Have about a $150 max budget. What recip saw would you fellas recommend? Saw the new RS20 Bosch but not sure about it.
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I bought a craftsman that I used on the job over 6-7 years for mostly demo-work it failed and died when it was used to cut out water supply lines (Galv steel)due to water damage,/If you look at this saw,you will see it is a DEWALT in green,so I went and got a DEWALT this time,and I work it hard...
Scribe once, cut once!
own the dewalt recripro & wore it out easy
bought a bosch set & love all the items in the set
now i loan my dewalt set to others they never get to see the bosch gang
I seen the light and it wasent a train at the end of the tunnel
I'll tell you what to buy if you had more than $150 :-) The new Hilti. That is one great recip saw.
Now, having said that, we have a Hitachi that really is a nice recip saw that has been good to us. I hear that the new Bosch is pretty sweet too. I'd probably get the Bosch if I bought one tomorrow in that price range. The Hilti sure is fast, light and easy to control.
I have a yellow, but this tool I might go Red. Milwaukee has always made a tough Sawzall.
I use the small Makita 6.5 amp model, 7 y.o. now. I chose it because I like the ergonomics, it is easy to handle, vibrates less and more accurate than most of the bigger recips then available, has variable speed. No orbital action, no quick blade release - hex key clips into a keeper on the cord. It is not too heavy, not too bulky. A tomgirl sent to finishing school if you will. The plastic case then supplied holds a bunch of blades and had space for the cord. For one-man-band reno action it proved to be a good choice.
Hitachi, great saw great price, orbital action.
i have an old.. umm.. i cant remember what it is now, but its pretty heavy. I personally think that a light recip that cuts slightly less aggressivly is better than a heavy one. If i were bying one today i think i'd try one of the japanese imports: hitachi or makita. If weight isnt a factor get that cool looking bosch!
measure once
scribble several lines
spend some time figuring out wich scribble
cut the wrong line
get mad
I've got two Hitachi's and they've been fabulous. They see some horrible abuse from time to time and take it well. Great bang for the buck. These days, I'd take a hard look at the new Bosch as well though.
Boy do I miss my Milwaukee(got robbed last year). I not have a dewalt cordless. I managed to kill it in under a year. At least they repaired it under warranty but I still miss my milwaukee.
Go Red............ Milwaukee Super Sawzall. Tool Crib/Amazon has recon ones for $154.99, free shipping and full new tool warranty.
Edited 12/9/2004 10:04 pm ET by jc
I have an old MIlwalkee still going strong after more than 25 years. I have replaced the shoe several times. These days I find myself picking up a small chainsaw instead of the sawzall. It's cordless and has lots more guts. It has a 12" bar. The cuts are just as ugly too. I call it a carpenters chainsaw. It's pretty handy. If I had to choose I would take the chainsaw over the sawzall.
Mike, Do you ever hit nails? Seems like the risk is steeper?
I use my PC TigerSaw almost as much cutting limbs and firewood as I do anything else.
"I will never surrender or retreat. " Col. Wm. B. Travis, The Alamo, Feb. 1835
Edited 12/10/2004 10:36 pm ET by intrepid_cat
intrepid_cat, Do you have a particular blade you like for limbing?
I do this on ocassion too, but, find that the blades fill up pretty quick from cutting those live branches.
I also like to use it when I'm trying to get roots out of the way digging a hole or pulling a stump
Edited 12/11/2004 11:42 am ET by Shoeman
there's pruing blades for sawzalls....
big boxes carry them...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
Thanks, I have been looking for something by Lennox or Milwakee - haven't seen that at the boxes. Did see a very aggresive looking pruning blade by Skil I beleive - called the Ugly or something like that.
Was just fishing for brand and model number reccomendations.
Thanks again,
Shoe
Milwaukee makes a huge demo blade called the Ax at 1inch height I believe. Not all the box stores carry that largest size any more.
you want a contact for morrisn???
Email me...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
I just use a fast cutting wood blade. Works good. Haven't had trouble with it loading up.
"I will never surrender or retreat. " Col. Wm. B. Travis, The Alamo, Feb. 1835
Mike, I've often thought about getting one of those small electric chainsaws, but I never have. My concern is hitting nails. Have you ever hit one with the chainsaw?
blueWarning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. Although I have a lifetime of framing experience, all of it is considered bottom of the barrel by Gabe. I am not to be counted amongst the worst of the worst. If you want real framing information...don't listen to me..just ask Gabe!
I hate all sawzalls..especially the pc's. Our guys went through 3 of them in one season. Junk...all junk...
They're using a Hitachi now. I rarely use it, but one day I did. I was complaining to Ben when I broke the blade about how hard those "quick change" couplings were. He laughed at me, removed the shoe, and showed me how easy it is to change. I now like Hitachi's quick change, but still hate PC's version. My fingers just cant twist that gadget, hold it open, get the broken tip of the old blade out and then slip in a new blade. I'd like to shove the entire mess up the engineer's you know what....
blueWarning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. Although I have a lifetime of framing experience, all of it is considered bottom of the barrel by Gabe. I am not to be counted amongst the worst of the worst. If you want real framing information...don't listen to me..just ask Gabe!
I hit an occasional nail with the chainsaw. If I think I might hit a nail, I break out the sawzall. Me and my chainsaw go way back. I have a few spare chains. I can sharpen one in a few minutes. In most cases I prefer the chainsaw because it is at least twice as fast as the sawzall. Did I say cordless too? Mike Callahan, Lake Tahoe, Ca.
I love the chainsaw. For gang cutting joists, or I-joists it's the way to go. I have a Stihl MS 360. Got it in June and Jasen and I are the only ones who touch it. Our trim guy wrote "no framers" on his Bosch SCMS and I wrote "no trim guys" on my chainsaw. I still use his Bosch and told him he spelled framers as farmers and I'm not a farmer. He scratched his head long enough for me to use his saw :-)
When I was in ME, I got my 1st chain saw.
Figgerin I'd be using it for mostly demo work I asked the local CS Guru about carbide chains.
He said yeah they make 'em ......
somewhere over a buck a tooth!!!
nevermind!
Mr T
I can't afford to be affordable anymore
I agree about the Bosch or Hitachi SCMS. I have the Hitachi 10 inch and I like it.
You can't beat the PC Tiger for getting into tight spaces -- good if you do renovation. (Don't loan it to Blue Eye though -- he busts 'em up quickly.) The Milwaukee Sawzall will last longer but you can't "git" those tight spots.
Billy
I'v had a PC, Hitachi (not one of the new ones) and a couple of Sawzalls. The Sawzalls are my favorite - it may be heavy, but it is about as vibration-free as a recip. saw can be. My old Hitachi would vibrate like a jackhammer.
Milwaukee.
Milwaukee SS
Thanks all for the advice. I'm going with Milwaukee. To change course here a bit. Can I have some advice on a 12" Compound Mitre Saw? Bosch or Makita?
Do you have a coin in your pocket?
Yes and no. Taking on a few home improvement projects. Will be doing a lot of trim work and my old Ridgid 10" CMS is so so. Balancing that purchase against the recip saw.
Edited 12/10/2004 7:56 am ET by Toolsguy
need you truly ask????
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
IMERC which 12" Bosch?
the slider......
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
I was afraid you were going to say that. A bit out of my budget right now but maybe its worth waiting. I was thinking the non slider but you'll prob say to wait then right?
I have both...
The non-slider rarely gets used and then pretty much as a beast of burden saw...
consider the 10" Milwaukee SCMS.... this one is used the most...
everything 12"costs more...
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
i'm not real crazy about my (5-6 yr old?) PC tigersaw. my main complaint is that when cutting something messy overhead- ie, lath and plaster- the c r a p falls down into the motor housing where it is accelerated to roughly warp 3 before it's spit out the side vents onto the bare wrist of your forward arm. the first time it happened i thought i was getting shocked or something- nope, just getting peppered with high speed debris.
m
That's funny that you bring that up. My old boss swore by those PC tiger saws, had like three of them. Same thing would happen, debris gets into the motor and blasts you. Even thought the same thing about getting shocked, that's EXACTLY what it feels like huh? Forgot all about that until now.
i'm okay with how they cut, etc, but it is a little annoying getting zapped in some situations- it took me awhile to figure out what the %&$*# was happening because it stings like he11, and you're thinking 'what the....- did i just cut thru a hot wire or what?' the first time it happened i chiseled open the wall to see if i hit something i shouldn't have. i was scratching my head- and the inside of my wrist. now i know to wear a big sweatshirt and tuck the sleeve into my glove.
m
SCMS:
Bosch or HITACHI!!!
Makita #3
all others: wannabees!
Mr T
I can't afford to be affordable anymore
I've had my Milwaukee Supersawzall for over ten years now, and never a problem. Now I have'nt checked lately, but the big Red is the only one out on the market which has an off-set blade mount and shoe which allows you to park the saw up close to a perpendicular surface. Never have taken it off since I got it.
Hey one should start a new thread called "favorite attachments or accessories"
Where did you get the offset? I was told they don't make them any more.
I have the Milwaukee and the PC that twists and bends. If you need to get into tight spaces, the PC is the only one that can do it. If you just need to chomp thru stuff, the orbital Milwaukee has a little more oompf. If I had to keep only one, I'd keep the PC because it gets into places and makes cuts that no other machine can come close to.
-- J.S.
I got another off-set attatchment last year to replace the one that was dismantled by someone I lent it to who did'nt have a clue what it was or how to use it (my own dumb fault). So I think they're still available thru Milwaukee, however they only work w/ the super-sawzall and not with the quick release heads.
John,
I was in Coastal Tool this week and saw the offset for Milwaukee there. It isn't listed on the website, but I know they have them. Give 'em a call.
http://www.coastaltool.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/main.htm?E+coastest
Rod
Thanks for the reference. I'm on the other coast, so I'll have to call them tomorrow.
-- J.S.
recip- pc tiger cub for small stuff in tight places. hitachi for big stuff in open spaces. bosch 10" dual compound slider is one great miter box. good luck. there are just too many choices............
paul.
I have 3, all red Milwaukees, all three different. The standard saw (no orbital) rarely gets used, if at all. The super sawzall is the workhorse and indispensible for remodeling, and the corded hatchet model has been getting used more often lately due to its lighter weight and flexibility, it also has orbital action.
FWIW,
Milwaukee seems to have fixed the reliability issues in the orbital Sawzall, so it's worth looking into if you can afford it.
WSJ
Thanks I'll check it out.