Patent ID: 8210081

Claim:
A method comprising the following steps: mounting within a chuck of a reciprocating saw a reciprocating saw blade including a tang having an elongated axis and a blade portion having a cutting edge defined by a plurality of cutting teeth; wherein the cutting teeth define a repeating pattern of successive groups of teeth, each group of teeth includes a plurality of teeth of different species, including a plurality of set teeth, at least one relatively high tooth, and at least one relatively low tooth; and wherein prior to tooth set the at least one relatively high tooth is at least about 0.002 inch higher than the at least one relatively low tooth, wherein the at least one relatively high tooth defines at least one first clearance angle, and the at least one relatively low tooth defines at least one corresponding second clearance angle that is greater than the first clearance angle, wherein either (i) the at least one first clearance angle defines a primary clearance angle of the at least one relatively high tooth and the at least one second clearance angle defines a primary clearance angle of the at least one relatively low tooth; or (ii) the at least one first clearance angle defines a secondary clearance angle of the at least one relatively high tooth and the at least one second clearance angle defines a secondary clearance angle of the at least one relatively low tooth; driving the reciprocating saw blade with the reciprocating saw in a reciprocating cutting action between forward and backward strokes; and cutting a work piece by engaging the work piece with the reciprocatingly driven reciprocating saw blade and, in turn, during each of a plurality of forward strokes, engaging multiple teeth of the same species with the work piece, bearing a relatively higher chip load with the relatively high teeth in comparison to the relatively low teeth, protecting the relatively low teeth from chipping or damage with the preceding relatively high teeth, and cutting the work piece with the relatively low teeth at a higher speed in comparison to the relatively high teeth.