Reciprocating saws

Bird · Nov 4, 2004

I have a hard time believing the Milwaukee Sawzall could be beat, and figure it just might be the best of the bunch, but I bought a Makita JR3000VT from Lowe's that only cost me $95.68 including tax and I like it better than my brother's Sawzall, but of course I haven't had it long enough or used it enough to tell whether it'll last as many years as his Sawzall has.

beagdog · Nov 4, 2004

I have both a corded Milwaukee SuperSawZall and an 18v cordless Milwaukee SawZall and you can't beat either one. Both have cut miles of wood and metal and just keep coming back for more. I have no idea how many blades I've gone through on the two saws. Good blades are the key to comfortable and efficient operation.

The cordless model handles just as well as the corded and they are built almost exactly alike. I have no preference, but the cordless is usually handier. The cordless doesn't seem to be effected by heat or cold at all, it always cuts well.

JMHO

Good luck with whatever you choose.

markct · Nov 4, 2004

( I have a hard time believing the Milwaukee Sawzall could be beat)

i agree bird, the sawzall is the cream of the crop, for years we had a milwaukee sawzall that was all metal case and so worn out that it only had maybe a half inch of stroke or less, but it keeps on going, then my father gave me a makita recip saw for my birthday when i was 12, it was a huge step up i thought at the time but just cause of what we were using before that, then about 3 months ago i got a milwaukee super sawzall that someone had been throwing out, the quik lock power cord was missing (18 bucks) and the keyless blade clamp was broken, well it turned out that milwaukee had redesigned the clamp now and the new kit was all metal as oposed to some plastic like the broken one, and it was only 12 bucks, so for about 30 dollars i have a fairly new super sawzall and it is all i used, the longer stroke works circles around the makita, i think no company has a complete perfect tool line, everyone makes the best of something,

milwaukee:sawzall

makita:cordless drills

metabo:angle grinders

hilti:hammer drills

and theres others those are just the ones that came to mind right away

RichZ · Nov 4, 2004

I recently got a Harbor Freight "Industrial Duty" reciprocating saw. They had it on sale for $49.99, regularly $79.99. I'm real happy with it, and the price can't be beat. My buddy is a plummer, and had left his Milwaukee on a job site, and he borrowed mine, and was very impressed with it. Even if it doesn't last as long as a Milwaukee, I could buy three of them for what the sawzall costs.

johnday · Nov 4, 2004

Mark; Right you are. I think I have tools from just about all the major makers. Had a PC 7 1/4 circ saw for 2 hours, took it back and got another dimwit, er, DeWalt. Had a dimwit sabre saw, called jig saw now, had it 3 days, took it back and wound up with a Bosch. It almost seems each maker specializes in one tool or the other, and just follows the pack with the rest. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

markct · Nov 4, 2004

( It almost seems each maker specializes in one tool or the other, and just follows the pack with the rest.
)

yea thats why i have yet to buy any rigid power tools, they are pretty new on the market and an area unproven by them, i have always bought rigid pipe tools and never questioned the quality, they are simply the best in my opinion, but to go from pipe tools to all the sudden a full power tool line doesnt mean much to the quality of there power tools in my opinion, i do like how the design of there abrasive chop saws look, but i cant find the courage to buy one yet, they realy have no history in power tools yet

Boiler74 · Nov 4, 2004

Bosch 24 volt is a sweet tool. Have a set - good on batteries, it has dual stroke lengths, which makes a big difference depending on what your cutting. I'm building a house, and was using a friends milwaukee corded to cut the anchor bolts off. Then I got out the cordless. With the longer stroke, it smoked through those bolts in half the time - using the same blade. I have my own super sawzall, and have not used it once since getting the bosch, and I do a lot of remodeling.

Just my thoughts.

Josh

SPIKER · Nov 4, 2004

markct:

I agree wbout the ridged pipe tools & hand / power tools. I ALMOST bought a reconditioned rigid 12" sliding compound miter saw for 300 bucks, (should have got it) but the morot was not a dirrecct drive but used some other sort of drive system and seemed very small sized for a 12" blade size. though the rest of the saw was very impressive and the dewalt ver is 500 so the cost was very right... the motor just seemd too small for my thoughts...

Markm

hobbyfarm · Nov 4, 2004

One word:
Milwaukee

They're the only brand that has a shock absorbing mechanism in the gear train in case the blade hits an immovable object.

Ken_CT · Nov 4, 2004

The Ridgid pipe wrenches I've seen at the large home improvement stores are not the same quality as the Ridgid wrenches I had used for years. Before retiring I worked as a plumbing & heating instructor at a state Vocation Technical high school. We bought most of our equipment from brand name vendors. We used Ridgid wrenches that were far superior to the ones at the national stores, and we had a number of Milwaukee products that stood up to high school students using (and abusing) them almost every day. Milwaukee makes a number of different sawzalls. In corded models look at the stroke length. If memory serves, cheap saws had a stroke of as short as 7/8" while the Milwaukee Super sawzall was 1-1/4". There can be a difference in strokes per minute, power, and also some can be set for an orbital stroke. I think where you buy the name brand can be important so you aren't getting the "home owner" line of the brand. The cordless were also great for some applications, especially where there is not readily available electricity. They had plenty of power, but limited battery life. Milwaukee even makes a cordless 1/2" right angle drill. If your only using the tool ocassionally, you will probably be happy with a less expensive model. One thing not mentioned is the blades used in the tools. Buy good ones. You will be swearing at the best quality sawzall if it has a cheap or worn blade in it. I have always liked Lennox, but that's just my opinion. I've had cheaper metal cutting blades shatter, sending pieces flying. On a lighter note, I once had a student tell me the sawzall wasn't cutting well. (the blade was worn). I told him he had the saw in reverse. He was looking all over the saw for the F/R switch. I guess he figured he had the blade going forth & back, instead of back & forth /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif.

hobbyfarm · Nov 4, 2004

I agree [somewhat] with MarkCT.
You've got to Cherry Pick your power tools. Turning your back on any brand (for brand's sake) is foolish.
Some tools - like your circular saw gets used almost constantly on some projects; and therefore needs to be a decent prefessional quality. Ditto for your drills. But, say you are a hobby welder as opposed to a professional welder, your angle grinder could be of semi-pro or even consumer quality and would last for years.
However, for me, even though say Hitachi or Bosch are top shelf products, If I have to send it away to Mississippi for servicing or warranty work, I'm just less than interested.
In my area, we have local, quick turn-around authorized servicing for Milwaukee, Dewalt, Porter-Cable, Hilti and Makita.
These brands can pretty much cover any power tool need.
I have been seeing the new Ridgid brand tools on a bunch of jobsites around here.
Hitachi has a 5 year warranty now, that's cool.
9 times out of 10, when you rent a tool, it is either a Bosch or a Milwaukee. That's because they hold up well to abuse.
Just my $0.02.

Gary_in_Indiana · Nov 4, 2004

I have an old corded Makita that has served me well. I have to say that years ago I was working with a friend who had a Milwaukee Sawzall and he did something with his I've never forgotten. We needed to cut some 2x4's off at the sill and he just removed his blade and reinstalled it in another slot which allowed him to make the flush cut. I couldn't have come close to doing that with my Makita.

bontai_Joe · Nov 5, 2004

For a corded model, the Milwaukee is about the best. It's a little heavy, but built very solid for contractor use. I don't have an opinion on cordless models, but have learned form this thread new uses for them I never considered.

markct · Nov 5, 2004

( The Ridgid pipe wrenches I've seen at the large home improvement stores are not the same quality as the Ridgid wrenches I had used for years. )

thats a shame, i didnt realize they had cheapened up the hand tools too, i realy cant say that i have bought any rigid tools new ever, but have alot that came from pawn shops,tag sales and flea markets, and all are great, sad to see another great name going down the tubes, nowdays it seems that just nothing is made to last anymore

NIXON · Nov 5, 2004

Alan . At work we have a variety of corded and cordless tools
Our corded sawzall is a milwaukee ,the cordless are Makita , Ryobi and Dewalt (all 18 v). They all seem to be well made ,and can take daily use and abuse . Having said that I believe the Ryobi is just a shade less able to take as much grief as the others . But that's just a subjective feeling on my part . And as you don't intend to use it everyday will be a good choice .
Being a contrarian ...... I just bought a Bosch cordless (18v)set . /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif John

higgy · Nov 5, 2004

I am a fan of bosch tools and own a few. I have been looking at the cordless set and thnking that I should try it. Let me know how it works for you.

Dane

goodoleboy · Nov 6, 2004

A reciporcating saw is one of the best tools you could own. We own a dw307 (heavy duty model) identified by the aluminum hand grip area.

I use mine for pruning mainly and some demoltion. When stuff does not fit in the trash cart. I start choppin away at things like tables, camper shells and I stuff it in the garabage. The money isaved on dump fees alone has made my $70 investment worth it.

If your getting cordless get a cheap one, because batteries fail and the "good" brands replacemnt batteries run about $90 a piece.
Also get a quick release blade system.

Over the last few years I have been buying cheaper tools.But cheaper i mean Harbor freight and such.
I have really never found a cheap tool that didnt do its job except for cheap drills.

Yeah some tools do the job smoother ,faster and are cooler looking w/ better colors. But No tool I have ever bought has failed to complete its job.

Bird · Nov 6, 2004

Yep, the kind of reciprocating saws we've been discussing here are great for the larger jobs, and the little air reciprocating saws, such as the IR429, CP880, and several others, are one of the handiest little tools you can have in the shop where you have an air compressor. They're light weight, work fast, easy to use with one hand, etc.

johnday · Nov 6, 2004

Bird; How are they with sawdust? Doesn't the exhaust blow it all around?

Bird · Nov 6, 2004

John, I never had a problem with them blowing sawdust. I've owned Ingersoll Rand and Blue Point, and repaired some of both of those brands as well as some of the Chicago Pneumatics, and those had the exhaust straight down just behind the blade. Lots of new ones have come out that I haven't seen, such as the CP7900 that is supposed to have a rear exhaust, so I would assume that would blow the sawdust, or metal filings, even less.