Reduce vibration when using a reciprocating saw

 Contractors would like to know how to reduce vibration when using a reciprocating saw. Just like with angle grinders, impact drivers, hammer drills, jack hammers and chain saws that vibrate hard when in use, impact to the user’s body can be harmful.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) warns contractors that long-term exposure to high levels of vibration can, over time, cause permanent damage to hands, arms, backs, legs and joints.

Users of hand-guided tools like reciprocating saws are at risk for a disorder called hand-arm vibration syndrome, which results from damage to capillary blood vessels and nerves in the hands and arms. In some cases, prolonged vibration can cause back problems. Sometimes, that damage is permanent.

Other potential physical problems stemming from overuse of heavily vibrating tools are inflammation and vascular dysfunction, which eventually can restrict blood flow—especially in contractors who work in cold climates.

Regulating vibrations on reciprocating saws

The United States does not have regulations to reduce vibration when using a reciprocating saw. Tool manufacturers that sell in Europe, however, must follow European Committee for Standardization guidelines, which have established limits for “acceleration values” based on a vibrating tool’s impact on hands, arms and the whole body.

Still, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has two voluntary standards that recommend similar limits. Some manufacturers limit vibration acceleration, but the practice is not universal in this country.

Manufacturer efforts to reduce vibrations

A reciprocating saw vibrates because of the movement of the blade and because of the kind of rough, demolition-style cutting contractors do with it. A day of work can wear the user out, so tool manufacturers have focused on using lighter, ergonomic materials to reduce fatigue. But that does little to solve the problems associated with heavy vibration.

Most tool makers have developed anti-vibration solutions, like shock-absorbing handles and internal counter-balancing weights. So next time, buy a reciprocating saw designed with anti-vibration technology.

Reduce vibrations yourself

However, no matter how well designed the saw is, the user can help control the impact of vibrations, according to the American Society of Safety Engineers and OSHA. Here are some tips to reduce vibration when using a reciprocating saw:

• Keep your hands dry and warm while operating any vibrating equipment.
• Use a light grip while operating the saw—just enough to keep it safely under control.
• Take a 10-minute break every hour.
• Wear gloves that cover all of your fingers. Consider investing in a pair of anti-vibration gloves, which can reduce vibration in the palm. They also protect the hands from cuts and help the operator keep the reciprocating saw in place.
• Limit the number of hours you use a reciprocating saw or any other vibrating tool each day. Alternate between the reciprocating saw and a tool that doesn’t vibrate.
• If you start to notice symptoms of hand-arm vibration syndrome, see a doctor right away.

Some contractors recommend pushing the saw’s shoe—the metal nose that holds the blade—right up against the cutting surface so the material you’re cutting absorbs some of the vibration.