Reciprocating Saws

Reciprocating saws  will cut anything in any direction. Metal pipes and tubing are usually easiest to cut with these types of saws. No other tool has the same flexibility, power and ability to cut a wide range of materials from difficult angles. Popular Mechanics says, "This is the tool of choice for rough-cutting openings in plaster or wallboard, siding, plywood and flooring. You can use it to cut plastic, copper or cast-iron pipe and it won't be deterred by nail-embedded framing members."

The Right Blade for the Job

The blades  available for reciprocating saws vary in length and type. There are different attributes of the saws themselves, and so there are many different variables that can change the nature and purpose of your saw.

• Fine Blades: Generally used for cutting metal; however ferrous metals (metals which contain iron) necessitate using finer blades than non-ferrous metals (metals which do not contain iron)
• Coarse Blades: Coarse blades are used for cutting wood
• Corded  models are rated at 6-8.5 amps. Cordless  models are rated up to 18 volts.
• Stroke Length and Strokes per Minute: a good combination of these two factors will give you a cleaner, faster cut. Stroke length refers to the length of the cut, while SPM refers to the amount of cuts per minute.
• Variable Speeds: usually trigger controlled and is good when cutting various materials.
• Orbital Setting: some models have the option to change between straight reciprocating cuts and orbital cutting, which is useful when cutting different materials. This is especially true for wood framing as the orbital setting can vastly increase the speed of the cut.
• Blade Clamping: When switching blades, it is important to turn off the saw and disconnect it from its power source before removing the curent blade. Some saws need tools, such as allen keys, in order to remove a blade. Models that don't need such a tool are known for having a tool-less blade change. 

Quick Picks

Milwaukee 650922 Sawzall 11 Amp Reciprocating Saw  Weighing in at a super-light 7lbs, the Milwaukee Sawzall boasts the best power-to-size ratio in its class. The SPM is 0-2,800, and the blade stroke length is 3/4 of an inch. Check out the icon-coded packages for Milwaukee brand blades, which helps you find the right saw for the task with ease. Tool-less Blade Change?: Yes	DEWALT DW304PK Heavy-Duty 10 Amp Reciprocating Saw  Features a 4-position blade clamp which, in conjunction with its fleet 7lb frame provides extreme versatility. This saw is capable of 0-2,800 SPM and the stroke length is 1 1/8 of an inch.  Tool-less Blade Change?: Yes	Makita BJR181 18-Volt LXT Lithium-Ion Cordless Reciprocating Saw  This fast-cutting saw has an SPM of 0-2,900 and a stroke length of 1 1/8 of an inch. It clocks in a 7.7lbs and features an LXT Lithium-Ion battery. Tool-less Blade Change?: Yes	Black & Decker RS600K 8.5 Amp Reciprocating Saw Kit With 6-Speed Control  The Black & Decker RS600K has a stroke length of 1 1/8 of an inch and a weight of 7lbs.  An exciting feature of the RS600K is the six-speed control, which let's you adjust the speed of the blade to tailor to any job. Tool-less Blade Change?: Yes	Ridgid 18v Fuego One-handed Reciprocating Saw  The Ridgid features a unique one-handed design, allowing it to snake into places that other saws cannot. This one-handed model weighs in at a fleet 6lbs and has a 1/2 inch blade stroke length. It's SPM is 0-3,500. Tool-less Blade Change?: Yes

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