Best Reciprocating Saw Reviews and More! All You Need To Know

A reciprocating saw undoubtedly makes work easier, especially if you love DIY projects. Reciprocating saws are most suitable for demolition type tasks and can work through wood, a variety of metals and PVC. They help you in accomplishing all kinds of heavy duty and demolition work including windows, walls, doors, plumbing and so on.

That said; if you are also on the lookout of some best reciprocating saws, we just got you covered! This article talks about reciprocating saws in detail, and also provides best reciprocating saw reviews.

Let’s get started!

**Below, you'll see more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices and read customer's reviews on Amazon.

More...

What is a Reciprocating Saw?

A reciprocating saw is a must-have tool for every DIY lover. It can help you in any repair or major remodeling and will cost between $100 and $300 depending on the brand and the features. 

The reciprocating saw is not only used for fine crafting but it is also used for workhorse jobs which are achieved with the blade’s back and forth cutting strokes. Instead of using other kinds of saws, this one works really well in tight spaces, all thanks to its exposed blade.

Using this, you can overcome the safety risks and slowness posed by other kinds of saws. Further, its ability to work with different kinds of blades also enhances its capabilities.

There are various kinds of reciprocating saws available with us today. Let us know more about each one of them in detail.

Types of Reciprocating Saws

Usually used for rough cuts and demolition works, the reciprocating saw can quickly slice through a variety of materials like wood, plaster, masonry, metal, fiberglass, metal, stucco, fiberglass, composites and drywall. Various types of reciprocating saws are easily available in the market. Some of these include:

  • Corded and Cordless Reciprocating Saws
  • Light Duty and Heavy Duty Reciprocating Saws

The light duty reciprocating saws are usually lightweight and small. These saws are particularly useful for performing small pruning tasks and general cutting. 

Heavy Duty Reciprocating Saws are the most common reciprocating saws. They are large, powerful and suitable to do big jobs like demolition.

Things to Keep In Mind While Buying Reciprocating Saw

Various factors may affect the performance of your reciprocating saw. Thus, it is necessary to keep certain aspects mind while selecting the right reciprocating saw reviews for your purpose.

Adjusting Shoe And Metal Gear Housing

An adjustable shoe is required to provide more control and stability. Such a tool provides a range of positions and it also allows you to adjust the mechanism without any specialized tool. It also enhances the blade visibility and provides more positions to cut.

Metal gear housing is another important aspect to look for while choosing a reciprocating saw. In order to ensure motor protection and to increase the longevity, it’s better to have metal gear housing. This will not only protect but also prevent the motor from burning out during heavy-duty use.


Orbital Maneuverability

Orbital maneuverability allows the reciprocating saw to move horizontally and vertically which can achieve quick cuts. Irrespective of the tool’s position, the sawing speed will remain consistent. A variable setting even allows cutting certain materials at a slower speed.


Tool-less Blade Replacement And Auto-Stop Brushes

The blade can be replaced with much more ease and efficiency with a tool-less blade replacement feature. This also eliminates the hassles of carrying an extra tool onto the job site.

Further, the auto-stop brushes make the saw stop automatically and in case of the brushes wearing out, then this feature gets activated automatically to save the motor from getting damaged.


Speed Regulation 

This feature helps the saw to maintain its speed while cutting. A speed control dial can be of great help here. A small numbered wheel on top of some reciprocating saws can be used to set a preset speed that works best for you. This feature provides more control over the tool.


Cushion Grip And Storage Case

Cushion grip provides better comfort and control, especially while performing long and difficult jobs. Additionally, choose a reciprocating saw with anti-vibration technology that would help you in fighting user fatigue.

Also, make sure that your chosen reciprocating saw comes with a storage case. It comes handy to house the various accessories safely. During transportation, the storage case gives good protection and ones with a hard exterior can provide additional security.


Power Source And Lock-On-Button

The power source is either a wired connection to mains power supply or to batteries which can be charged. Cordless saws are powered by batteries and can be heavy but provide immense portability. Depending upon your need the decision must be made. Further, you should also look for a lighted plug which will notify you if the tool is powered or not.

A lock on button is another important feature to look out for. It helps to lock the trigger at the set speed while it’s pressed and it can be undone to stop the function.


Blade Clamp

via Youtube

It’s a component which keeps the blade in place and may come as hex drive screws which need to be loosened and tightened in order to keep the blade in place well clamped. Most blade clamps let the blade clamps to be inserted upside down or left to right to allow more versatility.


Brand

Last but not the least, it’s very important to decide the brand as good brands really give good tools. Not so popular brands often fail to execute what they promise and the money goes to waste. For buying heavy duty tools like a reciprocating saw, it is better to make a one-time investment in a good branded tool.

**Below, you'll see more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices and read customer's reviews on Amazon.

Top 5 Reciprocating Saw Reviews 

Buying the right reciprocating saw may require proper research. To help you here, we have reviewed some of the best reciprocating saws along with their pros and cons for your convenience.

Characterized by a lightweight and compact design, the Dewalt DCS387B is 14.5 inches long which can get fitted between studs. It lets users make cuts in confined spaces. It provides increased positional versatility and flush cutting with 4-position blade clamp and tool-free blade changes.


                         via Amazon.com

Pros​​​​​

  • check
    Faster cutting speed is delivered by 1-1/8 in. stroke length
  • check
    Increased blade control for precision cuts is provided by 0-2900 SPM variable speed trigger
  • check
    Illumination is provided by a bright LED light
  • check
    Increased versatility during cutting is provided with pivoting shoe

Cons

  • exclamation-triangle
    Vibrates a lot
  • exclamation-triangle
    Blade placement doesn’t work well
  • exclamation-triangle
    Batteries and charger are not included

This cordless reciprocating saw is versatile, lightweight and easy to use. A powerful 3000 SPM motor provides the power while additional control is given by the variable speed trigger and electric brake. Ease of use is enhanced with the tool-free blade changes and adjustable pivoting shoe. However, battery and charger are not included and sold separately.


                                   via Amazon.com

Pros​​​​​

  • check
    Tool-free blade change
  • check
    Pivoting shoe
  • check
    Variable speed trigger

Cons

  • exclamation-triangle
    Battery and charger not included

Equipped with a patent pending, dual gear, anti-vibration system for awesome comfort and control, the Bare Tool Milwaukee 2625 has a lightweight design which enables single-handed operation.

                             via Amazon.com

Delivering 0-3000 strokes per minute with a powerful motor and a 3/4 in stroke length enables fast cutting across a variety of materials. Fast and easy blade changes can be done with QUIK-LOK blade clamp.

Pros​​​​​

  • check
    Fast cutting through a variety of materials like wood, metal, and PVC
  • check
    Efficient cutting with 0-3000 SPM with ¾ in stroke length
  • check
    Variable speed
  • check
    Built-in LED light
  • check
    Cutting in tight spaces is made possible with compact size
  • check
    Overhead work made easier with the lightweight
  • check
    Compatible with all M18 batteries
  • check
    Very easy to use
  • check
    Very much durable

Cons

  • exclamation-triangle
    Complaints about durability

Featuring a high-performance drive train, the Porter Cable reciprocating saw can deliver 1” stroke length and 0-3000 SPM for an aggressive cutting speed. Tight spaces can be accessed with 14.5” length and easy blade changes can be made possible by tool free blade release.

                              via Amazon.com

More control can be achieved with a variable speed trigger and a number of materials can be cut. A contoured over molded handle can be customized for more comfort.

Pros​​​​​

  • check
    Compact design which allows access to tight spaces
  • check
    Tool-free blade release
  • check
    Variable speed trigger

Cons

  • exclamation-triangle
    Stroke arm is loose

A high-performance, variable speed motored reciprocating saw, the Dewalt Bare has blades that drive at 0-3000 SPM. The 4-position blade clamp provides better flush cutting and increased versatility. Equipped with a lever-action and keyless blade clamp, making quick blade changes is possible.


                                    via Amazon.com

Further, the reciprocating saw also has a pivoting, adjustable shoe which has an open top to allow maximum visibility.

Pros​​​​​

  • check
    Aggressive 1-1/8 in. stroke length for cutting any type of material
  • check
    Electric blades which prevent blades from breaking
  • check
    Up to 3000 SPM 
  • check
    Blade clamp is equipped with keyless lever action that facilitates quick and easy blade changes
  • check
    Anti-slip rubber handles for optimized control
  • check
    Pivoting adjustable shoe provides enhanced visibility
  • check
    Compatible batteries and charger

Cons

  • exclamation-triangle
    Blade clamp defect reported
  • exclamation-triangle
    Anti-vibration built-in is missing

Conclusion

We hope that this article would have helped you in making a decision regarding reciprocating saw. However, self-research is important and you must visit stores to check on the various reciprocating saws yourself. This will give you a hands-on experience. Online research is also important as you can have access to many reviews and ideas about the tool you wish to buy.

Although, all the above-mentioned saws are perfect, however, if you would like to know my opinion, I would like to go for The DEWALT Bare. It is a fairly good reciprocating saw which can deliver high performance and has a variable speed motor. A 4-position blade clamp can provide flush cutting and increased versatility.

The DEWALT Bare is equipped with various features like pivoting adjustable shoe and anti-slip sure grip rubber handles which make this reciprocating saw a good option to consider. Further, it comes along with batteries and charger along with a trigger lock for increased blade control and variable speed.

The right reciprocating saw can be decided easily once you do a thorough research and read this guide properly. Shortlist your requirements and accordingly match with the ones that are most suitable for you. Ensure that you invest in a proper brand which has more of good reviews. Check on things like safety and comfort as working with a reciprocating saw will require strength and endurance. 

What are your views on this? Have you used any of the above-mentioned saws and what was your experience? Do let us know in the comments.

Abigail Jones
 

Hi, I'm Abigail. I like spending time tearing my house apart and putting it together back again. Join me on home improvement tutorials, tips on my blog.

Click Here to Leave a Comment Below 0 comments