Sawzall Choice?

[KnurledNut]

I use my Porter-Cable Tiger saw which adjusts via two swivels into all-sorts of blade positions. Dunno if it's still available. I bought mine after I saw it written-up in Fine Homebuilding. A great tool for me. A pic of one:



Look at that big knuckle forward of the gray body. It moves like a clock. Then the blade also adjusts. Look at it staring down the blade front, pointing at you, and you can set the position of the teeth 'around the clock,' locked into-place.

I have plenty of cordless tools but I also don't mind deploying a cord. I'm retired, and maintain 3 houses.

I have an older one of those but it identifies as a Milwaukee.

 

[T444e]

Get a 18v Fuel Milwaukee Hackzall. I have several full size Milwaukee sawzalls…I rarely reach for anything but the hackzall…one handed and all the power you need. Lighter, easier to handle and will do anything the two handed big brother will do.

I second the Hackzall, I have both the M12 and M18 fuel versions. If I need a reciprocating the first thing grab the Hackzall. About the only time I use the Sawzall is when I'm cutting thicker/large diameter steel or cutting a lot of steel and the Portaband will not work for the task.

 

[M635_Guy]

I got my M18 SuperSawzall a couple years ago to do a bunch of demo on my "new" house. It did a fantastic job on all kinds of stuff, including helping with a cast iron tub. With good blades it's fantastic to use. I also had the M12 Hackzall at the time, and found it useful for the nooks and crannies stuff, but it's not all that powerful - maybe the M18 version would be better.

I'd highly recommend a SuperSawzall. Maybe find the Hackzall on Marketplace for cheap and run both.

 

[LOW1]

Like many I have mostly switched to battery power tools. But I prefer my corded Sawzall over my battery Dewalt. This is especially true on larger jobs where the time to run the extension cords, etc is insignificant in comparison to the total job time.

It seems to me that Milwaukee had the reciprocating saw perfected and then batteries came along.

 

[Prospecter]

I've had corded old Milwaukee, new Milwaukee, Dewalt, and Bosch, and batteried, Milwaukee, and Hitachi. New Milwaukee corded I find disappointingly low quality/high price compared to Dewalt, and Bosch. Dewalt, Bosch, and Hitachi frequently show up on CPO, and are available at Lowes, which I generally shop at.

 

[Notgrownup]

HF Hercules for the win.

 

[BombShelter]

A recipricating saw is probably my 2nd most used tool after an impact driver. My Makita Cordless is going on over 10 years old and it's a beast, I think it was right around $99 when new. I chop a ton of trees and branches down for my two fire pits cuz I have decades of branches and rat trees everywhere. I also use it to remove buckthorn trees, cut a pie shape around the trunk with a 9" Diablo Pruning Blade, and rip those bastards out.

I thought the brushes were going bad a few years ago, it would run slow in 0 degree F, but it turns out the batteries have 1/2 the life when it's that cold and they were fine, just need some summer heat. I did have to order them from somewhere in EU on Amazon, back when you could get Oddball Makita Parts from Europe, nobody in the USA seemed to have them.

I've accidently left it outside, sometimes in rain or snow, tend to drop it instead of setting down and pretty much beat on it but it just keeps chugging along.

Yea I have a corded Milwaukee, one of the orginals in the cool red metal case but it's more of a shelf queen, alone with a corded hand drill, those things were made like tanks and look cool up on the shelf. They definately deserve the reputation, they never bog down.

 

[Jbear]

Went ahead and ordered a dcs367 mostly because I really think the 4-way blade orientation is going to be very useful for what I'm going to be doing with it. Can always add something else later, but this seems like the most versatile for me at this time. Thanks again everyone!

 

[AEAdam]

Went ahead and ordered a dcs367 mostly because I really think the 4-way blade orientation is going to be very useful for what I'm going to be doing with it. Can always add something else later, but this seems like the most versatile for me at this time. Thanks again everyone!

Just keep in mind at the end of the day its a motorized hand saw and all the rules about hand saws apply. #1 blade selection matters. #2 blade length matters. #3, how sharp the blade is trumps just about everything. We think an awful lot about the motorized part and sometimes miss the blade part. With sawzalls its pretty simple since all of them use the same style of blade. Circ saws are similr and don't all use the same blades. Worse with tracksaws.

I like the Diablo blades, but I go through them pretty good. Didn't love Lennox, or Milwaukee.

 

[Jbear]

Good points. Yeah...I tend to have pretty good luck with Diablos too. Haven't noticed longevity issues but...never put them (or myself) through what I'm about to either . We'll be here in GA until next spring so...to be continued.

 

[ChevyEFI]

Stroke length, whether the blade goes in an arc or just reciprocates,, battery AH/life, vibration are easy factors to help decide. Oh, and maybe weight but a 2 handed tool shouldn't be bad either way.

 

[BobnCO]

I'm sure many would agree and just as many wouldn't.

When it comes to reciprocating saws Homeowners buy Dewalt, Pro’s buy Milwaukee. Dewalts are cute

 

[JohnX14]

I would take Milwaukee over Dewalt any day of the week.

Dewalt makes a number of reciprocating saws. I hgave at least 4 different models. Many of them have more power than I want. As an electrician. Change role to GC, which I do and have license for, and it's a different discussion for a different tool and scope of work.

 

[Jbear]

When it comes to reciprocating saws Homeowners buy Dewalt, Pro’s buy Milwaukee. Dewalts are cute

Interesting take. There's a GC across the street from me currently using just about everything Ridgid...I'm gonna go tell him he's nutz.

 

[JohnX14]

FWIW, I have the multiple dewalt reciprocating saws previousluy mentioned. I have a corded super sawzall. I have 3-4 cordless MW sawzalls If you can't figure out what you need for a job, you msy want to reconsider

 

[Jbear]

Hard to know for certain until we get in behind and under things. I know something for tighter spaces will be helpful, but not underpowered. I do have some experience, but this is a big step forward. Not being impetuous or impatient...slow n' steady. Learning a lot and enjoying the hell outa that. Next spring is when the heavy lifting will happen. Trying to be as prepared as we can.
Thanks again everyone!

 

[pcmeiners]

Have the original Sawzall and a new super. The super is kick *** but heavy. The original I can use one handed not the super. As to battery powered, Ok if you have multiple batteries but I have used a Sawzall continuously for hours running many kilowatts through it, a single battery is not going to do it. For a typical homeowner a battery unit would be sufficient

 

[Rinspeed]

Interesting take. There's a GC across the street from me currently using just about everything Ridgid...I'm gonna go tell him he's nutz.

Hey, poor contractors have to work too.

 

[Jbear]

I'm a middle school bio teacher...define poor🫤.

 

[gleman]

I'm a middle school bio teacher...define poor🫤.

I'm not going back to corded if I can help it.

Get the one that you have batteries for and you'll be fine.

I replaced my corded SawSaw with a M18 Hackzall last year and it is easier on the hand and easier to get into tighter spaces.

 

[Hakeem]

I’d grab a corded lightly used sawzall from eBay for $100 all in, and call it a day. Maybe you can find one locally for less.

 

[dante2]

Just sold my DCS380 yesterday. I haven't used it in quite a while since I got a one handed saw. Between that, a cordless angle grinder, and 20v band saw the big 20v reciprocating saw is now kind of obsolete for me. Still have an old Ryobi corded saw just in case.

 

[Firebrick43]

I agree with @Hohn on the super sawzall. A buddy of mine called me from a garage sale and picked up a cherry one for 100 bucks

The thing is a hungry beast with a sharp blade and its orbital motion.

I also have a M12 fuel hackzall. I use it three to one to the big sawzall but mainly for light weight task like cutting EMT or space limited places when doing demo. There is always that one or two cuts over head on a ladder can be done one handed with the hackzall that would be hard or much more dangerous with the full size sawzall

I am a cordless tool nut but there are only three tools that so far I won’t buy a cordless and the sawzall is one of them.

 

[bwringer]

... I've got the platform already (have Ridgid, M12, & DW).

Most of you chest-thumpers missed this -- the OP has Ridgid, M12, and DeWalt batteries.

More than half the battle is having enough batteries to keep going while one or two are on the charger. Buying into enough Milwaukee batteries to do that would be ridiculously expensive.

Yes, there's corded, but that wasn't the question, and wrangling a cord is a giant asspain, and even somewhat dangerous in the chaos of demolition.

Went ahead and ordered a dcs367 mostly because I really think the 4-way blade orientation is going to be very useful for what I'm going to be doing with it. Can always add something else later, but this seems like the most versatile for me at this time. Thanks again everyone!

Nice! Of the three battery platforms you own, DeWalt makes the most sense.

Just keep in mind at the end of the day its a motorized hand saw and all the rules about hand saws apply. #1 blade selection matters. #2 blade length matters. #3, how sharp the blade is trumps just about everything. We think an awful lot about the motorized part and sometimes miss the blade part. With sawzalls its pretty simple since all of them use the same style of blade. Circ saws are similr and don't all use the same blades. Worse with tracksaws.

I like the Diablo blades, but I go through them pretty good. Didn't love Lennox, or Milwaukee.

But what about the blades?

And yeah, Diablo seem to be consistently VERY good, and if you watch the sales at Home Despot, you can score some good deals. They have carbide blades specifically for demolition.

As you say, have lots of good blades and be willing to change them when they begin to displease you. They're not cheap, and it hurts to throw away $5 or $10, but you'll spend a lot less time waiting for a dull blade, or a blade missing teeth, to chew through whatever. The other thing is that dull blades are a lot less safe; you'll do a lot more vibration damage to your hands, you'll tire out your arms, and general spend a lot more time near potentially dangerous things you're cutting.

You get a lot more done with sharp blades, but you also don't damage yourself as much.

 

[swsman]

I have Milwaukee 2821-20 that replaced HF corded special that smoked out last summer.
Picked it up on Woot for $135 last November.

Have not put it to use yet, time is coming with some house fencing projects planned. Would have already had some of it done if it wasn't for my ankle debacle...

Also for a few years now, I bought a M12 Fuel Hackzall and that little tool has done lots of cutting/house remodel work without skipping a beat. For M12 stuff I like to use 6AH batteries.

Whatever you go with, work it and I hope it treats you solid.

 

[Hohn]

Most of you chest-thumpers missed this -- the OP has Ridgid, M12, and DeWalt batteries.

More than half the battle is having enough batteries to keep going while one or two are on the charger. Buying into enough Milwaukee batteries to do that would be ridiculously expensive.

Yes, there's corded, but that wasn't the question, and wrangling a cord is a giant asspain, and even somewhat dangerous in the chaos of demolition.





Nice! Of the three battery platforms you own, DeWalt makes the most sense.




But what about the blades?

And yeah, Diablo seem to be consistently VERY good, and if you watch the sales at Home Despot, you can score some good deals. They have carbide blades specifically for demolition.

As you say, have lots of good blades and be willing to change them when they begin to displease you. They're not cheap, and it hurts to throw away $5 or $10, but you'll spend a lot less time waiting for a dull blade, or a blade missing teeth, to chew through whatever. The other thing is that dull blades are a lot less safe; you'll do a lot more vibration damage to your hands, you'll tire out your arms, and general spend a lot more time near potentially dangerous things you're cutting.

You get a lot more done with sharp blades, but you also don't damage yourself as much.

I seem to recall I bought a Diablo carbide-toothed recip blade at HD and it was an absolute beast.

MIght have been this one:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/DIABLO-9-in-8-TPI-Steel-Demon-Carbide-Teeth-Reciprocating-Saw-Blades-for-Thick-Metal-3-Pack-DS0908CF3/207192133

 

[Hohn]

Like many I have mostly switched to battery power tools. But I prefer my corded Sawzall over my battery Dewalt. This is especially true on larger jobs where the time to run the extension cords, etc is insignificant in comparison to the total job time.

It seems to me that Milwaukee had the reciprocating saw perfected and then batteries came along.

I think the only edge some of the newer ones have over my Brookfield-made SuperSawzall is the vibration reduction tech.
I'd agree that Milwaukee had basically perfected the corded Sawzall, but mine will still make your hands and arms numb after a lengthy period of work.

Perhaps ironically, the heavier the work, the less taxing the saw seems to be in use. Seems most of the vibration goes into the workpiece when you're giving her a hot supper. It's the lighter work that kills your hands.

That's why I've pivoted to jigsaw or lighter recips for lighter work.

Speaking over perfected corded tools-- the Bosch 1590EVS jigsaw has to be on that list also. Powerful, smooth, precise. It's up there IMO with my 2002 SuperSawzall as one of the "they don't make them like this anymore" kinds of corded tools.

Tools like this earn the cord hassle every time.