Replies

1. 
   frenchy | Apr 16, 2005 07:23pm | #1

   Nikkiwood,

      I bought one almost two years ago when one of my Milwaukee sawzalls died.  The Hilti was actually better in the field than the demo the Hilti Rep gave me.. I'll tell you in a couple of decades if it's as reliable as my Milwaukee..

1. 
   nikkiwood | Apr 16, 2005 08:03pm | #2

   My Mil only had 2-3 years on it. Which Hilti did you get?"I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong."
   -- Bertrand Russell

1. 
   frenchy | Apr 16, 2005 11:08pm | #3

   WSR900PE

2. 
   dieselpig | Apr 16, 2005 11:16pm | #4

   I've got the same saw as Frenchy and gotta tell you that I love it.  Most of the time, if you've got a recip saw in your hands you're probably doing some pretty crappy work.  That Hilti almost makes demo fun!  What a sweet tool... it's amazing how much of the vibration it absorbs and it's got power to spare.  I originally thought that the design would make it hard to fit in tight places.... it actually can get into more spots that most of the saws I've used... looks can be deceiving.  I've had Milwaukee Supersawzalls, PC Tigers saws, Hitachi recips, and Dewalt recips.... the Hilti blows all of them away hands down.  I love their tools.

1. 
   frenchy | Apr 17, 2005 12:49am | #5

   Yeh, spending a extra hundred for a saw over what others cost is tough, but the results were so sweet that the price was long forgotten! 

2. 
   nikkiwood | Apr 17, 2005 12:58am | #6

   And to frenchy---Any reason I should consider the bigger (and more expensive) Hilti 1400?"I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong."
   -- Bertrand Russell

1. 
   dieselpig | Apr 17, 2005 01:26am | #7

   I think the main advantage to that saw is it's ability to cut masonry with the new (and very expensive) blades.  There's nothing you'll come across (wood, plaster, etc) that the other Hilti will have a problem getting through... it's a top notch tool.

1. 
   CAGIV | Apr 17, 2005 05:36am | #8

   Still haven't seen the new 1400 version.

   Love my 900wsr, would never buy anything else again, except maybe the 1400...

   Hilti tools rock

    

2. 
   nikkiwood | Apr 17, 2005 06:54pm | #9

   I use a recip mainly for renovation stuff, which sometimes includes cutting pipe.Will the Hilti (WSR 900) do as well with this stuff as the Milwaukee SS?You guys have pretty much talked me into a Hilti. Now the only question is whether the #900 will do the job (for $239) or if I should spring for the bigger 1400 (which I think was about a $100 more).thanks."I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong."
   -- Bertrand Russell

1. 
   frenchy | Apr 17, 2005 09:56pm | #10

   Nikkiwood,

       Yeh it's great for demo work, you can't seem to bog it down no matter how much you lean on it.

     I have the 900 and it's great but who knows maybe the 1400 is that much better..

    (I know that when I have a choice I always grab the Hilti even when the Milwaukee is right next to me and I have to get up to get the Hilti.  If somebody is helping me they always grab the Milwaukee first and then when they are still cutting after I'm on the second or even third board they say, hey,   "let me try that one will you?"  

3. 
   Timuhler | Apr 18, 2005 02:40am | #11

   We've had the WSR 900 PE for about a year and I love that recip.  It does the best job.  You won't be sad you bought this if you get it.

   I'm not sure I'd go with the bigger version.  For framing, the 900 is a great size.  I haven't had a situation where I wished it was more powerful, but power is always nice to have :-)

1. 
   nikkiwood | Apr 19, 2005 03:10am | #12

   And to the rest of those who commented:So gathered all my nickels and dimes together, left the site early today, and motored over the HD to buy the Hilti 900 PE. Got there, asked the HD guy (the Hilti guy had left for the day) if I could actually cut something first. So we chucked in a a wood cutting blade, and away I go at a 2 x 4; then a metal blade on a piece of 1 1/2" pipe. Was I disappointed! The Hilti actually vibrated more than my old Mil Super Sawzall. It cut okay, but as far as I could tell, not any better than the Mil. I thought one of the big features about the Hilti was the fancy non-vibration technology they built into the tool. Yet .........Do you think I just happened on a bad tool, and I should try another? The HD guy didn't know the line, so the best he could do was a blank look when I asked."I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong."
   -- Bertrand Russell

1. 
   Timuhler | Apr 19, 2005 03:26am | #13

   I would try again when the Hilti guy is there.  Mine doesn't vibrate like that.  In fact it is really comfortable to use.  That's odd.

2. 
   dieselpig | Apr 19, 2005 03:34am | #14

   Doesn't sound right dude.  My Hilti is has noticeably less vibration than anything else I've used and I've used pretty much all of them...  something don't add up.

    

   EDIT:  An afterthought.... did you have it set for orbital on the wood and straight recip for the metal?  Just wondering what happened.... like I said, the Hilti is a noticeably superior tool compared to the others IMHO.  I really expected you to have the same reaction.  Bummer.

   Edited 4/18/2005 8:37 pm ET by dieselpig

1. 
   nikkiwood | Apr 19, 2005 04:31am | #15

   Thanks to both you and Tim.....I noticed the straight/orbital setting, but to tell you the truth, I didn't pay attention to which action was working when I ran the saw. I just delayed the decision, since I have another recip saw I can use for now. But since the both of you don't seem to have this problem, I'll go back again when the Hilti guy is there and try one more time. High recs from the both of you -- and CAG and frenchy -- count for a lot. Thanks again for you help."I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong."
   -- Bertrand Russell

1. 
   dieselpig | May 26, 2005 12:21am | #16

   How did all this end up playing out?

   Did you purchase a new recip?   What was your final take on the Hilti.... didn't like it?

2. 
   nikkiwood | May 26, 2005 06:12am | #17

   If you'll remember, the Milwaukee Super I had quit working. I read what you guys had to say, went to the HD around here where they sell Hilti; the Hilti guy wasn't around, but the HD guy (who was nice enough, but knew zilch about the Hilti) opened the case and let me try one. So the one I tried seemed to vibrate as much or more than the Milwaukee, and from doing a single cut in a 2 X 4 they had there, it didn't cut dramatically better. Since this would have been my fourth recip saw, I decided to wait until I ran into the Hilti guy to see what he had to say. In the meantime, I had dropped the Milwaukee off at their service center, and to my pleasant surprise, they said they'd fix it gratis -- even though the saw was about 4-5 years old. I guess I did tell the guy there that if they were going to charge me for the repair, I'd probably just leave it with them, and buy a Hilti instead. I don't know if that influenced them to do the work free, but I do think they smell the hot breath of Germans on their neck. Thus, I'm back in business with the Milwaukee -- and they can add one more satisfied customer to the pack who will tell everybody how well they stand behind their products.********************************************************
   "I tend to live in the past because most of my life is there."
   -- Herb Caen (1916-1997)