What Can Be Cut With A Reciprocating Saw

Rating of powerful electric hawkers

Makita JR3050T

Quick release mount: yes
Speed ​​control: yes
Pendulum stroke: no
Soft start: no
Backlight: no

PATRIOT RS 808

Quick release mount: yes
Speed ​​control: yes
Pendulum stroke: no
Soft start: no
Backlight: yes

Einhell TE-AP 1050 E

Quick release mount: yes
Speed ​​control: yes
Pendulum stroke: yes
Soft start: yes
Backlight: no

SPECIAL BPS-800

Quick release mount: yes
Speed ​​control: yes
Pendulum stroke: no
Soft start: yes

What is a reciprocating saw for?

A distinctive feature of the equipment is that it does not require fixing the material for its operation. The tool can be operated unsupported and in any position. It should be noted that few professional tools have this functionality. True, it is much harder to cut the material without fixing it, due to strong vibrations.

The equipment in question helps not only accurately, but also in a short time, to cut a large amount of materials. If you compare the tool with a hand hacksaw, the latter loses in many ways. This concerns the fact that a reciprocating saw can cut in a straight and curved path, which greatly expands its scope, answering the question of what a reciprocating saw is for. Naturally, making curved cuts requires experience, however, this can be quickly learned.

The best reciprocating saw how to choose a reliable tool?

Manufacturers have tenaciously proven any manual labor can be mechanized. Electric drills and chainsaws replaced hand drills. What about a hacksaw? Yes, here is a network and battery saber saw, both for wood and aerated concrete, capable of working on concrete, metal and even stone; how to choose it, we learn from the article!

Reciprocating saws for metal and not only electric hacks as they are!

Reciprocating saws, this phrase in itself does not always evoke understanding even among experts in electrical engineering and its sellers. Surprisingly, in the West this tool is as popular as an electric drill or a chainsaw, everyone knows about it and is used in every home. How such a saw did not please the Slavs is not clear, although, most likely, we, in view of certain stereotypes and banal economy, simply cannot appreciate the tool.

Perhaps the whole point is that not so often we have to deal with a hacksaw for wood; the townspeople live in a concrete jungle, where dynamite is more useful than a hacksaw, and in the villages they prefer to work in the old fashioned way. But it is to the hacksaw that the reciprocating saw is the closest in terms of operation, and, in fact, it performs its functions, only instead of muscular traction an electric motor works.

In the tool itself, everything is quite simple, a long body with an easy-to-grip handle in the form of a familiar pistol, a trigger, several switches, a replaceable working blade, that’s the whole tool, if you don’t delve into the details. In principle, even a person who has never dealt with it will figure it out in a matter of minutes.

How to choose a reciprocating saw tool functions

In many ways, a saber resembles a jigsaw, however, on the contrary, a jigsaw resembles a reciprocating saw, because it was it that was invented first! As in the jigsaw, the saber tool performs reciprocating movements and gradually cuts the material, in the same way, the pendulum function is also found in the saber models, which we will discuss below.

The difference lies in the size of the hacksaw blade, as well as in some distinctive functions that cannot be done with a jigsaw. For example, in a garden it will be much more convenient to work with a saber when cutting trees, and it will be difficult to cut metal or aerated concrete with a jigsaw. By and large, the omnivorous saber unit changed the blade depending on the need, and we can safely cut wood, steel, stone, plastic, ceramics, glass, foam blocks! You still need to look for such a multifunctional tool!

It is easier to compile a list of technical professions for which this tool would not be useful, than to list all the professions and crafts that will only be happy with such a unit. It’s not even about its functions, which at first glance can be duplicated by other tools, the layout of the products itself decides a lot.

In addition, this tool works completely calmly on weight, regardless of the shape of the part, be it round pipes, square bars. And for pruning trees, such a tool seems to have been specially invented! over, you can cut both a large branch and small wen. Maneuverability is the second name of the reciprocating saw! She will work as the hand of the master will lead her if necessary, round an acute corner or cut out a part from a curved material.

The tool shows itself perfectly and during dismantling work it very quickly saws the old window frame, dismantles the steel heating. The tool is able to cut even wooden surfaces with metal parts, for example, old nails or self-tapping screws, and this, you see, is beyond the power of any jigsaw. And a very important advantage of saber saws, they are much safer than chain saws, circular saws and grinders, during operation there are no sparks, clouds of dust, scale, there is no overheating of the workpiece.

Reciprocating saw device features

Manufacturers produce saber saws in different price categories, but in the total mass, two types of devices can be distinguished: professional and amateur (or household). The latest models are guided by a short period of continuous operation, 3-4 hours a day. This does not mean at all a low build quality, they are simply designed differently and need periodic rest, while a professional tool, due to especially durable parts, will work the whole shift without stopping. Of course, household models are sometimes several times cheaper.

• Power is the most important indicator for a tool. The more powerful the engine, the greater the performance, but remember that this in turn increases both the weight and the dimensions of the product. Follow the rule of the golden mean: tools from 500 W to 900 W are suitable for household work. Also, pay attention to the number of strokes per minute, the normal indicator for comfortable work is 2.5-3 thousand strokes / min. Stroke length ranges from 19-23 mm, sometimes this indicator can be adjusted.
• Speed ​​control is a feature of all saws because different materials will need different speeds to cut. There are several options for implementing this function in the first case, a stepless method is used, when using an electronic button the operator can adjust the speed by the degree of pressing. The method is good, but it will require some manual dexterity.
  A more advanced version allows you to set a special speed mode, and a more accurate adjustment is carried out by the trigger. This makes it possible, even when the button is fully pressed, to remain at the maximum permissible speed, without exceeding it.
• Pendulum stroke is a convenient feature that increases cutting speed, reduces blade heat and helps remove waste from the cut line. The essence of the pendulum stroke is that the canvas, making the opposite movement, slightly deviates upward. This function is not available in all models, and it is important to note that it is not relevant in all works.
• The support shoe with the help of the device allows the operator to rest the tool against the workpiece and make the cut more evenly and quickly. Pay attention when choosing how the emphasis is movable, in what positions it is fixed. The correct shoe has multiple positions and fits comfortably at the push of a button or lever on the body.
• The mechanism for changing the blade modern models allow you to replace the hacksaw blade for a reciprocating saw without the use of tools, for example, a key or a screwdriver. It is enough to turn the lock lever and move the lock. In some models there is the possibility of securing the blade with the teeth up, which really allows you to cut from the bottom up.
• Soft start such a function is present in powerful tools so as not to overload the network when starting the device. A smooth start is also useful for the saw itself, since the blade accelerates without jerking. Along with this function, pay attention to the presence of overload protection, when the device overheats, it will turn off by itself.
• Electrodynamic brake when the saw is turned off, the blade stops very quickly, which makes it possible, without waiting for a long time, to put the tool on the floor or table and continue working.
• Double insulation of current-carrying units provides the ability to work from a socket without grounding. Plus, it significantly increases the tool life. Due to the presence of double insulation, you can work safely even in wet weather.
• Accumulator The advantages of cordless devices are obvious! This is mobility, and the absence of an interfering wire, a long period of work away from the mains. At the same time, modern battery models are almost in no way inferior to their network counterparts, and the units charge very quickly and work longer, and weigh less.

As I promised, I am posting a report on field trials at the dacha not so long ago (albeit before the crisis) of the purchased Makita JR 3060 reciprocating saw Why did it seem useful to me to write this report? A reciprocating saw for a Russian man is a new and unusual tool, unfamiliar, unlike the same drill, hammer drill, angle grinder (angle grinder) or even a chain chainsaw. Those interested in the tool will be interested to read about this class of hand tools.

Frankly, I have always liked the Makita brand, attracting attention with its low price relative to other quality brands and some kind of special. Rough simplicity or something. Such is an honest professional-grade instrument, a little clumsy in appearance, without the gloss characteristic of Bosch or DeVolt, a little kondy, but unpretentious and reliable. Now the price of all the tools has risen, but this saber was not particularly cheap even before the price rises, chain saws are in the same price group or even cheaper (I did not plan to take the gasoline one, because I expected to work in the country, and there the size of the plot is standard, six acres and you can reach either end with an extension cord). It would be much cheaper to take the Skil 4960 MA of a slightly lower power, with a slightly lower sawing stroke, but for a long time I do not trust Skil.

If we give the available analogies, then the reciprocating saw is something like a monster-like jigsaw turned 90. The design of a jigsaw with a small saw and a large flat platform perpendicular to the saw is designed for sawing or, to a lesser extent, cutting in sheet materials (plywood, chipboard, fiberboard, OSB, GVL, etc.) A reciprocating saw is designed to install files of various sizes, but still they are usually much larger than jigsaws, the shoe (similar to the jigsaw platform) is much smaller and serves as an auxiliary, optional stop. The saw stroke for a reciprocating saw is also much greater. This tool, due to its weight, the peculiarities of the location of the saw in the longitudinal axis, is very poorly suited for accurate and accurate sawing (although there are small files for this purpose, the size of a jigsaw), but great for sawing, not only sheet materials, but in general anything, only the power and length of the file would be enough. It is also great for demolition work, because not afraid of nails and screws.

One look at the design will tell you that it is quite difficult to work with one hand. Weight four kilograms, handle in the back of the case. The standard reciprocating saw grip is right hand on the handle, left hand on the forend. However, one-handed sawing is also possible, I cut off tall branches that had the audacity to hang over the bath pipe. The second option is to work with one hand, holding the saw almost horizontally to saw off, for example, a piece from a branch, holding the branch with your left hand near the saw. With a chain saw, this trick is strictly prohibited! Saber, of course, is much safer, it is much more difficult to get injured. This is a big plus.

A sawing stroke of 32 millimeters with a frequency of 2800 strokes per minute and a power consumption of 1250 W make the sawing process absolutely comfortable even for raw wood through the entire thickness of the longest saw, especially if we consider that a reciprocating saw, like a jigsaw, has a saw feed regulator (i.E. There is a file that goes not only back and forth along the axis, but also swings in the plane of the cut). At the maximum feed, it is a pleasure to cut even a thick log, the saw goes only under its own weight. I have never felt a lack of brainpower. At the same time, it should be borne in mind that the peculiarity of the kinematics of the reciprocating saw is such that even with the feed turned off, an unsecured light object is great to swing back and forth, and even more so with feed. For better work, the object should be either well secured, or heavy enough, or you have to work as I wrote above, holding the object with your hand, and not very far from the mowing line of the cut.

On the Internet, I have come across assertions that it is impossible to cut with a saber without a shoe stop, this is nonsense. The shoe is more of an auxiliary thing. The variety of reciprocating saw blades is very large. So far I have only sawed wood, using a long coarse-toothed Makita saw and another shorter one from the kit, also for wood, but with a smaller, bent back tooth. The extra length, as it turned out, is not a plus, but a minus, the tail of the saw, which does not participate in the cut, hurts too much. Here, by the way, a movable shoe is useful, which allows you to shorten the saw, as well as use another saw area for cutting, with fresh teeth. An interesting feature of the reciprocating saw is that the saws bend strongly and at the same time saw as if nothing had happened. That is, you can saw off, for example, a pipe flush with the wall by bending the file accordingly. On the Internet, I have come across statements that with a reciprocating saw you can immediately cut into wood (for example, cut a hole in a wooden wall without preliminary drilling), I myself have not yet tried this trick.

When sawing, as with a chain saw, you need to think about how and in which direction you are doing this, in order to avoid the saw being jammed. For example, a log lies on the other two logs. When sawing from top to bottom, closer to the end of the cut, the saw will inevitably be squeezed and a reverse impact will follow, not dangerous, but not very pleasant, by the way, leading to the bending of the file. Here it is necessary to cut from the bottom up. A bent file (not bimetallic, but ordinary for wood) is easily straightened by hand and cuts further without noticeable deterioration of properties.

As I wrote above, there are special saws for wood with nails (wood metal marking) and for metal, which not only expands the scope of the saw, but also allows it to be used where the chain saw is, in principle, not suitable (for example, dismantling buildings). She also wins in the ability to make curly cuts. It is inferior in the chain at the cost of consumption (it seems to me that the saw chain lasts a long time and can be sharpened), in addition, the long chain saw bar is better suited for cutting trees. Although I cut down a few, but a small fifteen centimeters. Reciprocating saw gives a cleaner cut, when cutting off branches from trees it will heal more easily, as I see it.

Resume is a powerful, interesting, versatile tool with a wide range of applications, but still not essential for a country house. In a city apartment in a brick or panel house, work for her cannot be found, except that quickly and decisively sawing an old cabinet intended for disposal 🙂