Reciprocating saws

[alan40]

Looking at reciprocating saws. Like tractors alot of choices. Batteries or cord? How do the batteries do in the cold? What voltage would you reccomend? What brand? I favor Dewaults but am always open to any advice. Won't use it every day but like to purchase tools to last. I'll use it mainly for cutouts,installing a couple of windows etc.and at the sugarhouse for several different things. It's one of those tools that I always seem to need but never have. Any input is greatly appreciated. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Would like to stay in the $200.00 range.
Thanks

 

[Boondox]

Al -- I lined them all up and tried them in the store. Ended up with the Milwaukee as it was by far the smoothest. Never been disappointed with it.

Heck, why don't you drive down and borrow it for a couple of weeks? Been a while since we met. Pete

 

[HickoryNut]

I just bought this one last night at TSC for $59 bucks

Recip Saw

I plan to abuse it as a limb-trimmer and trail-maker

 

[Tractors4u]

I have both a corded and battery recip saw. My corded model is the $59 model from TSC. I like the corded model for extened use in the garage or on big extended project.

My cordless model is an 18v Ryobi. It came with the kit that includes the drill, circular saw, light and hand vac. I like this saw for quick projects where it would take longer to get out an extension cord than it would to make the cut. I also carry it along on my John Deere Gator for trimming limbs on trails.

 

[rdln]

Recently bought this after my 9 year old makita crapped out, went in to get a milwaukee but was just so impressed at the articulation I had to have it.
after using it, I am no less impressed but have noticed using in its most extreme contortions it is not easy to push the fence into the workpiece which is the best practice.

sears saw

 

[alan40]

Hi Pete, was just thinking we ought to have a get together before the mountain snows in. Can't get Derek out of his new tractor and his wife is also due in two weeks. We'll have to get ahold of Ed and see what he's up to latlely. Can't have a function here because of the sugar house. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Thanks for the offer but it's a good excuse to get another tool. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Take care

 

[BubbaJr]

I have a Milwaukee Sawzall that works very well, but it's kind of heavy for some jobs. Last X-mas my dear wife got me an 18V DeWalt outfit with a hammer drill, circular saw, reciprocating saw, and work light. After using these and my other cordless tools, I ALWAYS reach for a cordless tool before a corded one. I'm not the most graceful clown in the circus, so the fewer things I have to trip over, the better. The 18V battery life could be a little better, but it's good for most projects, and with the free radio/charger that they sent me, I can charge 2 batteries at once. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

As far as battery life in the cold, I took my DeWalt reciprocating saw out in the woods last January to cut up some branches on a big downed limb. The temperature was in the 20's, and I could almost fill my bucket on my B2910 with kindling wood using both batteries. I was hoping for more out of the batteries, but I guess considering the temperature, It wasn't too bad.

 

[dliston]

Have a Dewalt 18V Cordless and a Porter Cable corded one. Both have their uses. The Cordless is good for climbing around on ladders and scaffolding or just if I just need to whack something in two. The Porter Cable (Tigersaw, I think) is great for lots of cutting or hacking my way through a big steel bar, etc.

Doug

 

[Jim_Slagle]

Bubba, my answer is almost identical to yours. I have a Milwaukee super sawzall and my wife gave me a Makita 14.4v tool set for Christmas last year with a recip saw, 6 1/2 inch circular saw and a 1/2 inch hammer drill. The battery tools are great but the batteries do go down in a hurry if you are doing a lot of cutting

Jim

 

[bczoom]

I'm with Bubba (sort of).
I have the Milwaukee corded and love it... if I'm in my shop and not working overhead.
The DeWalt setup is on my Christmas list.

 

[higgy]

I have both a cordless and corded. THe cordless is a porter cable and the corded is a milwaukee.

Throught the years I have remaind a corded tool fan for most applications, I know most people disagree with me, but hey that makes the world go around.

I would buy a milwaukee in a hartbeat. The one that I have is over 30 years old, I use it all the time and it has never failed.

I have looked at the porter cable corded and almost bought one, but with Black and Decker buying out porter cable I wounder if there customer support will suffer as dose every thing that B&D touches, don't know.

Dane

 

[Lazy]

Hi

Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd., the Hong Kong-based manufacturer of Ryobi power tools and Dirt Devil appliances, said Wednesday that it has received all U.S. and European approvals for its purchase of Atlas Copco Group's electric tools business, including Brookfield-based Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp.

We have the Ryobi combo kit and love it, although the reciprocating saw has been used enough over a 2-year period the sleeve must be worn pretty bad as the blade has a severe wobble and one battery is dead. But it still works well for trimming limbs. We have a corded Milwaukee sawzall and love it also. If I was buying a battery operated saw I would buy the cheapest one I could find and then buy another one when it dies.

Charlie

 

[Tractors4u]

Lazy,

Good news on Ryobi equipment. Now you can buy the saws and drills seperate from the kit. The batteries can be bought seperately for $29 each or 2 for $39.

 

[higgy]

another good tool down the tube. Man I am getting fo frustrated at all of out good long term compaines selling out. Ryobi does not make good tools for the most part. They should stick to making cheep fishing reels.

Dane

 

[SPIKER]

I bought one of the KITS about 30 days ago, inexpensive harbor freight one, for 129.00 came with light circ saw, rep saw and drill/driver with bits & blades 2 batterys & charger. extra battery price was 9.99 for 18 volt sale price it came with 2 batterys so I didn't get an extra but seems good, the drill driver is what I HAD to have at the time and the sawzall was also needed for downed limbs twice. the light also has had one battery in it all the tiem as I can never find a WORKING flash light with kids around... all in all everything has weorked WELL (have not used circ saw YET but I DO have lots of use for it normally just been under weather with back probs (dang weather ) anyhow like others I would say an 18 volt MIN if getting cordless. make sure you can have extra batterys and check prices for them.

dewalt stuff seems 10 times better than the NEW milwalkie stuff which we bought a bunch of after a break in & theft took all our old good milwawlkie stuff... WISH they had stole the new ones NOW they are crap by my oppinion... ryobie seems OK for price too.

Markm

 

[jpr62902]

I have a Dewalt 6 amp corded and a Milwaukee 18v cordless -- both have served me well. The reciprocating saw is the closest tool to a submachine gun you'll ever find -- same recoil and they both give you that visceral power feeling. I would have to say that the "Sawzall" is much better at cutting stuff than the submachine gun, although Al Capone may disagree with me.

That said, I would choose the Dewalt 18v cordless over the Milwaukee cordless since it has higher cuts per minute, and I believe also has an oscillating function that the Milwaukee lacks. Nevertheless, I'm still quite pleased with my Milwaukee.

Bottom line, get a reciprocating saw. They're too cool.

 

[milkman]

I'd like one of those on my Christmas list too, but last week I went to use the old Makita 9.6 volt drill, the one that takes the long slender battery in the handle, but the batteries for it were both down, went to charge one of the batteries and the charger has died after about 10 years. I need to know if anyone has a charger they don't use anymore, looked at a new one today, $69.95 still like the old drill but don't want to put that much into it. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Varmintmist]

I'm with Higgy on this one. I have had no luck with Ryobi.

I have a milwaukee sawsall, corded and love it. Its been around for about 10 years now so its one of the older ones. I like cords on most of my tools. I did get a 18V cordless Skil drill/driver, and am happy with it for what it is. I also have a corded Milwaulkee 1/2 in hammer drill for what that cant handle.

Dewalt is Black and Decker proffesional. I did some work for a B&D/Dewalt rep one time and he asked me about B&D. I told him that I would never buy one again and they cured me from buying cheap tools.

The new Milwaulkees are nothing to sing about from what I have heard, so that said Dewalt would most likely be my choice at the moment. Porter cable is better, but I dont need to spend that much more for that little better when I dont use a sawsall for a living.

 

[johnday]

Alan40; I'm on my 2nd Millwaukee Super Sawzall. IMO, they are the best. A lot less vibration and I can one hand it when cutting out door and window openings in OSB or plywood. The cordless tools certainly have a place, I've got a few of them, but not a cordless recip. I really prefer the Porter-Cable line of cordless tools. Every tool I own is pro-grade, not everyone needs this level of tool, and some people don't care for the weight and lack of shiny things. I think I'd like to try a cordless recip tho. Maybe for Christmas? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[ScottAR]

Just replying to the bottom.

I've got a corded Dewalt, 8 amp if I remember, and a 24V cordless Dewalt. They are both very powerful. I will go out on a limb and say the 24V is nearly as strong as the 6 amp corded B&D Industrial/Sears saw I used to have. (stolen)

My buddy has a corded Porter Cable and it's been great too.
I think he has 24V envy though... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif