When I had to demolish a 50'x60' metal building I became an expert on Sawzall's. I would be cutting all day long. I would use my corded Milwaukee with either a wood blade or metal blade with my cordless set up with the opposite blade to do a few cuts so as not having to change blades. Having to pull around a 10 gauge extension cord was not the easiest thing to do but there is no way you can use cordless hours on end unless you have a lot of batteries. Some of the places I had to work would have been dangerous if a battery died 1/2 way through cutting up a truss.
REcip saws, corded or cordless?
- Thread starter Knotgoalie
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When I had to demolish a 50'x60' metal building I became an expert on Sawzall's. I would be cutting all day long. I would use my corded Milwaukee with either a wood blade or metal blade with my cordless set up with the opposite blade to do a few cuts so as not having to change blades. Having to pull around a 10 gauge extension cord was not the easiest thing to do but there is no way you can use cordless hours on end unless you have a lot of batteries. Some of the places I had to work would have been dangerous if a battery died 1/2 way through cutting up a truss.
DerekV
Well-known member
A charger on site, 2-3 (8+Ah) batteries, a premium brushless saw, and a handful of quality blades...corded is a thing of the past. Keep an eye on the fuel gauge every now and then and that should keep those dangerous situations at bay.
WittHay
Well-known member
For projects that go on for hours on end, I still think a corded sawzall, grinder or SDS drill is better than cordless. Heres a $150 corded saw get to work, heres a $1,000 worth of stuff, cordless saw, 4 batteries and 2 fast chargers. Please be careful and dont overheat the batteries and dont loose any of the tools.
I have had 12ah batteries do weird things on the big Milwaukee 9" cordless grinder. Lights flashing and had to cool down before charging. I had a friend want to use a cordless and had something like 1200 cuts to do on some cedar logs. The three 9ah batteries couldnt keep upusing a regular charger .Switched to corded
The reality is that so few GJ members are going to have these large projects and cordless is the better choice for most guys. I have Milwaukee Fuel and DeWalt 20V and like them both
I have had 12ah batteries do weird things on the big Milwaukee 9" cordless grinder. Lights flashing and had to cool down before charging. I had a friend want to use a cordless and had something like 1200 cuts to do on some cedar logs. The three 9ah batteries couldnt keep upusing a regular charger .Switched to corded
The reality is that so few GJ members are going to have these large projects and cordless is the better choice for most guys. I have Milwaukee Fuel and DeWalt 20V and like them both
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MushCreek
Well-known member
I have an M18, and a corded SawZall. I can't remember the last time the corded one was out of the case.
unknownroad
Well-known member
As always, it depends what job you're trying to accomplish and under what conditions you're trying to accomplish it. :shrug
Most of the time when I'm reaching for a reciprocating saw it's to deal with tree limbs, which means it's gonna be a cordless, 1-handed Hackzall. But if I've got a piece of metal stock in my bench vise that I need to do a relatively straight cut through as efficiently as possible (because I don't have room for a bandsaw
), I'll break out the two-handed, corded saw.
Different jobs, different tools, y'know?
Most of the time when I'm reaching for a reciprocating saw it's to deal with tree limbs, which means it's gonna be a cordless, 1-handed Hackzall. But if I've got a piece of metal stock in my bench vise that I need to do a relatively straight cut through as efficiently as possible (because I don't have room for a bandsaw
), I'll break out the two-handed, corded saw. Different jobs, different tools, y'know?
goforbroke
Well-known member
I use my cordless unit 9 times out of 10, can't remember the last time I plugged in my old recip saw. I'm not chopping down buildings though like some of you guys.
techieman33
Well-known member
Cordless for me. I have an M18 fuel sawzall, and and M12 fuel hackzall. I prefer the hackzall for lighter duty stuff, or where I want to use the other hand to hold what I'm cutting. The M18 for the heavier work. Corded just doesn't make sense to me these days. The nicer cordless stuff is pretty close to even the best corded ones for power. And the cord is just going to get in the way.
goforbroke
Well-known member
You have to read the fine print below that.
MADE IN THE USA
“with global material”
Yeah it’s assembled in the US with parts from XYZ country.
While this is true you've also got $500+ invested in a tool who's performance can be duplicated by a $100 corded tool.
Dont get me wrong cordless is nice. Ive got two cordless recip saws myself. But if I've got more than a batteries worth of cutting to do and I have power on site I'm pulling a cord 90% of the time.
Yes cordless tech has come a long way. But they are not anywhere near replacing corded saws or grinders. Atleast not for true production work
dutchgray
Well-known member
I have a corded Makita, my brother has the cordless, we use either depending on the situation, we are in construction, if it was just for home use the corded would be fine, would probably not wear one out in a lifetime at home.
The cost to benefit ratio really changes if tools are used to make your living versus using at home for diy projects.
The cost to benefit ratio really changes if tools are used to make your living versus using at home for diy projects.
Ebay.com is full of Milwaukee sawzalls labelled "Made in USA"....Are they still made in the US nowadays or are these NOS ??
I think that is the model I have. I have 2 complaints. The case should have more room to store blades and the saw is too powerful so I had to dial it back a little.
Hilltopmasonry
Well-known member
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- Oct 12, 2015
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Yes they are that good!!!
Dewalt flexvolt sawzall will tear some **** up....without a cord
Of course if you are going to be cutting all day the batteries might be an issue but who really need to cut all day every day?
Cordless is well, well worth it
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
DerekV
Well-known member
In my view, if there’s a job that will require the serious battery situation I described, you’re likely no home gamer and you already have the battery inventory to get it done no problem. The reality is, a single big pack can get a ton of work done no matter who you are. I spent an entire day demoing a family member’s house a while back and (1) 9.0 in an M18 Fuel Sawzall lasted the entire day. Granted I wasn’t using it non stop from dawn to dusk, but I tore down the entire first floor. I remember being blown away. It’s an amazing tool.
Angle grinders are a completely different story though IMHO. That, and this thread is about reciprocating saws
MJK
Well-known member
I have a DeWalt 20V recip and a 15 year old PC Tiger Saw. The DeWalt is great for small jobs including trimming tree branches on a ladder, and the blade clamp is excellent. For everything else, I'm sticking with the PC. It is just a better made tool.
My corded Sawzall is dated 11/85 made in Brookfield Wisconsin.
That case has 5 moving stickers on it and currently a layer of dust was disturb to check the date.
What would be interesting........sales numbers of cordless compared to corded. My guess 3 corded for every 100 cordless sold. Met a “Milwaukee tool guy” from the Milwaukee Brookfield office in Florida sports bar in JAN. Packers play off game ( yes the one they lost) .......he would know !
That case has 5 moving stickers on it and currently a layer of dust was disturb to check the date.
What would be interesting........sales numbers of cordless compared to corded. My guess 3 corded for every 100 cordless sold. Met a “Milwaukee tool guy” from the Milwaukee Brookfield office in Florida sports bar in JAN. Packers play off game ( yes the one they lost) .......he would know !
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Semi-hole mechanic
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- Feb 2, 2017
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I dont use power tools enough to invest in cordless, so I'm still using an old Dewalt corded saw that my ex-wife bought me used at a pawn shop when we were remodeling an old house and i need it for some demo work. Now I just use it as a hacksaw.