies the 121016W6R for clean wood, plastics and pruning. Its fleam-ground tooth form is intended for fast, clean wood cutting; the listing also names plastic pipe. For PVC or ABS drain demolition, this is the coarse blade to compare here.
The maker lists five blades for this model, but the selected retail title omits a pack count. Confirm the package before ordering. A 6-inch blade is not guaranteed to fit under every sink or between joists: it must clear the shoe and workpiece through the saw’s stroke, without hitting anything behind.
Square and deburr plastic pipe before making a new joint. For framing with hidden nails, use a blade specifically rated for nail-embedded wood rather than treating a clean-wood designation as that approval.
- Exact model and 6 TPI confirmed in LENOX’s catalog
- Fleam-ground teeth for clean wood and plastic pipe
- Bi-metal construction
- 6-inch option where the saw’s clearance permits
- Not the metal-pipe option
- New plastic joints need a square, deburred end
- Confirm retail pack count; title omits it
Verdict: A purpose-specific blade for plastic drain cuts and clean wood; choose a separate demolition blade for nail-embedded framing.
DeWalt DW4898 Bi-Metal Blade Set, 10-Piece
10 bi-metal blades and case, per DeWalt · wood and metal applications · 6–9 in. per retail listing · saw, battery and charger not included
Stocking a compatible saw for mixed work? The DW4898 contains ten bi-metal blades and a case that DeWalt says fits in its power-tool kit boxes. DeWalt describes wood-and-metal applications and reinforced teeth for nails and other foreign objects.
Check the actual blade mix. The maker’s page names DW4802, DW4808, DW4811, DW4813 and DW4847, but its includes list does not explain how those five entries make up ten blades. We do not assign quantities to each type. The linked retail listing gives the 6-to-9-inch length range.
Use the set to find the blade types your jobs require, then replenish those. Add a separately rated cast-iron blade when that job calls for one; do not treat an assorted bi-metal set as a carbide or diamond kit.
- Ten bi-metal blades with a case
- Maker describes wood and metal applications
- Reinforced teeth for nails, per DeWalt
- Case designed to fit DeWalt kit boxes
- Saw, battery and charger not included
- Maker’s list does not establish the count of each blade type
- No carbide or diamond cast-iron blade listed
Verdict: A mixed blade supply for an existing compatible saw; buy a specific material-rated blade when the job demands it.
#ad Buying for a shop? Amazon Business (opens in a new tab) accounts are free to create, with business-only prices and bulk quantity discounts.
I send an occasional note when a new guide goes up — repairs worth doing yourself, and the parts that actually last. No spam, no course funnel; written by a licensed Georgia plumber.
Before You Buy
- Match material and wall thickness. Check the exact model’s application, not just an Amazon title or a general TPI rule.
- Check length through the stroke. DeWalt’s DCS367 manual requires the blade to extend past the shoe and workpiece during the cut. Account for the clamp, shoe position and moving blade, and leave clearance behind. Nominal blade length alone does not establish pipe capacity.
- Confirm the clamp. Milwaukee lists a 1/2-inch universal tang on the TORCH. Check your exact saw’s manual; the DCS367 specifically prohibits jigsaw blades. Disconnect the power source as its manual directs before changing blades.
- Do not force the cut. DeWalt warns that forcing shortens blade life and causes breakage. Support the workpiece and follow its cutting instructions.
- Choose a cutter for a new joint when practical. Compare a tubing, plastic or snap cutter for your material instead of buying a saw blade just because it is available.
For cast iron without a saw, see our cast iron pipe cutter guide; for copper and plastic, our pipe cutter picks.
FAQ
What is the best Sawzall blade for cast iron pipe?
Compare carbide teeth and diamond grit blades explicitly rated for cast iron. Milwaukee lists that application for the TORCH 48-00-5202, and LENOX lists it for the diamond 10833800RDG. Where a snap cutter fits and the pipe condition allows, compare that tool first in our cast iron pipe cutter guide.
Do Sawzall blades fit other reciprocating saws?
Milwaukee lists a 1/2-inch universal tang on this TORCH blade. Confirm your exact saw’s clamp and manual before buying; that description does not establish compatibility with every saw. DeWalt’s DCS367 manual says not to use jigsaw blades.
What TPI blade cuts copper pipe?
There is no one TPI recommendation here for every copper wall thickness. LENOX’s catalog classifies the linked 18 TPI 20578818R as medium metal and separate 24 TPI models as thin metal. DeWalt gives a general coarser-blade rule for non-ferrous materials. Match the exact blade’s application to the tube; for a new copper joint, use a tubing cutter when practical.
What blade cuts PVC with a reciprocating saw?
Compare a blade explicitly rated for plastic pipe. LENOX’s 6 TPI fleam-ground 121016W6R is a wood-and-plastic option, with its model and dimensions confirmed in the maker’s catalog. Check saw clearance, and square and deburr the pipe before making a new joint.
Should I use oil when cutting metal with a reciprocating saw?
DeWalt’s DCS367 manual recommends a thin film of oil or other lubricant ahead of a metal cut for easier operation and longer blade life. Follow your exact saw and blade instructions, and do not force the blade.
Why Trust Plumbing Picks
Plumbing Picks is written by a licensed Georgia journeyman plumber. These recommendations use the maker pages, manufacturer-authored catalog, saw manual and exact retail listings below; recommendations are based on document research, not firsthand product use. We distinguish maker specifications from listing-only details and unresolved pack or title mismatches. Affiliate purchases may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. More on who writes this and how we pick.
Sources
- Milwaukee: exact 48-00-5202 TORCH product page
- LENOX: exact 10833800RDG 8-inch diamond blade
- LENOX 2024 manufacturer catalog, hosted by Marshall Sales: PDF pages 5 and 7, metal, wood/plastic and diamond model tables
- LENOX: 20494B614R is 14 TPI, not the linked 18 TPI model
- DeWalt: DW4898 ten-piece blade set and includes list
- DeWalt DCS367 instruction manual: blade fit, metal cutting and safety
- Exact linked Amazon listings: model, offer, seller and listing-only details. Offers change; confirm your selected option.
Which Blades Do You Need?
Buy for the job you have: carbide or diamond for suitable cast-iron cuts, the verified 18 TPI five-pack for medium metal, or the 6 TPI wood-and-plastic model for those materials. Choose the mixed set only if its contents suit your existing saw and work. Check length through the stroke, support the pipe and use a purpose-specific cutter where practical.
