Diablo Steel Demon vs. Locomotive Camshaft: Who Will Survive???

This is not a crankshaft. This is a camshaft. Those little lobes are what cam the valves. They can be surface hardened to the point that blade won't cut them well. The inside metal is typically softer.

Just got done cutting through 3.250" 1018 Round Bar (Solid). Used up (1) 9" Diablo Steel Demon to get about 3/4 of the way. Then, switched over to a fresh 6" Diablo Steel Demon to finish it up (the 6" is still in good shape). I have to turn it down to 3.150" on my lathe to push out a seized wheel bearing hub. Anyway, as it's carbide tipped, I didn't use any cutting fluid. I just kept the speed up, and pivoted around the circumference to ensure I was always cutting the high points, and not the large flats. No need to lay into it with pressure. Only needed enough pressure to prevent excess vibration. Cool to the touch when I was done. And, a real nice cut, too!! One word of caution. Be careful starting the cut. Because the blade wants to bounce until it cuts a deep groove, I'd probably create a groove using a thin cutting wheel. Also, when you switch to a new blade, you have to carefully cut your way back down to the bottom of the cut, or it will want to bounce out of the groove. As I don't have a band saw, this blade is a lifesaver. I didn't time it, but it probably took about 25 minutes, which included short breaks to rest my hand. I would HIGHLY recommend these blades!!!

Oh I could see this as industrial dining table legs too!

That was insane! I remember the first time I use my Diablo Blade to get a cast iron radiator out of the house, after a remodel. I cut through it six times in the thickest part (which was about a 1 1/2 circle, that was 3/8 of an inch thick all the way around) and I thought I put my blade toughest hard test. The crazy thing is, the blade is totally fine! It actually took me six months to actually find something to use to blame for.

I used that blade in an attempt to cut the steel crank from an old IH diesel 3 cylinder backhoe engine. No dice. I even used an abrasive disc to make a place for it to get started, but it didn't even make it 1/2 way through before the teeth were wiped. I was disappointed.

Diablo combined with Makita JR 3070CT gives great results 👍

Based on testing performed at Project Farm, the Lenox Thick Metal Lazer CT, carbide, is also a good bet, in most comparisons besting the Diablo Steel Demon. (View "Best CARBIDE Thick Metal Sawzall Blade Brand? Let's find out!" on the "Project Farm" channel.)

I didn't think that blade would work. I cant find the carbide Sawzall blades in stock around me as I have wanting to give them a try. I would suggest a cheap harbor freight bandsaw but with a quality blade from a welding supply house. I have use that set up for years cutting 6" x 6" x 1/2" angle iron all day long. Works great.

Disc grinder would easily take out the hardened surface, say, cut all the way around a tenth of an inch deep, then that Diablo blade might cut a lot easier. Disc grinder would make short work of the whole thing too, I'd guess.

Plasma cutter?

Too bad your recip was not variable speed. All that heat would be dulling the blade much faster. If you used a lot more cutting fluid that could help. I've heard vinegar and Windex is great with certain materials as a cutting fluid but never tried it. I'd be worried about burning Windex in case there was any bad gasses that ended up in the air and unhealthy, maybe vinegar to. I worked in a machine shop for a short time and all the cuts had a constant stream of cutting fluid and very slow speeds.