Anyone have any experience with the Porter cable reciprocating saw that articulates with adjustable gearboxes? Looked kinda neat… Looks can be decieving. Anyone out there have a PC recip saw(doesn’t have to be this one)Opinions, Please.
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
Discover why linseed oil paint is the go-to choice for Fink & Son Historic Restoration.
Featured Video
Related Stories
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
I used one on a job once where I had to get in between some joists. Worked pretty slick. Can't speak for the long-term usage.
It has good power and is great for certain cuts, but it is HEAVY!
Adjusting the joints is solid, but hard for older hands.
I bought mine when it first became available to do a certain job. The crew had cut the second floor joists about four inches too long over a thirty foot section. Naturally, they forced everything into place. I was called in to fix the problem when the building was getting ready for steel siding. We removed the rims, pulled the nails in the joists, worked the first floor wall back to plumb, and cut off the ends of the joists to accommodate the rim. With this saw, cutting back the joists was a walk in the park.
Of course, you could do the job with a multimaster in three hours instead of the 15 min it took me.
My 2 cents-
Had the tigerclaw for about 2years before it crapped out, thought it was slicker than snot.Then I replaced it with milwalkee . I don't miss the articulation one bit and the decrease in weight and the increase in power will keep me seeking red for recip for a while. The increase in bulk on the PC makes the articulation necessary for it to be as useful as the Milwaulky.
cheers Rik
I have a tigercub that is 13 or so years old. It's not used much but does what it should when I take it out of the box. Lately I've been using the Dewalt 18V. I must say I like the no wrench blade change feature.
If you are a remodeler and are trying to pick one recip that can do it all, look no further (I do have a cordless DeWalt which is great for one or two cuts).
I have a cordless Dewalt as well and it nearly took down my whole house.. I had the big Milwakee sawszall and an older 6 amp one as well I also have the Hilti WSR 900PE which I bought because it really rips through stuff fast. and the vast majority of the time I grabbed the cordless rather than drag a cord around.. Used those 2 teeth per inch blades that really chopped up the wood and it just sailed..
I kept good batteries in it and it was much more than a couple of cuts.. nearly 1/2 hour as I recall.
I lent it to my neighbor and apparently he didn't understand that you need to keep the sole in contact because it had the gears pretty well mushed. Now I'm lucky to get one cut before the batteries die so it's basically junk after 7 years.
Never lend out tools!
The PC Tigerclaw is great for remodeling -- you can make cuts that would be impossible with other saws and save a ton of time making that money cut. That being said the Milwaukee is more powerful and smoother.
So it depends on how much you will use it and what your main uses are.
Billy
Try the Hilti for a really fast and powerful cut!
Hands down the fastest recip saw out there! (much faster than my big Milwaukee)
I will second that frenchy, only watch your fingers. I put the blade in backwards as I do on all my other saws and my hand slipped down and tried to cut my thumb.
I also have the Hilti WSR 900PE
http://www.hilti.com/holcom/modules/prcat/prca_popupproductpic.jsp?OID=18399
It's small enough to get into tight spots fairly well and has more power and speed then any other recip I've used.
I had an older PC recip, can't recall the model number, and it worked well and also have a Bosch 18V.
For a few cuts I'd use the cordless, anything more and I'll hook up to the cord with the Hilti. It's a little more spendy then other saws and well worth it in my opinion.
At least take a look at it.
I have 2 of those. Paid full retail (199.00) for the first one, 70.00 at a pawn shop for the 2nd.
Love the mobility when I need it, which honestly isn't as often as you might think. Most of the time I'd rather have a MM type tool to get in the occasional odd area.
Couple of issues. The shaft has gotten sloppy and has a lot of rotational play. The foot adjustment comes loose easily and the entire foot can fall out--real PITA when up high. And, of course the plastic case sux big time.
On balance, these issues wouldn't deter me from getting another one still, If the right deal came along.
The best reward for a job well done is the opportunity to do another.
the only high point of the tool theft 3 years ago was the cretins taking the Tiger Claw.
yes, it is cool that you can bend the knuckles.
but, you use that feature 10% of the time.
the rest of the time you are using a very loud saw that vibrates like a MUTHA !
my hands used to tingle.
replaced it with a Milwaukee with vibe reduction.
what a difference.
smooth as silk.
it would be nice to have that thing as a backup for weird stuff, but that's it.
carpenter in transition
Thanks to all who responded. Sounds like I can safely pass on this. Perhaps the AVT makita is more my speed.
I also have the Hilti 900 and the Bosch 18volt.Hasn't been mentioned here, but in addition to being very powerful, the Hilti also offers variable speed, but more importantly, has a great handle and trigger than can be held and used from multiple positions.Easy to hold from the top or from the back.Very handy and no other saw has that option.I'll also add that I do the majority of stuff with my Bosch 18 volt recip saw. Unlike my buddies pc of #### loud vibrating Dewalt 18 recip saw, the Bosch is smooth, not loud and very powerful.
Seems to last a good long time too.JT