DeWalt 6" 14 TPI Straight Back Bi-Metal Reciprocating Blade (2 pack)

Why I reached for this blade

I keep a few go-to recip blades in my kit for cutting metal on site and in the shop. For medium-gauge steel and general-purpose metal work, I’ve been running the DeWalt 6-inch 14 TPI metal-cutting blade. It’s a straightforward, straight-back bi-metal design sold in a two-pack, and on paper it checks the right boxes: 14 TPI for a balance of speed and control, bi-metal construction for toughness, and an anti-stick coating to keep friction down. After several weeks of cutting EMT, angle, threaded rod, and a bit of automotive exhaust tubing, here’s how it actually fared.

Build and design

• Length and profile: At 6 inches with a straight-back profile, this blade is made for controlled, general-purpose metal cuts rather than plunge-heavy demolition. The straight back helps with stability in a cut and makes it easier to track a line.
• Tooth geometry: The 14 TPI pattern is a good middle ground for mild steel between roughly 1/16 and 1/4 inch. DeWalt’s teeth are ground with a chip-clearing focus. I noticed the gullets carry swarf out efficiently in horizontal cuts.
• Shank and set: The aggressive shank angle is meant to keep more teeth engaged as the blade wears. In practice, it helps the blade maintain bite even after a few dozen cuts, especially on conduit and angle stock.
• Coating: The anti-stick coating isn’t just marketing—there’s less squeal and noticeably less galling when I’m cutting painted or galvanized material.

The blade is made in the USA with global materials. Fit in the saw’s clamp is snug, with no play, and the spine has enough flex to avoid snapping if you bind it on a cut.

Test setup and materials

I ran the blade on a 12-amp corded recip saw and a 20V brushless model, non-orbital mode for metal. Materials included:
- 3/4-inch EMT conduit
- 1/8-inch mild steel flat bar
- 1/4-inch angle iron (3-inch leg)
- 3/8-inch and 1/2-inch zinc-plated threaded rod
- 16-gauge and 20-gauge sheet steel
- 2-inch aluminized exhaust tubing

I used a dab of cutting fluid on the thicker stock and cut dry on conduit and rod. Variable speed stayed on the slower side to avoid work-hardening.

Cutting performance

• EMT and thin-wall tube: This is the sweet spot. The blade eats through EMT cleanly with minimal chatter, especially if you let the shoe rest firmly on the work. The anti-stick coating helps keep the cut from loading up with galvanized residue. I averaged around three to four seconds per cut on 3/4-inch EMT with a fresh blade.
• Threaded rod: On 3/8-inch and 1/2-inch rod, the blade cut quickly and left threads that only needed a light touch with a file. Backing off pressure in the final second avoids mushrooming.
• Flat bar and angle iron: On 1/8-inch flat bar, the blade stayed smooth and controllable. In 1/4-inch angle, it’s slower—as you’d expect for 14 TPI—but still consistent. The tooth geometry clears chips well, and I didn’t experience the clogging that stalls some fine-tooth blades in heavy cuts.
• Automotive exhaust: It tracked nicely on 2-inch aluminized tubing with minimal burr. The straight-back profile actually helped keep the cut straight when I had to freehand in an awkward position.

On thin sheet (20-gauge), the 14 TPI can grab if you rush the start, so I backed the speed down and let the shoe bear down to reduce vibration. If sheet metal is your primary workload, a finer 18–24 TPI would give a cleaner edge. Conversely, for heavy bar stock or rebar, I’d switch to a coarser 8–10 TPI demolition blade.

Heat, wear, and longevity

Bi-metal blades live or die by how they handle heat. With mild, steady pressure and a slower stroke rate, the edge stayed sharp longer than I expected for the price class. After:
- ~40 cuts of EMT,
- ~15 cuts in 1/8-inch flat bar,
- and ~10 cuts in 1/4-inch angle,

the first blade still tracked straight and didn’t shed teeth. The edge was dulled but not rounded over. Heat discoloration showed up near the front third—normal for repeated plunge starts—but there was no temper loss that caused tooth crumbling. The coating wore off at the usual contact points while still reducing friction on longer cuts.

I intentionally pinched the blade in a cut to check its tolerance for a bind. The spine flexed and recovered without kinking, which speaks to the bi-metal body doing its job.

Control, vibration, and cut quality

The combination of tooth pitch and straight back makes this a calm blade, not an aggressive shredder. Vibration is low if you keep the shoe planted. Cut edges on medium-gauge steel are reasonably clean with a small burr that knocks off quickly with a file or flap disc. On threaded rod, the cut face is good enough to spin a nut on without chasing threads, provided you don’t force the last 1/8 inch.

Where it shines and where it doesn’t

Strengths:
- General-purpose metal cutting across common jobsite materials
- Predictable tracking and low chatter
- Good chip evacuation that keeps the cut moving
- Coating that reduces sticking on painted/galvanized surfaces
- Solid durability for a 2-pack blade

Limitations:
- Not the fastest choice for thick cross sections; a coarser tooth will win there
- For thin sheet, 14 TPI can be grabby if you rush; a finer pitch is cleaner
- The 6-inch length is versatile, but you’ll want longer blades for deep plunge cuts or stacked material
- There’s no warranty coverage, which is typical for consumables but worth noting if you’re cost-sensitive

Tips to get the best results

• Use slower stroke rates on metal to reduce heat and extend tooth life.
• Keep the shoe firmly on the work; it settles the cut and protects teeth.
• Start lightly on thin stock to avoid grabbing, then add pressure once the cut path forms.
• A drop of cutting fluid on thicker steel pays dividends in edge life.
• Flip the blade end-for-end midway through its life to use the back portion of the teeth.

Comparisons

Compared with variable-pitch metal blades (e.g., 10/14 or 14/18 TPI), this fixed 14 TPI runs a touch smoother on uniform materials like EMT and flat bar, with slightly less surge as tooth engagement changes. Variable pitch options generally pull ahead on mixed stock sizes or rougher material because they resist harmonic vibration. Versus coarse demolition blades, this DeWalt won’t match raw speed on thick bar, but it delivers cleaner edges and better control on the majority of light-to-medium metal tasks.

Value and pack size

Sold in a two-pack, it’s a sensible buy for trades who need a reliable “daily driver” metal blade without stocking a dozen specialized SKUs. If you cut metal constantly, buying in larger multi-packs will save money, but for maintenance techs, HVAC, or general contractors who alternate between materials, two blades per pack feels practical.

Bottom line

This DeWalt 6-inch 14 TPI metal-cutting blade hits the mark for everyday metal work: predictable, steady cutting on EMT, angle, threaded rod, and light tubing with better-than-average chip clearance and a coating that genuinely reduces friction. It’s not a miracle worker on thick stock, and it isn’t the cleanest option for thin sheet, but it does exactly what a general-purpose metal blade should do—cut consistently, track straight, and last long enough to be worth the money.

Recommendation: I recommend this blade as a dependable, general-purpose metal cutter for electricians, HVAC techs, maintenance crews, and DIYers who most often work in the 1/16–1/4 inch steel range. Choose it for its balanced performance, low chatter, and durable bi-metal build. If your work skews heavily to thick bar, rebar, or constant demolition, go with a coarser tooth blade; if you mostly cut thin sheet, pick a finer pitch. For everyone in the middle, this one earns a spot in the kit.