I just bought this little gem at HD right when it came out about two weeks ago. Today it paid for itself many times over.
I had to remove a tree in a tricky area. Because of power lines and the proximity of my neighbor’s house and a number of plants, I had to remove the tree starting at the top, pretty much branch-by-branch.
Forty feet up, I was able to hold on with one hand and use the tool with the other. I used a Skil pruning blade to cut everything, culminating in a six inch branch. This saw is not really a good tool for that size, but in this situation, I was able to get the job done from my perch. I could not have used a chain saw from that position because of the weight.
I got half of the tree down today, at least to the level where I can safely use a chainsaw.
I actually bought the saw to cut copper pipe in close locations, but this was a really handy application.
This is a corded saw. It has a nice LED for work in dark locations. Also, with the exception of certain light-duty drills, I pretty much buy only corded tools now because of the financial, environmental, and dependability issues.
I estimate that it would have cost me well over $1K to have the tree removed. Unfortunately, the six inch branch that I took out as my last cut also did a number on my 32′ ladder on the way down. I figure I am still ahead by at least $600.
I’ve got to quit doing that last cut where I push the envelope when I should be putting my tools away.
Replies
I could not figure out what you where talking about so I did a little searching.
http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/R3030-One-Hand-Recip-Saw/EN/index.htm
It's good to meet such a celebrity!
I was going to provide a link, but after being up in a tree for four hours, I did not have the energy. Thanks for the effort.
My neighbor helped me by holding the rope as I let branches down. He was quite impressed by the saw. I think he is going to get one.
Plumber Joe recently got signed to a record deal and he's become quite a celebrityI hope he stays around here at Breaktime
If he can sing, life is really going to change for him.
thanks for sharing your experience
does that thing take regular sawzall blades?
CaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
Has anyone tried these blades yet? Double sided.
http://www.boarblade.com/category/24/Boar_Blades_plunging_products_replace_Sawzall_blades_best.htm
Mike
Small wheel turn by the fire and rod, big wheel turn by the grace of god.
Yes. It's easy to load them too.
For pruning and close-quarter cutting I use the Milwaukee Hatchet - comes in cordless 18V and corded varieties. Easy to use one-handed.
The Milwaukee lithium battery has a "fuel tank guage" - push the button and LED display shows how much battery charge is left before you climb up that tree.
http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-6514-21-Cordless-Reciprocating-Pivoting/dp/B00005QEW8/ref=pd_cp_hi_2
Bruce, I cam close to buying the hatchet many times. The price was too high for a long time. Later, when the price came down, I had already bought the DeWalt and could not justify yet another "unnecessary" tool.
Eventually, I always have to explain why I bought each tool to my wife. The last question she always asks is: "how much did it cost?". At that point, I have usually done an admirable job of defending my purchase. Still, I am uncomfortable telling her the extent of the damage, and I know she is uncomfortable asking me. But she has a point to make, and I owe her the information. Experience with this uncomfortable situation keeps me from going overboard on my tool purchases.
I know what you mean about corded vs. cordless.
I think most cordless is a bunch of BS. Inferior tools at outrageous prices. Batteries cost over $100 each and last minutes in most real sawing applications. The tools are underpowered, slow, and poorly designed and out of balance.
I can't understand why cordless tools can't just come with corded adapters. Most of the time, I don't need a cordless to do the job.....Not to mention, why should I have to own 2 of everything!?!? circular saw, recip saw, hammerdrill, drill....If they just made one good version that was convertable from corded to cordless I would love it.
And while I'm on a gripe....they need to quit making every brand and size battery different. It really sucks buying into one brand when we all know that Mil makes best recip, Mak makes the best drill, Bosch makes best circ...(you may rate them dif, that's not my point).
tools...grrr!
GK
Hmmm, it's a reincarnation of the old Porter-Cable Tiger Cub.
Anyway, glad to hear that you got the job done w/o injury...
Cliff
I just saw one of those, in use, the other day. The plumber - who already owns the Mikwaukee "hatchet", loves the Rigid tool. As you mentioned, it's great for close spaces, and needs but one hand to operate.
The plumer had no idea it came with a light, but also raved about that feature.
I see thet Milwaukee is selling a scaled-down battery powered saw, but I can't speak for its' performance.
I always liked using a sawzall for cutting roots where the dirt and sand would trash my chainsaw.
I would think I could cut in most positions with a conventional sawzall one handed. In fact I actually like the idea of having a little more weight on the blade and a longer reach if I am cutting something like tree branches.
I used to work with a tree trimmer who carried a double bladed axe in a hammer type loop on his climbing belt and a small pruning saw in a scabbard. He seldom fired up his limbing saw for anything under two or three inches.
Thanks for the tool review.
Karl
I have the cordless DeWalt, which I used primarily on roofs when I was framing, especially for a quick job like cutting vent holes for the roofer. There is no way I could have done the job I did with the DeWalt. I could have done some of the work, but the utility of a light tool is really valuable.
Last year, I had to take down some limbs on the same tree because my neighbor was concerned that they would fall on or at least droop onto his electrical service line in an ice storm. We have one or two ice storms every year. I had the DeWalt cordless with me, which is much lighter than my PC, and opted to use a small bow saw instead. That was great for a few limbs.
Whether using the bow saw or the Ridgid, I felt that cutting patiently and persistently with almost no pressure made the job very easy and safe. Cutting on the ground, of course, works better with a more powerful and heavy saw.
I would like to comment on the story about the guy who carried the double-bladed axe on his belt. I would never do that. If you fall, you are probably going to remove a kidney or cut a femoral artery, considering where the axe is located.
If you have to carry a small axe up there, I would recommend one that Stihl sells. I bought one ten years ago. It has a holder that can be hooked on your belt. When the axe is in the holder, the blade is completely covered. If you were to fall, the holder would release the axe and you would at least have the chance of landing without being beat up by your own tool. The axe releases kind of like a modern bicycle pedal releases a shoe.
Having said that, I would never recommend carrying an axe around up there unless you had to.
Good point on axe safety. The tree trimmer I worked with (Ray Liebenberg) came from a local lumberjack family with legendary status. His brother Les Liebenberg was nominated for the Guiness Book of World Records after Stihl identified him as the oldest working tree feller. I think he was in his 80's when Stihl identified him. I didn't know Les but he worked up til the week before he died of a stroke. Ray predeceased Les but their abilities and activities were very similar.That family was capable of doing things with trees and chainsaws that most anyone would have been deemed impossible or unsafe, yet they managed to work right up to their final year of life and died of non work related causes.The stihl axe carrier you describe sounds like a great idea. Ray carried his behind him, centered on his belt in a loop that he probably made himself. I never developed much talent with an axe, so any trimming I have done is either with a pole pruner or a chainsaw, rest assured I won't be climbing anywhere with an axe.Ray was quite a distinctive character. He carried his chainsaws and equipment in the trunk of his Cadillac, had long grey hair halfway down his back and had been a vegetarian since sometime in the 1940's. He died around twenty years ago and I learned a lot from him though improvements in equipment and expectations of safety gear have likely rendered a lot of it obsolete. I only trim my own trees so I haven't kept up with new developments since my days working with Ray.Karl
They sound like cool people to know!
milwaukee's version
http://www.milwaukeetool.com/us/en/news.nsf/vwFeaturedProducts/47D6DD2418B17221862574B00072E22F?OpenDocument
Ib would imagine a Bosch version is right around the corner.
I like it. I don't plan to buy any cordless tools in the future, though. The batteries always die way before the tools get used up.