By Paul Bianchina
For anyone who's remodeling, a reciprocating saw is second only to an inexhaustible supply of patience. Reciprocating saws can go where few other saws can, and can cut wood, metal, nails, wires, fiberglass and a whole host of other materials. They simply can't be beat.
You'll often hear the term "Sawzall" used in place of reciprocating saw. For the sake of clarification, Sawzall is the trade name for a type of reciprocating saw make by Milwaukee - it's an excellent saw that came into wide-spread professional usage some years back, and so the name has become somewhat synonymous with the generic name of reciprocating saw. Besides Milwaukee, reciprocating saws are also made by Porter-Cable, DeWalt, Bosch, Makita, Hitachi and others.
What to Shop For
A reciprocating saw, as the name implies, utilizes interchangeable blades that move out and back in a reciprocating motion, in much the same action as using a handsaw. The saw is linear in shape and averages about 16 to 20 inches in length (not including the blade), with average weights in the range of six to eight pounds. The blade mounted at the front of the saw, which tapers to a diameter that is easy to grip with one hand. The cord and trigger are at the rear, which expands into a D-shaped handle that gives you a good gripping surface for the other hand.
As with any tool, especially one that's designed for the types of heavy use - and a certain amount of abuse - that a reciprocating saw will see, price is usually a good indicator of quality. What you are paying for is essentially the size and strength of the motor and the durability of the housing, both of which contribute to how well the saw performs and how long it will last.
When selecting a reciprocating saw, there are a couple of things to bear in mind. The best indicator of relative motor strength is the saw's amperage rating - the higher it is, the more powerful the saw will be. Reciprocating saws range from around seven to 12 amps, and with each increase in amperage comes a corresponding increase in weight, so you need to look for a good compromise between the two.
In addition to weight and power, you need to consider comfort. While every reciprocating saw has the same basic shape and design characteristics, there are some subtle differences that will make one saw feel comfortable in your hands while another one might not - your best bet is to check out a store with a good selection, and see how each one feels to you.
Every reciprocating saw utilizes the same types of blades, regardless of the manufacturer of the saw or the blade, so there's really nothing to worry about on that score. However, there are some differences in how the blades are changed, ranging from a hex-head set screw that requires an Allen wrench to a simple flip-lever design that does need a tool.
Recent Innovations
While the reciprocating saw has been around from several decades with few changes, there are a couple of recent innovations worth mentioning. One is the redesigning of the blade locking mechanism mentioned above, which is worth taking a look at.
Another is the introduction of the new Variable-Angle Tiger Saw from Porter-Cable. This saw utilizes a revolutionary design that lets you rotate the head of the saw - where the blade is mounted - to a variety of angles. This is wonderful for getting the blade into tight spaces, and really extends the already extensive applications for reciprocating saws in both new construction and remodeling.
Once considered too much of a saw to be powered effectively without a cord, improvements in battery strength have led to a new generation of cordless reciprocating saws from several manufacturers. While still not quite up to their corded brothers for all-day, heavy duty use, cordless saw offer the advantage of increased convenience, and are also worth looking at.
With cordless saws, power is dictated by the voltage of the battery as opposed to the amperage of the motor, with the same weight vs. power tradeoffs. Many cordless reciprocating saws now come in kits with cordless drills and other tools and utilize the same batteries, so you can have a whole arsenal of tools in one convenient case.
Reciprocating saws - corded and cordless - are available from tool stores, home centers, hardware stores, discount stores, and a variety of other retail outlets. Prices range from around $110 to close to $300, and usually include a case.
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