Everyone desires the finest reciprocating saw, but even the top-tier models can prove sluggish if not used correctly. Professionals wield reciprocating saws as indispensable tools for demolition purposes. Essentially, reciprocating saws function as electric hacksaws, capable of cutting through wood, metal, nails, pipes, and virtually any obstacle. The key lies in selecting the appropriate blade. To achieve the fastest wood cuts, these saws excel when employed with an aggressive orbital cutting motion. However, determining when to leverage orbital action on a reciprocating saw can be perplexing. Fortunately, we have you covered with some fundamental guidelines to follow.
Table of Contents
- What is Orbital Motion?
- When to Utilize Orbital Action on a Reciprocating Saw
- When to Employ Orbital Actions
- When to Avoid Orbital Actions
- Wrapping It All Up
What is Orbital Motion? (#h-what-is-orbital-action)
If you require a more comprehensive explanation of orbital effects, we have a dedicated article that delves into the subject in detail. Rest assured, you’ll scarcely find a worksite that doesn’t boast at least one reciprocating saw. These tools’ blades move rapidly back and forth across the cutting surface. You might assume that a tool’s size or cost determines its cutting speed. Well, perhaps there’s more to it.
You may have noticed another setting on certain reciprocating saws called orbital action or orbital mode. Though it may sound superficial, this feature actually proves incredibly practical and down-to-earth, and can come to the rescue in specific scenarios.
Orbital action describes the movement of the blade in a reciprocating saw. Most basic saws employ a straight stroke, wherein the blade moves straight in and out of the saw. A straight stroke is optimal for certain cutting applications, such as tackling wood or cutting sturdy materials like steel. However, orbital action involves a slight circular motion of the blade as it moves in and out of the tool. This enables faster cutting of softer materials and facilitates the expulsion of wood chips from the blade path.
We’ve “removed” the track shoes in the image above to provide you with a clearer understanding of the orbital motion of a reciprocating saw.
Orbital action proves highly effective for powerful cuts in wood, particularly when a rough cut is required for swift material removal. Nevertheless, it’s not recommended for cutting metal or performing precise cuts where the blade must maintain perfect perpendicularity to the work surface.
When engaged in demolition tasks, using orbital action with a reciprocating saw proves exceptionally advantageous. It allows for faster cutting with reduced exertion. High-quality saws offer the flexibility to adjust the degree of orbital action using a lever, knob, or switch—enabling a seamless transition from a straight cutting motion to a track-like motion or anything in between. While professionals can fine-tune the level of orbital action on these reciprocating saws, most typically choose to activate or deactivate it.
When to Utilize Orbital Actions (#h-when-to-use-orbital-action)
Here are instances where utilizing orbital action proves beneficial:
- Making imprecise cuts on clean wood
- Removing embedded wood
- Cutting multiple layers of material during demolition and renovation work
When to Avoid Orbital Actions (#h-when-not-to-use-orbital-action)
Conversely, refrain from leveraging orbital actions in the following scenarios:
- Cutting PVC
- Working with EMT or other metals
- Requiring more precise or meticulous cuts in wood
Wrapping It All Up (#h-wrapping-it-all-up)
Determining when to utilize orbital action on a reciprocating saw hardly requires much deliberation—it unquestionably results in faster performance. We remain astounded by the number of cordless chainsaws that neglect to feature this essential mechanism. Nonetheless, numerous flagship models do incorporate it.
If you happen to be a pro with invaluable reciprocating saw tips, please feel free to share them in the comments section below or leave them on our Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram pages.