As carbide makes its way onto more saw blades, two companies are emerging as the leaders in wood cutting reciprocating saw blades: Diablo and Milwaukee. The advantage of carbide isn’t pure speed. In fact, many bi-metal blades with a more aggressive tooth count and geometry will cut faster than either of these two blades. The advantage lies in longevity. Carbide lasts much longer – 50 to 75 times longer in some cases – than bi-metal, easily paying for itself many times over. But the question remains in the Diablo Demo Demon Vs Milwaukee Ax Carbide debate – who’s faster?
Diablo Demo Demon Vs Milwaukee Ax Carbide
We set up some tests from real world to scientific to see which blade will cut faster through 2 x 12 PT pine embedded with five 16D nails. For the first test, it was straight up Clint (Diablo) Vs Kenny (Milwaukee) and whatever technique we wanted to use to get the fastest cut.
Freehand Results
- Diablo: 25.95 seconds
- Milwaukee: 27.06 seconds
If you watch the video, you’ll see there’s some pretty clear variance in our techniques, so we can hardly call this definitive. But yes, Clint does get to put another notch in the win column.
From a controlled setting, we put 10 pounds of weight on our Milwaukee M18 Fuel Sawzall with One-Key and let the blade and motor do the work just like we did in our cordless reciprocating saw shootout.
Weighted Results
- Diablo: 38.6 seconds
- Milwaukee: 26.9 seconds
With no rocking the saw and equal downforce, Milwaukee comes out as the clear winner in speed.
Analysis
Milwaukee’s advantage in the controlled test comes down to blade design. Milwaukee’s teeth are the same over the length of the entire blade while Diablo employs a variable tooth design that changes over the length. As you adjust the shoe or use a different length of blade, you’re going to get some varying results. We can make the argument that the shorter length would have been a better bet for this test – but in keeping things apples to apples, we had 9-inch lengths for both and it’s the length you’re most likely to find on site.
Keep in mind that this is just one test for Diablo Demo Demon Vs Milwaukee Ax Carbide. It doesn’t take into consideration blade life or materials you’ll run into other than PT and standard galvanized nails.
Milwaukee Ax Carbide Vs Diablo Demo Demon Carbide: What We Used
-
Milwaukee Ax with Carbide Teeth
-
Diablo Demo Demon for Wood Cutting with Carbide Teeth
-
Milwaukee M18 Fuel Sawzall with One-Key
-
2 x 12 Pressure Treated Pine with Five 16D Galvanized Nails Embedded
