Educate me on Sawzalls

[SteveHGraham]

I guess the Milwaukee people will sue me for calling a Dewalt reciprocating saw a Sawzall, but I don't care. I bought one yesterday to help me deal with PVC pipes. It was very nice compared to my old hacksaw.

As long as I have this thing, what should I know about it? What amazing attachments and uses will I want to know about?

Seems like there are 500 different blades you can buy. I went for 14TPI metal, figuring it was about like a hacksaw.

[jcfx]

The only attachment I ever got for my reciprocating saw was a putty knife scraper blade attachment,
amazing it was not, the attachment was the dumbest thing I ever bought.

[hammermill]

the basic guide is keep the foot tight to the work and lots of spare blades.

if the saw is shaking read step one

[SteveHGraham]

The first blade I got was some sort of all-purpose job with big teeth. It jumped around like crazy, so I got the 14 TPI blades, thinking they might be a little easier to get started.

[mklotz]

The blades with five or six teeth per inch and deep gullets (think tree-felling saw) are great for pruning limbs too big for hand loppers.

[BadDog]

I don't know any tricks or attachments that I would suggest, other than as stated, use the foot.

But like a band saw, buying the right (good) blades can make or break your day. I've got a selection of teeth in metal, demolition, wood, and (grit) masonry bits, and some cross overs, different lengths, and over time I use them all. And for the main blades that get the most use, spares on hand! Nothing is more frustrating than using a blade that is dull. It will dull first near the foot, because small or large piece, you are cutting there nearly every time because you keep the foot seated (when you can). So then you try to hold off the foot to use the teeth that are still sharp, and it jumps, and it bends the blade, and you rattle out your fillings, and bad things happen, and you curse and stomp and throw things. Or maybe that last is just me... But I have spares! Which is good when the thing you are cutting binds and kinks the blade. I can't tell you how many times I've had to straighten a blade dozens of times before it breaks.

[warmstrong1955]

I have a Makita, and it's a good tool, but probably one of my least used.
For metals, a port-a-band is a much better choice, provided you have the room.

I'm like Marv. I've used mine for cutting tree branches more than anything the last few years.

Bill

[steamin10]

My Makita does more demolition work, and pipe cutting than anything else. It is a least used tool, but indispensable time saver in most cases. Its one disadvantage is getting pinched in a cut. I agree it has few gismos that fit and work, but the right blades in length and tooth can make or break a job.

I used long low tooth count blades to cut out spines in a boat, and then manufacture new pieces to fiberglass in. It took only minutes for the removal part of the job.

A recent acquisition of a portaband has taken some of the load off the sawsall (generic tool form, like crescent wrench for an adjustable}.

IMHO a reciprocating saw is a must have for those that are in that category of home maintenance, and such larger work environments.

[hammermill]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEwece5mW8c



ok a good video and saves typing

or the at ease aproach, smoke em if you got them! hihi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cfwOrBUlNk

[SteveHGraham]

As long as we're on the subject, I have a Ridgid Jobmax, which is a really useful tool. The one problem I have with it is that Ridgid decided to make a sawzall attachment. As far as I can tell, it's completely useless.

[hammermill]

alas rigid tools are junk now a days relying on a fine product name of 20 years ago.

[SteveHGraham]

If they were better than they are now, they must have been really something. I have two of their miter saws; both very nice. I also have their portable table saw.

The Jobmax is a great thing to have around when you're doing something that requires a drill plus an impact driver. It gets into tight places. I'm not crazy about the cordless version, however. The more experience I have with cordless tools, the less I like them.