Tried a cheap oscillating multi-tool blade on cast iron drain pipe

Picked up a 3-pack of generic carbide blades for $12 on clearance, figured they'd last one cut each on a 4-inch cast iron stack in a basement job. First blade only lasted about 20 seconds before the teeth went dull, I barely got through half the pipe before it started smoking. Has anyone found a budget blade that actually holds up on cast iron, or do I just have to shell out for the name brand ones?

2 comments

2 Comments

andrew_baker92d agoProlific Poster

Yeah man I tried those cheap packs once too, total waste of money. What actually worked for me was getting a single Diablo carbide blade for like $15 at Home Depot. It cut through a 4 inch cast iron cleanout tee in under a minute and still had life left for like 2 more cuts on smaller stuff. The generic ones just don't have the right grit or bonding, they burn up fast. I also read that spraying a little wd40 on the cut helps keep it cool and makes the blade last longer, tried that with the Diablo and it worked great.

thomas.river1d ago

I read that some guys swear by wet cutting with a spray bottle to keep cheap blades from burning out as fast.