I am going to be purchasing a reciprocating saw. I do not have the FHB issue that did the comparison. Which did they recommend? I read Tools of the Trade review and they liked the Milwaukee 6521-21, but that was before the Porter Cable variable angle model came out. Some reviewers did not like the vibration on some PC models, I am a DIY, so I won’t be using it daily. I’m thinking vibration, then, may not be a big factor. Any comments on the PC variable angle? I’m thinking if I am going to buy one, buy the PC for any situation that may arise. Or should I stick with tried and true Milwaukee.
Westbound
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If you're going to be using it very much at all, make sure it has orbital action.
Get the Milwaukie. I have 2...one old, one new (with the orbital). Both are reliable and tough. The orbital feature is GREAT!
I checked out the PC awhile back, and while I have a good number of PC tools, that recip with the moveable head looked more like a gadget than a practical all-round tool. (But, I've been known to be wrong before).
I recall that FHB rated the Milwaukee 6521-21 very high, maybe the overall best of those tested. I have a 6521-21 and without question it is the best recip. saw I have ever used. Vibration has never been a problem. I also have Dewalt's biggest model but it hasn't been out of the case in over a year.
I have not used the PC 9740 (I think that's the one you're looking at) but it looks like it might be a great saw as well. If you do get it go tear something up and let us know what you think. Happy tool hunting!
Milwaukee Super Sawzall is the way to go yup there that good...
I'm normally a big PC fan, I have their recip and it works well. I also regularly use a sawzall, the sawzall is a better tool, its smoother, and seems lighter. I would stay away from variable angle thing PC has out now
It hasn't been on the market for very long, and longevity may be an issue, also PC seems to being making more and more of what I call gimmick tools, Tools with "neat" features that may be useful in some instances but not in most.
If your truly a DIY and not going to use it everyday save some money and go with the PC. The super sawzall is a great tool, but may be overkill for your needs.
My suggestion? Assess your needs and spend accordingly.
I picked up the little Makita used some years back and wondered how I ever, ever got along without a reciprocating saw. All the reviews sing the praises of the Milwaukee, but for our place (LOTS of remodeling, weekends only except on some vacations), the Makita hasn't failed me once, and Makita tools seem to last forever. If the extra cost of the Milwaukee makes you flinch and you're going to go with a smaller saw, consider the Makita.
i have a PC and there is one thing i really don't like about it- when cutting junk like lath and plaster up at an angle or overhead, the little chips of debris fall down into the motor housing and are then thrown out the vent slots on the sides- at very high speed which stings the hell out of the wrist and forearm holding the forward grip! i have to wear a long sleeve shirt when i use it that way or it's like getting peppered with bird shot. the first time it happened i thought i was somehow getting shocked until i figured out the problem. my unit is about 4 yrs old so maybe they've changed that "feature" by now. i've never had that problem with the milwaukee i used to borrow from a friend.
m
CAG,
"also PC seems to being making more and more of what I call gimmick tools, Tools with "neat" features that may be useful in some instances but not in most."
Kinda like Craftsman? Maybe they hired the same marketing guy.
Jon
I love my new PC - with all the gimmicks! That baby saved my arms and my back by allowing me to change my angle of attack. And I was able to cut stuff in tight places that i couldn't have othewise. For straight ahead cutting - maybe the Milwauki is faster - but how much faster - a second or two?
I purchased the Milwaukee 4 piece 18v cordless set, thinking that for the amount of sawzall work I would be doing the cordless would be enough, it wasn't. Once you have a Sawzall you will wonder why you waited so long. I feel the new "Hatchet" and the new PC are more gimick than anything. Sawzall blades are flexable and get into some of the darnest positions. Vibration usually occurs when cutting is tough, the blade builds up with chips or you don't keep enough pressure on the foot.
Like you, I don't use it all the time, but I like the cordless saws. Sons and I have a Dewalt 18v cordless and a Ryobi 18v cordless as well as a plug-in Makita. Since you don't use it much, my suggestion is to get the best price. Consider one of the cordless kits. My son bought the Ryobi cordless kit at HD with charger, mini-circular saw, recip saw, flashlight and drill/driver for $200. Wish I'd bought one, too. But then I always want to buy another tool.....
Edit: Cordless recip saw makes a great pruning tool!
Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a carpenter to build one.
Edited 4/20/2003 10:25:13 PM ET by Hasbeen
Joe,
Suggesting Ryobi?
are you ok??
Just checking???
Slightly concerned?
View ImageGo Jayhawks..............Next Year and daaa. Blues View Image
That set that my son bought is the only Ryobi tool any of us own. But, I don't know, is Ryobi bad?Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a carpenter to build one.
Is ryobi bad?
YES!
Think craftsmen power tools... they are made by the same people. Crap
In all honesty, they are probably good value for the money for a h/o diy'r doing weekend work, but they won't hold up to day in day out use.View ImageGo Jayhawks..............Next Year and daaa. Blues View Image
Another vote for the Milwaukee orbital super sawzall.Mr T
Do not try this at home!
I am an Experienced Professional!
My friend George is a contractor and he has an older Ryobi 18v cordless drill/driver. It has lots of power, holds a charge fairly well. He was the one who encouraged my son to buy the "kit". My similar Dewalt is just a little older than sons Ryobi. Guess we'll see. Hope the Ryobi doesn't crap out too fast since it's the first power tool my son bought!
Thanks for the tip....Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a carpenter to build one.
Maybe more saw than you need, but I recommend the Hitachi model. Has a quick change blade that works, variable speed, and orbital cutting. Front of the tool is encased in rubber for (slightly) better ergonomics. Lots of power.
I used to assume that the Milwaukee was the one and only, but then used a few newer models which other people had on the site. I was really underwhelmed - they seemed not very beefy. That was a few years ago, so maybe they've returned to their former glory, I dunno - I was surprised that so many people were recommending that one.
The idea of cordless is appealing, though I'd wait for a NiMH battery version.
I put off buying a sawzall for years as they represent the least amount of fun (to me ) you can have at work. My advice is to get one with lots of power so that the task is over quickly.
We have Porter Cable with the variable Angle. It has been invaluable to us building our home. We are building a log home, so maybe we have more wierd angles than the average home? I'm not sure, but just about every pro we've hired to work on our house has found it to be the perfect tool for one thing or another and they all LOVE it.
I have the orbital super Sawzall. The pluses are that it's big, solid, rugged, and the quick change blade chuck is extremely convenient. There's very little vibration if you use the foot correctly.
The minuses are that in many situations, it's too big. It can't get out of its own way. For instance, if you're sistering a joist, and you want to cut thru a block parallel to the joist and 1 1/2" from it, the machine is too big to do that. They don't make an offset attachment for that any more. Milwaukee thinks that having the teeth of the blade facing the same direction as the body of the machine is the "normal" position, and the orbital thing only works that way. But most often, I have the blade flipped the other way so as to be able to get close to an obstruction. The grip and trigger should be designed for working that way, but they aren't. The biggest problem with any recip saw is hitting the end of the blade against an obstruction. It would be nice to have adjustable stroke for that kind of situation. The foot position is somewhat adjustable, but the range is limited, and very soon the mechanism jams so you have to use a hammer on it. So, the best thing is to put it all the way up and forget about it. Run it against a temporary block if you need precise positioning.
There is a huge opportunity here for any competent tool company to knock Milwaukee off the top of the recip saw hill.
-- J.S.
O.K. Here's the scoop. Saturday after I posted my question and received responses in favor of the Milwaukee, I went out and purchased the PC variable. Go figure! Actually I had decided that I could put up with a little vibration in favor of the angling features. Also, I was under the mistaken belief that they had upped their SPM higher than the Milwaukee to compensate for lack of orbital action. I seem to remember reading this on the PC specs. In reality the Milwaukee has an SPM rating of 3,200 vs 2,900 for the PC.
Anyway, I get the PC home, plug it in and pull the trigger. Man, my arms are shaking, even my teeth were rattling. That thing does vibrate! But, I figure I can deal with it, so I start to cut into a wall and while it did its job it was not fun. I can't imagine using it a whole day.
So, I take it back and buy the Milwaukee. Bring it home, plug it in and my arms are rock steady! I plunged it into a wall and it does cut like a hot knife thru butter. "Yup, they are that good!" There was that big of a difference! Now, I can't wait to use it and am looking for reasons to grab it.
I learned my lesson, listen to the pros. You guys were right!
I'll wait for Milwaukee's variable angle version, they got it down.
Thanks for all the input!
See We told ya!!!! Next time Listen..LOL
I should never have gotten involved with this conversation, I had to pick up supplies for a remodel job and the H Depot had a 50th anniversary Milwaukee dicounted 20%. Sorry, I couldn't pass it up and I love the orbital action for wood.
Graybeard: IMO it's all a big conspiracy. Somebody (working for the big box stores) starts a thread wanting to know about a certain tool. Then we read, recommend and "holy sales increase" go out and buy. : )
Really, some tools are just too good to pass up. This I know too many times over.
you got the right one for you.
I do lots of demo work and the PC is my first choice for haevy cutting just shy of chainsaw work but if I were looking for a smooth cutter, it would be the red tool. The PC cuts further faster in heavy going but the Milwaukee is the better all around cuttist.
Ryobi occasionbally accidentally makes a decent tool but I would rather hang cabinets with sheet rock screws than buy another Ryobi.
Makita is mostly good tools but I have know three guys whose blue tool crapped out in the front end gearing and they each found out that the rebuild made a new one sound cheaper. So they each bought a PC..
Excellence is its own reward!
There is only one company that makes this type of saw... Milwaukee.
All others WISH they made one.
Just my fairly strong opinion! LOL
Ever rip off a plumber? Here is your chance. Buy these $80+ Tub & Shower faucets for a measley 20 bucks plus shipping. Click HERE to rip him off!
"There is only one company that makes this type of saw... Milwaukee."
I have to agree, along with so many other posters. I originally bought mine for the sole reason that I had to cut a large steel I-beam. Splurged and purchased the Super Sawzall. It happened to be on sale that day. I use it all the time now 'cause it's that handy and that good.
Milwaukee has had years to refine their design, and they have done an excellent job. I've used others, and they aren't bad, just not the same. When it comes to balance and resistance to vibration none compare IMO.
I personally do a lot of work for Milwaukee Tool, so I might be biased a tad. But because of that, I know they do a lot of R&D at the minute scale trying to improve their products and I know they implement a lot of QC throughout the production process.
Jon
FWIW, I discovered that my 18V Milwaukee Hatchet will cut a truck frame rather nicely. I was ripping along the bottom of the channel to cut a hitch off a junker. Total length of cut was about 14" on one battery. It absolutely rocks for cutting out quarter panels and stuff.
Peter
Another vote for the Milwaukee 6521-21. Much smoother than the Tiger saw and at the end of a day of demo work, your arms and fillings will thank you.
Two points nobody else has mentioned. Milwaukee is the only tool manuafacturer - repeat the only one - who has an unlimited warranty on defects/workmanship.
And equally important, Milwaukee is the only portable tool manufacturer who is stocking parts regardless of the age of the product. Black & Decker/Dewalt only go back about 10 years, likewise for Porter Cable and the others. I have a number of PC tools many from the 60's and 70's that are extra heavy duty (translates into not made at that level anymore) and I can't get parts for them. Yet my local Milwaukee repair station says they have yet to find a machine/part they couldn't replace.
Tools are an investment and I'm not sure most folks who buy them have really thought through all aspects of owning a machine.
I was going to buy a Milwaukee reciprocating saw, but haven't decided yet.
I keep going back and forth about it.
.
.
.
.
(well - SOMEBODY had to say it!)A bug in a computer program can be changed to a feature by documenting it.
ya jerk you!
LOL
Boss my sawzall has a reversing switch!
good for those times when you cut past the line.
I actually saw an Old Milwaukee sawzall that had one!!
It must have been a 60's vintage saw back when they had an all metal casing that was basically a right angle drill with a different gear huosing on the front.
the high low switch was right where the reverse switch would have been if it were a drill, but the actual button part must have been meant for a drill because it had forward and reverse molded on it.
Dollars to donuts that tool is still going !!Mr T
Do not try this at home!
I am an Experienced Professional!
The reversing switch as you describe it is a two speed switch.
There is one on my saw. Early 70's.
Oh I thought it made the blade go out and in instead of in and out.Mr T
Do not try this at home!
I am an Experienced Professional!
You got it... and if you cut too far or deep, flip the repair the cut switch....
Been using both a Milwaukee and pc or a while now......
The pc is a good tool but very heavy. I like the speed of the tool.
the Milwaukee is also a very good tool but very slow. Although the one that I have been working with is an older model.... so maybe the newer ones are faster.
If I were going to get a new one (and I am some time soon).... here's what I think...
It is hard to ignore the Milwaukee. They were near the first to make them and the tool is really very nice.
But..... I am a very big makita fan. Almost everything I own is makita. So I would take a long hard look at their top model. Yes, it is not as big (the motor doesn't draw a much current) as the Milwaukee and doesn't have the name but I really like the blade changing assembly on the makita. And frankly, I have never been able to stall any sawsall that I have ever worked with (the blade usually breaks before that happens) and the makita motors are really nice. But then again, I have totally abused my Milwaukee hole shooter and it just will not stop (now on that I don't even think twice.... anything to do with drilling in a corded tool I get Milwaukee.... no questions or second thoughts).
Good luck
Rob Kress
I stalled my old 4.5 amp Sawzall when the blade jammed in the wood and the saw shook so bad it gave me a concussion.
I picked up a 50th anniversary sawzall for $125.00 off (display) at my HD and could not be happier.Quality repairs for your home.
Aaron the HandymanVancouver, Canada
Yes, indeed I can see that it would be easy to stall a 4.5 amp motor on a sawzall. And the old Milwaukee that I have been using also has a small motor. But for me it's a trade off between weight and power....
In a sawzall, I have found that my lowly 6.5 amp dewalt is nearly "powerful" enough and not overwhelmingly heavy. So for me, a step up to the 9.3 makita sounds just right (a little more weight but more power than I would ever use). But then I usually try to minimize the time I spend with my sawzall (I hate destruction) and when I do need it, it is usually only for wood and general construction materials (not metal).
And in the construction arena, I would rather work with my skilsaw (love the weight there) and use techniques to keep me away from the sawzall.
Rob Kress
I got this one a little late....... just wanted to say it's good to hear you go the milwaukee. MY brother and I each have one, he ran his over with is toyota and I dropped mine 16' out of the rafters blade first onto concreat. They both still work like new.
Have fun cutting stuff up.
I bought a milwaukee super saw with orbital in oct. 2002, first one lasted on the job site 1-2 hours, broke some axle inside, took it back got a replacement, april 2003 broke some axle inside again. This time it went out for 2 weeks for repair. Got it back and am afraid to use it. Talk to a milwaukee rep. , he told me, Next time don't buy the orbital, all the brands with orbital are having trouble.
Nice knowing this now, $174.00 later!!!!
I find that I don't even really ever use the orbital option.
I find good technique to be way better than any "orbit".
Rob Kress
Well, good technique with the orbit gets good results quickly.
I've got an older Super Sawzall and a new one with orbital and the quick lock blade holder.
I've put the orbit to pretty hard use...no problems.
The older model, with the set screw blade holder handles the offset attachment, which is a nice assessory on occasion.