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School me on corded reciprocating saw

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mercifiknow

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I’m looking to buy a reciprocating saw. (Not Harbor Freight). I will be doing the typical things with it, like, projects around the house and automotive projects.

I’m not looking for great blades to use with it as well. Price sub-$150. Not sure if I’m missing any information to give you all.

thanks!
 
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Terra Nova

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Have a 20 yr old Milwaukee Super Sawzall that has cut way more steel then one should have and it never misses a beat. Would be my first choice if buying today.

Edit: Look for one with variable speed. The orbital feature is decent if you cut a lot of wood (mine doesn't have this and it's not a big deal, but is a nice option)
 
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bonneyman

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Another Milwaukee Sawzall fan here. I've had mine for years and still going strong. Then inherited my dad's - his was in the metal box, mine is plastic - but I have no doubt it'll outlast me.
 
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Downwindtracker 2

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The DeWalts are nice and cheap, but industrial standard was the Milwaukee Sawsall. Now that they are offshore, who knows. I have a Porter Cable Tiger Saw from the days when Porter Cable independent and almost as good as Milwaukee, but much better than B&D Industrial , now DeWalt branded.

For the amount of use I have given it, a cheaper saw would have served me well. I have been eyeing DeWalt brushless cordless, but can't justify it even to myself, let alone the chief financial officer.
 
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RTM

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I think I have 4 Sawzalls, all bought cheap, two repaired for <$20 (broken depth stop and worn out rubber boot). One new one needs something in the gearbox. At $5-20 to buy, I doubt I will ever kill them all. I have used an off brand (forget which), but I'd never give up my MKEs, and I'm only a homeowner hack.

Certain tool categories were owned by certain brands, (from watching the construction contractors at work in two different industries) Milwaukee always had Sawzalls and Portabands, and 1/2" drills.
 
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mike93lx

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Ton ton said:
I bought a Porter Cable reciprocating saw. I know I am weird. But it is corded. I know there is better ones out there.
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I like corded for my infrequently used tools. They'll outlast the battery platform I am currently on, so I might as well not have to rebuy them.

Recip, jig saw, 7.25 circ saw, sds, geared d handle drill, drywall gun. All corded and i'll probably never have to replace any of them unless my usage dramatically changes
 
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jd_1138

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I bought a Makita corded one in 2014 for like $45. The guy bought it new and used it on one job -- to remove a small deck and then he put it on OfferUp. Came with a nice hard case. It's a beast. I made like $200 from it by doing a couple of jobs for neighbors (the saw made quick work out of it -- taking down a metal b-ball hoop post and some trees growing into the garage foundation).

And I've used it like 30 times on my projects too. Get some quality blades for metal, wood, demolition.
 
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4xdog

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One of the service anniversary gifts at the 20 year mark from my old company was a DeWalt reciprocating saw. Better'n a wall clock or cut glass vase! It doesn't get used too hard, but it's done everything I've asked of it.

I like Diablo (Bosch) blades. My master plumber neighbor likes Lenox (SBD).
 
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mercifiknow

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mike93lx said:
I like corded for my infrequently used tools. They'll outlast the battery platform I am currently on, so I might as well not have to rebuy them.

Recip, jig saw, 7.25 circ saw, sds, geared d handle drill, drywall gun. All corded and i'll probably never have to replace any of them unless my usage dramatically changes
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I’m the same way. I’m using tools more now than ever but still not really going after cordless as there is no standard replacement batteries across the companies.
 
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mikedodge

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I have a skill one I got for $50 or so. Its done everything from cutting and demo work around the house to cutting tree limbs and cutting up the occasional truck body. For professional use id get a better one expecting it to be able to take more abuse but this one has been great and I don't have it in my budget to be buying that kind of grade for home and hobby type use.
 
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mercifiknow

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jd_1138 said:
I bought a Makita corded one in 2014 for like $45. The guy bought it new and used it on one job -- to remove a small deck and then he put it on OfferUp. Came with a nice hard case. It's a beast. I made like $200 from it by doing a couple of jobs for neighbors (the saw made quick work out of it -- taking down a metal b-ball hoop post and some trees growing into the garage foundation).

And I've used it like 30 times on my projects too. Get some quality blades for metal, wood, demolition.
Click to expand...
Terra Nova said:
Have a 20 yr old Milwaukee Super Sawzall that has cut way more steel then one should have and it never misses a beat. Would be my first choice if buying today.

Edit: Look for one with variable speed. The orbital feature is decent if you cut a lot of wood (mine doesn't have this and it's not a big deal, but is a nice option)
Click to expand...
Probably will be cutting wood. What’s the advantage of orbital and variable features?
 
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jd_1138

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mercifiknow said:
Probably will be cutting wood. What’s the advantage of orbital and variable features?
Click to expand...

It's like an elliptical motion, so it will bite through the wood easier. Regular back and forth will bite less and generate more friction and less biting into the wood. That said my Makita doesn't do orbital/elliptical, and I have taken down some trees with it. With larger trees, I'd use a chainsaw or orbital.

I think orbital and variable settings would be useful, but if you see a great deal on one without those features, I'd jump on it.
 
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Terra Nova

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mercifiknow said:
Probably will be cutting wood. What’s the advantage of orbital and variable features?
Click to expand...

As mentioned the orbital feature moves the blade in a sort of arc, it's not straight back and forth. It really speeds up cutting in wood. The variable speed allows you to tailor the cutting speed to the blade type and material you're cutting. This is particularly useful for metals and hard woods.
 
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rlmartinson

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The short stroke is typically smaller, lighter, and easier to plunge cut, but won't cut as fast. Dad likes his short stroke Milwaukee that he has been using for 40+ years but the trigger is starting to go.
My big long stroke, variable speed, orbital Milwaukee is a beast and I picked it up off craigslist for about $30 a few years ago.
 
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Prospecter

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Recently (last 4 months) bought a DeWalt and a Milwaukee. Used to be a Milwaukee guy, but the new offshore source one is pretty cheap looking. I like the new DeWalt better. (Helping my new homeowner children.)

CPO has some pretty good prices.
 
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RTM

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rlmartinson said:
The short stroke is typically smaller, lighter, and easier to plunge cut, but won't cut as fast. Dad likes his short stroke Milwaukee that he has been using for 40+ years but the trigger is starting to go.
My big long stroke, variable speed, orbital Milwaukee is a beast and I picked it up off craigslist for about $30 a few years ago.
Click to expand...

The saws are rated in strokes / minute, so 50% more stroke in the same amount of time might be 50% more cutting.

One of mine has the orbital, and the difference is noticeably easier cutting. Not sure if the bad gearbox one has VS.

One piece to remember is you need to clear the sawdust or swarf out of the cut. I've seen guys trying to cut tree branches with a sawzall, and wonder why they slow after a few minutes. The teeth inside the cut clog with sawdust, and stop cutting. When I cut something where the blade does not completely clear the cut, I move the motor like a manual saw, and the sawdust can fall out the ends of the cut much easier.
 
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bassJAM

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I have a Bosch I've had for a decade. But since I bought a Bosch cordless reciprocating saw I haven't used the corded one once. Maybe I will next time I have to dig a hole and cut through roots where it gets covered in mud, but otherwise I'd much rather use the cordless tool.
 
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shawhite

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May 28, 2014
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This saw will get in places most recip saws could only dream of.

www.dewalt.com

12.0 Amp COMPACT Reciprocating Saw | DEWALT

The DWE357 Compact Reciprocating Saw has a powerful 12 Amp motor with a variable speed trigger to deliver up to 3,000 strokes per minute with a 1- 1/8 in. stroke length for fast and efficient cutting ...
www.dewalt.com www.dewalt.com
 
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engineer2

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The nice thing about a Milwaukee SawzAll is you can get parts just about anywhere. I inherited a 10 year old one. It even survived being underwater in a flooded basement for a day. After another 20 years parts inside the gearbox finally wore out and it was an easy fix.
 
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