My neighbor swore by this $40 oscillating tool blade for cutting old plaster

I was trying to cut into a plaster wall in my 1920s house in Buffalo last month and going through blades like crazy. My neighbor, who's been fixing up old houses forever, told me to just use a cheap Diablo blade from Home Depot instead of the expensive Fein ones. I figured he was wrong but gave it a shot, and that blade lasted through three cuts without dulling. Now I'm wondering if I've been overpaying for fancy blades this whole time, anyone else find a brand that punches above its price?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_sandra15d ago

1920s plaster in Buffalo? Yeah, that stuff is basically concrete mixed with horsehair. I've been through that nonsense myself. The trick with Diablo blades is they use a different carbide that handles the grit better than the high end stuff. I'd also grab a pack of the cheap Milwaukee steel blades for the real nasty spots where you hit lath. They don't stay sharp as long but they're like 8 bucks for a 5 pack and you wont cry when one snaps.

juliagonzalez15d ago

Oh man, that cheap Milwaukee pack has saved my bacon more times than I can count. I learned that the hard way after snapping a $15 blade on a hidden nail in a Buffalo ceiling. You gotta have both, like you said, the Diablo for the clean cuts and the cheap ones for when you know it's gonna get ugly. @the_sandra hit the nail on the head about that horsehair too, that stuff is like cutting through steel wool mixed with rock dust. I've found a respirator is a must with that old plaster, the silica dust lingers for days. Another trick is to score the plaster deep with a utility knife first to keep the dust down, but then just go at it with the grinder.