When it comes to setting up your own workshop at home, there are a number of different tools that you will want to invest in, and the reciprocating saw will probably be on your list. These saws cut out a lot of the hard work of sawing, allow you to cut through tougher materials, improve the accuracy of your cut and are perfect for larger wood work projects.
When it comes to choosing the best reciprocating saws, there are a lot of factors that need to be considered. With this in mind, we have tested and reviewed what we think are some of the best on the market right now. Take a look below for our top three along with our thoughts for each one.
3. Bosch Professional GSA 1100E
Features: 1100w – 240v – 28mm Stroke Length – 230mm Cutting Depth – Integrated LEDs – SDS Tool-Less System – Hanging Hook – Safety Button
Pros:
- Very quiet during operation.
- Cuts through wood, metal, concrete and stone.
- Handy safety button prevents injury.
- Easy to change the blades.
Cons:
- Easy to use the wrong blade and cause damage.
The Review
The first reciprocating saw that we would like to add to our list is this one from Bosch. Ergonomically designed with a very comfortable grip, this saw offers incredible power thanks to the 1100w motor. Setting up the saw was no trouble; the instruction manual was clear and easy to understand.
One issue that we did have was that it is quite easy to accidentally use the wrong blade for the wrong material. This was a mistake on our behalf, but it is something that you should keep in mind if you want to avoid damaging any of the blades that you are using.
Changing the blades on this saw is no problem at all because it has a tool-less blade changing system. This means that you don’t need to use a key or any other tool to change the blades. It saves a lot of time and hassle. One of the things that really surprised us was how quiet this saw actually is. We expected it to be a lot louder than it is.
Finally, we felt that it was worth mentioning the safety button that this reciprocating saw has. This prevents injury and makes using the saw a much safer experience. Overall, we have to say that we were quite impressed with this one and existing fans of Bosch will love it.
2. Makita JR3050T 240v Reciprocating Saw
Features: 1010w – 240v – 28mm Stroke Length – 255m Cutting Depth – Variable Speed Control – Tool-Less Blade Changing – Built In Dust Blower
Pros:
- Trigger for variable speeds offers much more precision.
- Very good battery; we were able to get around 6 hours of use.
- Built in dust blower makes much less mess.
Cons:
- The saw itself is quite heavy.
- We found that the Makita blades were prone to bending and snapping.
The Review
The next one on our list is this reciprocating saw from Makita. Having tested Makita tools in the past, we knew that it would be high quality. Despite a few niggles, we were pleased overall with this saw. The first thing to note is that this saw is not lightweight by any stretch of the imagination, so if portability is important to you then this is probably not the best option.
However, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. First of all, we felt that the trigger that allows you to adjust the speeds offered much more precision than we had expected. As well as this, we were very impressed with the battery life on offer. We were able to get 6 hours of use out of one charge at least which is very impressive.
The built in dust blower is great because it allows you to make sure that sawdust doesn’t get in the way of your line of vision when you are trying to make a precise cut. The one thing that we were a little disappointed with was the quality of the Makita blades that are provided with the saw.
We felt that the Makita blades seemed to be prone to bending and snapping. However, you are able to buy better blades online that will be compatible with your saw. Overall, we have to say that we were quite impressed with this one and would certainly recommend it.
1. DeWalt 18v XR Reciprocating Saw – The Best Choice
Features: 18v – Lithium Ion Battery – 28.6mm Stroke Length – Magnesium Housing – Variable Speed Trigger – Tool-Less Blade Changing – Rubber Coated Grip
Pros:
- Only takes about 75 minutes to get a full charge.
- Incredible amount of power.
- Blades are high quality with no bends or breaks.
- Vibrations are minimal.
Cons:
- The blades are not provided with the saw, you will have to buy them separately.
The Review
Number 1 on our list of the best reciprocating saws is this model from DeWalt. DeWalt is a huge name in household tools, so we knew that we were going to be pleased with this one from the off. The first thing that we liked about this one was how lightweight it is. This is thanks to the magnesium housing. One thing that we weren’t really expecting is how powerful this particular model actually is. We expected it to struggle a little with some materials but it really didn’t.
With the variable speed trigger you are able to slowly ease into your cut and then build speed once you have made that first cut and you are happy with it. We found that this offers much more precision. We were also surprised by the levels of vibration. We thought that we would be affected much more than we were.
The battery life on this reciprocating saw is fantastic and even more impressive is the fact that it only takes 75 minutes to fully charge the battery. The only negative aspect is that you have to buy the blades separately as they are not provided with the saw.
However, you can buy blades online for a relatively affordable price. Once we had our blades we were pleased to find that the power didn’t make them prone to bends or breaks. Overall, we were highly impressed with this DeWalt saw and would definitely recommend it.
Hopefully you are now aware of the best models on the market at the moment and you are able to choose the right model for you.
