Inexpensive reciprocating cordless saw?

[jymbee]

Too many choices out there to make a decision!
Have a need for a cordless reciprocating type saw as a gift for a family member. Usage will be light-- perhaps to trim branches on shrubs & bushes (too thick for loppers), occasional use to saw up dead branches for kindling, etc. Looked briefly at electric chainsaws and while they are very cool, just a bit overkill for this application.

Advice anyone?

 

[Roadworthy]

I have a Ryobi. I got it on one of those Black Friday sales at Home Depot. It came as part of a kit. It will stall out when cutting wood if the battery is low but that is easily overcome, it came with two batteries. I don't like the lock out that prevents accidental operation but I have become accustomed to it. You can change blades with no tools and it takes normal reciprocating saw blades.

 

[jymbee]

I have a Ryobi. I got it on one of those Black Friday sales at Home Depot. It came as part of a kit. It will stall out when cutting wood if the battery is low but that is easily overcome, it came with two batteries. I don't like the lock out that prevents accidental operation but I have become accustomed to it. You can change blades with no tools and it takes normal reciprocating saw blades.

Aha-- Black Friday! Thanks for the reminder as that's typically a good opportunity to pick up a pretty good deal-- especially if you're not locked into a particular model. I got a great deal on a shop vac and compressor over the last couple of years on that sale date.

 

[RNeumann]

Unknown definition of inexpensive.....

With that, I have the Milwaukee M12 and purchased a few of the pruning blades. It works ok. But a reciprocating saw may not be much faster than a nice hand saw.

 

[MossRoad]

Harbor Freight meets the definition of inexpensive...

 

[/pine]

Garage sale hand saw...

 

[jymbee]

Unknown definition of inexpensive.....

INEXPENSIVE:
adjective
not expensive; not high in price; costing little.

Sorry-- couldn't resist.
I'm thinking somewhere around a hundred bucks-- give or take? Personally I typically "overbuy" thinking that perhaps a better/more expensive tool will make me a better craftsman. So far that has not proven to be the case.

With that, I have the Milwaukee M12 and purchased a few of the pruning blades. It works ok. But a reciprocating saw may not be much faster than a nice hand saw.

That does look like a nice saw but perhaps a bit pricey-- thanks. Of course my perspective might well change once I get a better idea of what's out there. As for "hand saw", in this case it would primarily be used by a senior citizen where a hand saw would be a bit of a challenge.

 

[RickB]

Harbor Freight meets the definition of inexpensive...

I bought a Northern Tool store brand corded reciprocating saw for work because that’s what was suggested. An hour later I took the nonworking POS back and got a Dewalt. Whether or not Dewalt was the one to buy is not the point. The store brand was NOT the one to buy.
If you are buying a gift, make an attempt to buy one you might want to own yourself.

 

[RNeumann]

Seems I got the bare tool for $79 or something. But with a battery and charger I’m sure it’s over $100.

Problem with cordless is if you get an off brand (el cheapo) you won’t be able to find batteries in a few years. I think Ryobi May be about as competitive is it gets while still being a common brand.

 

[RalphVa]

Almost any battery-driven sawsall with a course blade will do for this. Had a Dewalt 18v. Now have a Porter Cable 20v. I'd look for the latest brushless ones.

Ralph

 

[Big Barn]

I just ordered this Makita yesterday. Bare tool.

The best price I could find within the Makita platform. Probably a discontinued model.

$269 CDN. ($203 usd)


Makita DPB181Z 18V Cordless Band Saw - tool only - BC Fasteners

Edit. Boy do I feel stupid. I just realized this was about RECIP saws. I guess I was too excited about my bandsaw purchase I couldn’t read straight. sorry

 

[Oldpath05]

Dont just think cheap saw, focus more what other tool will that battery fit.

 

[Big Barn]

Dont just think cheap saw, focus more what other tool will that battery fit.

Exactly!

 

[jjp8182]

So I have both a Makita 18v LXT reciprocating saw, and a Milwaukee 18V (which can optional switch to an orbital cutting action) ..... while I don't think either would be considered inexpensive (when purchased as a kit), they do cut exceedingly well.

On an inexpensive front; Harbor Freight's Bauer and Hercules lines of cordless tools are apparently pretty good (I have a coworker that's been using them to do significant remodeling/rebuilding of an old home he bought).

However, if a person already has a line of cordless battery tools it might be worthwhile to get one of that brand as a bare tool (which can generally be done relatively inexpensively) as maintaining multiple brands of cordless tools can quickly become a bit of a pain since the battery interfaces aren't standardized across brands....

So I personally prefer Makita both due to the quality of tools, as well as their tendency to run specials that include additional batteries as the special's free add-on items. I've yet to buy a Makita 18V battery on it's own ...despite having roughly a dozen that are 4AH or greater (which is actually really easy to do if you buy a kit that has 2 batteries, and includes 2 more batteries as part of a special).

 

[jjp8182]

Dont just think cheap saw, focus more what other tool will that battery fit.

I concur with this as well ....

The biggest reason I have both Makita and Milwaukee cordless tools is while they overlap in some areas, they each have their own unique tools as well .....and between the two there are few (if any) types of handheld power tools I wouldn't be able to buy that are compatible with at least one or the other.

 

[Big Barn]

Sticking to your chosen cordless platform is kinda like being married .....you know what you have for good or bad.

And you know for certain if you DO decide to switch it’s going to be costly.

 

[Racenut]

I've had Craftsman C3 cordless tools for a long time. Including the recip saw. And even after 15+ years I can still buy new battery packs for it. In fact the newer lithium batteries are quite awesome and it runs stronger than ever on those.

I know survival of Craftsman is in question these days, but you can even get 3rd party C3 battery packs.

 

[mjonesnh]

I have a Makita LXT 18 volt that has done a good job for me. Already had other Makita cordless tools so had several batteries to use

 

[TheMan419]

I am in the porter cable universe. Their tools are generally pretty middle of the road in price and quality.

 

[Xfaxman]

I also have craftsman C3 cordless tools. I like the one handed reciprocating saw for trimming small branches because you can hold the branch with your other hand.