RECIPROCATING SAWS OFFER VERSATILE CUTTING ACTION
Handy power tool comes in many sizes, with many types of blades to suit many jobs
Of all the power tools out there, the reciprocating saw has the most unusual history.
It was invented by a Milwaukee tool company in 1951, and its progress over the years has been radically different than any other power tool.
Originally called a Sawzall, reciprocating saws are now made by every tool manufacturer. All models propel a blade back and forth for making rough cuts in potentially close quarters.
Nothing much changed with the reciprocating saw for more than 50 years. Even today’s models aren’t all that different from the original, though reciprocating saw performance and versatility has skyrocketed. Why? Massive improvements in blades.
Over the last year I’ve used reciprocating saws for the teardown phase of renovation work and to rough-cut quarter-inchthick plate steel for a welding project. Last month, I used my saw to cut out a piece of bad exhaust pipe as I worked with my son to fix up his first vehicle. Blades also exist for turning a reciprocating saw into a firstrate tree-pruning tool. When carbide blade technology began appearing on reciprocating saw blades a few years ago, it boosted tool performance even more.
As with all cordless tools, lithium-ion battery technology is much better than the nickel cadmium batteries of earlier cordless. There’s no task out there that would have you wishing for a corded reciprocating saw instead of a good cordless one. The power and run time of cordless is astonishing.
If you’re considering a reciprocating saw for your tool collection, there are three things you need to keep in mind: size of saw, blade motion, and blade selection. These days you’ll find most full-sized reciprocating saws use 18- or 20-volt battery systems, and there are compact versions that use 12-volt batteries. Which is more useful? That depends.
Full-sized models have more power, but compact models can get into tight quarters better.
That exhaust work I did with my son, for instance, could only have happened with our compact 12-volt reciprocating saw because of space restrictions. Just the same, this tool was powerful enough to cut through two-inch steel pipe no problem. On the other hand, a full-sized model will do better in most renovation applications and outdoor work.
If you watch the blade of a reciprocating saw working, it looks like it simply goes back and forth. And while that’s true, the best reciprocating saws have what’s called orbital blade action. As the blade moves down it travels in a straight line, but as it moves back into the tool during use it curves forward. Why does this matter so much? Visit baileylineroad.com/reciprocating-saw-power-tool for a video on reciprocating saws.
Reciprocating saws are made by all power tool companies and, thankfully, blades are always interchangeable. Just remember that you need a variety of blades to enjoy the full versatility of reciprocating saws. I keep three types on hand. The one you’ll use most is a general-purpose blade for cutting wood with the odd embedded nail in it. What they call “bimetal” blades offer the longest working life.
Even if you don’t make projects out of metal, you should keep some hacksaw blades handy. These have finer teeth than general-purpose blades and they’re made to cut metal. There’s nothing better for careful demolition of a deck or dock than a reciprocating saw with a metal-cutting blade. Slip the blade between pieces of wood, cut the nails or screws, then everything comes apart much more easily than the smashing and bashing approach.
Steve Maxwell has tested and written about power tools since 1988. Join 28,000 people who get Steve’s Saturday morning newsletter from BaileyLineRoad.com