119 Reciprocal Saws
Description
This article is from the Woodworking FAQ Collection 5, by multiple authors.
119 Reciprocal Saws
From: nivek@rover.ri.cmu.edu (Kevin Dowling)
Date: 23 Jun 87 21:56:12 GMT
I've been eyeing reciprocal saws for some time now and finally bought
one a few days ago. I got the Makita JR3000V (variable speed). It's
pretty rugged and I've been doing some cutting that would have been extremely
awkward or tiring with other tools. With the appropriate blade it cuts
nail-infested wood, pipes, 6" beams, anything!
I was fairly patient and waited until one of the large home centers
(Hechingers) had it on sale, I then went to a competitor (Builder's
Square) and bought it there. Both chains have the policy of not
only meeting competitors prices but giving you 10% less in addition.
So Hech had it on sale for $97. BSquare sold it to me for $97 and
gave me 10% of their price ($115 or $11.50) so I ended up getting
it for $97-$11.50 or $85.50 Fine Woodworking and Fine Homebuilding
ads had it for around $110 or $120 so it seems like a pretty good deal.
After using it for a few days, I wouldn't bother quibbling over price
on these again! It really works well and fast, including plunge cuts through
flooring and walls. I replaced a support post in our garage by quickly
cutting through it and a few nails with three cuts. Pulled the post out,
rough cut a new piece with the saw and then put it back in place. A hacksaw
would have been the only other fairly safe way to do it but would
have taken considerably longer.. (Unless some company comes out with a
home water-jet tool!)
Milwaukee and Porter-Cable also make fine recip-saws (Milwaukee's
uses their trade-name Sawz-all, and seems to
be a favorite with contractors) The Black and Decker looked ok too,
and I believe that the Sears recip-saw is the B&D also.
Admittedly, it isn't a finesse tool for precise, measured cuts for
making furniture and such, but for demolition work, fast efficient
cuts in any material it can't be beat.
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