As mentioned on a previous post, I am going to start demo’ing out my master bathroon in December. I suspect I will need to invest in a reciprocating saw.
Being a homeowner / DIY’er, what brand / model reciprocating saw would you recommend? I would like to stay in the $100.00 range or so – if at all possible; yet, I try to buy the best tool that I can afford.
Thanks!!
Replies
For a single job and low budget, any will likely do is my fist thought - and that you may spend as much on blades as on the saw.
Then I remember that my Rigid will not hold a blade when the going gets tough, and it was on sale at $89.
So I'd say pay less attention the cost of the saw and more to functionality. You can sell a good saw after the job is done to re-coup a good 50% of the cost. A cheapo would be hard to give away.
PC or Milwaukee.
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
Milwaukee 6523-21 Rotating Handle Orbital Super Sawzall
it's unbelievably good. amazon has it for $149 free shipping, which is $40. less than I paid for it 3 years ago.
if it has moving parts or sits outside unprotected, I'm always willing to spend more. Maybe you'll find even more uses for it.
Dewalt $99 dollar version. Been beating the c**p out of mine for 8 years daily, keeps coming back for more. I think the version now has keyless change-out for the blades.
Chuck
Watch for deals on refurbished tools online and for closeouts at the big stores. I picked up a 13 amp. milwakee sawzall at HD for $79.
Whatever you do, spend the money for one with an orbital cut--it cuts twice as fast and you'll only spend a little more money.
Just checked http://www.toolking.com and they list a reconditioned 13 amp supersawzal (with orbital action) for $110. Sign up for their electronic newsletter and you save $10, so there you have it--a fantastic tool for $100.
edit: when you are done with the one project the saw will essentially still be new as far as wear and tear goes and many carpenters would gladly give you $75 for it.
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
Edited 10/13/2008 3:16 pm ET by IdahoDon
Milwaukee, bar non. I would buy a used milwaukee on e-bay vs. a new Craftsman, ryobi or black and decker, any day of the week. As someone else posted, the orbital action is nice as is the reduced vibratin in the counterbalanced models.
I am a DIYer too, rebuilding my house room by room.
Get this saw, its very flexible and holds the blade in more usefull ways than any of the other saws mentioned... it also costs less than $100:
http://www.dewalt.com/us/products/tool_detail.asp?productID=8339
View Image
Big box stores carry it. Other saws that are mentioned are better if you are going to be running it for hours on end, 5 days a week. You are not. The 4 position blade holder places the blade within 1/2" flat to the top of the tool. No other recip saw can do this (besides their 36 volt version)View Image
Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
I don't feel it's healthy to keep your faults bottled up inside me.
Hey that's my saw! I can say with all honesty-
My nards get broken every time I use it on the job!
Apparently 1.2 amps are not enough to impress the guy's
on the job sight. " But it's very light"
has no noticeable effect on the laughter.
"Well, it was cheap" Only gets me a resounding "We know". But on a more positive note- The 24 gauge cord is very cute!
Brotha, I feel your pain.
Years ago when I used to smoke, I eventually settled on a brand called "Capri". A totally chic cig. For those who don't know, a normal cig is about 3/8 diameter, a Capri or Virginia Slim is only 3/16 diameter. Yes, the howls of laughter were the same when I lit up as when you whip out your saw.
But I always got my revenge. Since the packs were thinner, I could bring more to the party. That means at the end of the night, I was the only one left with smokes. The howls of laughter were always replaced by "ya ya, fine, shut up and give me one, dang it"Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CAAlso a CRX fanatic!
I don't feel it's healthy to keep your faults bottled up inside me.
Paul,
After reading all the posts and even looking at Craigslist...this just just might be the best deal and plus if I order through Tool King, this saw (with the $10.00) coupon would only cost me a whopping $59.00 plus I would think I would get a warranty on it as well.
I live up in Novato (Marin County) and need to tear out our original 1960's master bathroom due to water leaking in the shower. I already know that I have dry rot. Then there is the spare bedroom....you know how it is...the list just continues.
Sounds like your project is bigger than mine!
Take care.
Stan
Projects beget projects and projects beget the need to buy new tools and that is the cycle of life.
Oh yes, I know! My "fix the leaking roof" in the garage turned into a full reroof - new rafters included - plus raising the garage roof height 12".
My "remodel the master bathroom" got the master bedroom down to the studs and all new electrical service for the whole house.
Sometimes I wish I were a contractor... with a contract... that would tell me specificly where to stop.
PS> I'm envious of your deal!Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CAAlso a CRX fanatic!
I don't feel it's healthy to keep your faults bottled up inside me.
Ordered the reciprocating saw last Tuesday and got it on Friday. It was in great shape. Although it is another something that could break, a trigger lock would have been nice - but it can be overlooked.As we were having a number of people over Saturday night for our daughter's birthday party there were two small in diameter stumps in the backyard. The saw had no problem going through them.If I was a contractor I would have purchased something else - however for the amount of time that it will be used...gee I could not go wrong for $81.00 for a sawzall and extra blades.Thanks Paul for recommendation!!How is the remodeling going??Stan"Projects beget projects and projects beget the need to buy new tools and that is what the cycle of life is all about."
You are welcome.
My progress report: Slowly but slowly.Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CAAlso a CRX fanatic!
I don't feel it's healthy to keep your faults bottled up inside me.
"a trigger lock would have been nice - but it can be overlooked."I got to scratching my head over that one...For the life of me, I don't know if any of my sawsalls have ever had a trigloc button. I don't know it is something I would use. I can think of a few situations where I would not want it to be accidentally engaged for sure
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Homeowner handed me one of those Dewalt recip saws once on a job and after a couple of cuts I went out to my van for my Milwaukee. The sight lines on the Milwaukee are the best of any of them, so you can cut much more accurately and there's nothing smoother than the Milwaukee 15 amp saws.BruceT
On Craigslist in my area. Not my favorite brand, but the price is right. Might even bargain down a little.
sawzall used twice and extra milwaukee blades - $70 (downtown)
Reply to: [email protected] [?]
Date: 2008-10-13, 2:13PM EDT
plus lots of extra new milwaukee torch and ax blades
$70
"Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
If you buy an industrial saw, Bosch, Milwaukee, P/C and use it once you can sell it on ebay for 75% of what you paid for it.
Or start on eBay.
Edited 10/13/2008 8:22 pm ET by cynwyd
Check your local pawn shops. Great deals on well-used everything.
The best reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do another.
Yeah, sometines the deal is so good, it's a steal."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
Let's look at things from a different perspective .....
For sheer economy, and a need to only HACK your way through stuff, and your having a high tolerance for inconvenience ... you can't beat the $40 Harbor Freight model. (The $20 model is useful only for balloon ballast).
The $100 FireStorm cordless is good for maybe three battery charges.
But, that's not what you were asking, is it?
The first convenience that really matters is blade changing ... you really want to be able to change blades without resorting to any kind of wrench, key, or screwdriver. DeWalt's big lever is probably the easiest to access, especially when using gloves. Makita and milwaukee, on their more recent models, also have good blade changing designs, but they're not as obvious.
For controlled cuts, you need two features .... some means for the tool to absorb vibration on the tool, and selection of the degree of orbital action.
The Makita AVS, as well as any of the Milwuakee Sawzalls, have excellent vibration absorbtion. This really helps you control the tool. It comes at a cost: the tools are heavier, and larger, than some others.
That's the difference between the $89 DeWalt and the $89 Milwaukee: vibration absorbtion.
Likewise, "orbital" blade action is great for hacking through 2x4's, but not so good for cutting nails, or making neat cuts through sheathing. You want to be able to switch from 'straight' to 'orbital' action.
Finally, there are numerous accessories for specialized tasks. "Paws Off" tools has the most interesting; check them out.
First I want to thank everyone for taking the time to offer me their pearls of wisdom.
Upon reading everyone's responses I went for a hybrid solution of sorts. As much as I would like to have spent $150.00 or so on a top of the line saw, economics played in as did the fact that I am a homeowner DIY'er and I could not justify - at this time spending that much. Even checking our local Craigslist.org for sawzall's everyone wanted to sell theirs for about $100.00 and I got no warranty.
I took xxPaulCPxx recommendation and purchased a reconditioned DeWalt DW304PK (being a Bosch guy I never thought I would EVER buy a DeWalt) after I read all the positive reviews on Amazon about the saw. Then per IdahoDon's recommendation, I ordered the saw from http://www.toolking.com after I sgned up for their newletter so I could take advantage of the $10.00 discount.
All in all, the saw and a package of blades only cost me about $81.00 "out the door" (sort of to speak since I did the purchase online). Everything should be delivered tomorrow, October 17th.
Until it comes I am already starting to "window shop" for a framing nail gun and a biscuit joiner. With the economy the way it is, who knows I might even start looking at the local pawn shops for deals.
Again...thanks so much.
Projects beget projects and projects beget the need to buy new tools and that is the cycle of life.
Stan, If you are ever down San Diego way, I have a Porter-Cable framing gun I would gladly sell you for a low price. It is in good shape, with a case and no-mar tip included. My Hitachi fits my hand much better, so I find I never use the PC anymore.Bill
Hey Bill,
What model is the PC and what would you want to ask for it? Also, what condition is the gun in?
Thanks,
Stan
"Projects beget projects and projects beget the need to buy new tools and that is what the cycle of life is all about."
Stan,The gun is a FR350 in very good condition, only used by myself in my remodel work. $70 takes it away. I live in the north county of San Diego, just blocks off the 5.Bill
I just looked at the Paws Off website and had to laugh. On the picture bar on the left, third picture down, shows their flush cut adapter on...
...the DeWalt saw that already does flush cuts. Really, all you have to do with that saw to do the same thing their $40 adapter will do is PUT THE BLADE IN THE OTHER POSITION. Oh, and the DeWalt is sooooooo much better that that tool at flush cutting.
While I absolutly hate their flush cutter, I do think it was well put together (but that can't overcome its basic fatal flaw). The other accessories on the site looked pretty interesting.Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CAAlso a CRX fanatic!
I don't feel it's healthy to keep your faults bottled up inside me.
Did you watch their video?
http://www.theflushcut.biz/id7.html
Bring on the popcorn and some cherry coke!
"Projects beget projects and projects beget the need to buy new tools and that is what the cycle of life is all about."
get the new milwaukee hackzall. 5 yr warranty. Very versatile tool. Use it around the yard w. a different blade. never buy garbage tools.