The Milwaukee 48-00-1610 Rough-In SAWZALL Blade 5 Pack is a reciprocating saw blade set made for rough-in work in wood with nails. This is a reciprocating saw blade designed for cutting through-holes and plunge cuts during plumbing, electrical, and general framing work. Model Number 48-00-1610. If your job regularly involves bottom plates, top plates, subfloors, and nail-embedded lumber, this blade is aimed right at that kind of work.

The big advantage here is the shape and purpose of the blade. Milwaukee built this Rough-In blade to cut small diameter access holes more easily than a standard demolition blade. The low blade profile is designed to cut 2-1/8 inch holes, which is the right size for 1-1/2 inch PVC pipe. That saves time on rough-ins where you need repeatable openings without dragging out another dedicated cutting tool.

The 7-3/8 inch blade length is not just a number on the package. It gives the blade enough reach to cut holes through double top plates, which is a real-world requirement on many framing and mechanical rough-in jobs. Instead of coming up short or working the cut from both sides, you get the reach needed for that pass-through work with a standard reciprocating saw.

Milwaukee also gave this blade its Fang Tip for faster plunge cutting. That matters when you are starting in bottom plates or subfloors and need the blade to enter quickly without skating around. A fast, controllable start makes rough-in work cleaner and helps keep the cut where you want it, especially when you are working overhead or in awkward spaces between studs and joists.

For remodelers and service trades, nail contact is where a lot of blades get chewed up. The Nail Guard feature is here to reduce tooth fracture when cutting nail-embedded wood. In plain terms, it is meant to hold up better when the blade runs into the mixed materials you actually find inside walls, floors, and framed openings. That is a practical benefit, not just a brochure feature.

This blade is rated for wood with nails and is used with all reciprocating saws, so it fits the standard SAWZALL-style application most pros already have on the truck. With a 5 TPI tooth pattern, it is geared toward aggressive rough cutting rather than finish work. That makes sense for framing penetrations, rough plumbing paths, and opening up access points where speed and control matter more than a polished edge.

The pack includes five blades, which is the right format for a consumable like this. Keep a few in the gang box, a few on the truck, and you are covered when one finally gets dull or takes a hard hit in embedded fasteners. At roughly 0.325 lb for the pack, it is easy to stock without adding much weight to your setup.

Who should buy it? This blade makes the most sense for plumbers, electricians, HVAC installers, framers, remodelers, and general contractors doing regular rough-in work in wood structures. If you mostly cut clean wood or finish materials, a different blade may suit you better. But if your day includes wood, nails, plunge entries, and utility pass-throughs, this one is built for that exact abuse.

Milwaukee 48-00-1610 Rough-In SAWZALL Blade for faster pass-through work

This is a purpose-built reciprocating saw blade that solves a very specific jobsite problem, and that is exactly why it earns a spot in the truck.

• Who it's for: Pros doing plumbing, electrical, HVAC, framing, and remodeling rough-ins in wood structures.
• Why it stands out: The low-profile rough-in design, Fang Tip plunge performance, and Nail Guard tooth protection make it more useful than a generic demolition blade for controlled through-hole work.
• Worth knowing: This is not a fine-finish blade. It is made to work fast in wood with nails, and the 5 TPI setup reflects that.

• What kind of tool does this blade fit? It is designed for use with all reciprocating saws.
• What material is this blade meant to cut? It is intended for wood with nails and is also listed for use in wood, shingles, and plastics for rough-in hole cutting.
• What size hole is this blade designed to cut? The low blade profile is designed to cut 2-1/8 inch diameter holes, which works for 1-1/2 inch PVC pipe rough-in.
• How long is the blade? The blade length is 7-3/8 inches, giving it enough reach to cut through double top plates.