Sawzall recommendations

Having used many "sawzalls" in the industrial construction industry and elsewhere I can tell you there is NO substitute for a Milwaukee brand sawzall. I have seen contractors buy off brand replacements for the off brand replacements for the old Milwaukee's that are still living on. For a little more cash you should get the Milwaukee with the 1 1/4 stroke. You won't be sorry although your friends won't as they will want to borrow it.

tim

Agreed, spend a bit more and get the Milwaukee. And if you use it around other folks keep one hand on it, cause they will "covet your tool" and it can grow legs faster than you can blink. The lifetime of an unattended Milwaukee tool at a job site can be measured in seconds. On the other hand it isn't unusual to see a DeWalt or similar in the trash at the end of the job.

I have a Milwaukee Super Sawzall that I love. It was the winner in a Fine Homebuilding comparison test a few years ago. It looks like an Uzi, and is about as powerful.

One great feature that it has is two speed controls, a knob and the trigger. For metal, I set the knob at a low speed, and then the trigger takes you from zero to the low speed. Makes the speed very controllable. I would never buy a sawzall type unit without that feature. If you only work with wood you don't need that feature, the trigger alone is adequate.

Richard

SteveB wrote:

The Milwaukee Super Sawzall is so far above the others it isn't even close. It is a bit over $100, though. You might be able to get a refurb one off eBay or Amazon in your range. They last forever.

In your price range, a small Sawzall would be most durable. There other others with much more power, like DeWalt and PC. For less-than-everyday-use they'd be fine.

GTO(John)

Id go to the swap meet and pick up a Milwaulkee variable speed Sawzall for $50-60.

Which is exactly what I did.

The second one cost me $15 at the Goodwill and $5 for new (non factory) cord set (not removable)

Gunner

"Gunner, you are the same ridiculous liberal f--k you ever where." Scipio

amen

Gunner

"Gunner, you are the same ridiculous liberal f--k you ever where." Scipio

Milwaukee Super Sawzall. Beats all the competition hands down. The patented counterweight system keeps your wrist from getting pulverized by the backlash.

I used to spend 8 hour days sawzalling up stage scenery. Tigersaws have more power but they beat the crap out of your wrist.

Dewalts can't take the abuse. Niether can Makita, or Ryobi.

Hitachi is good, but Milwaukee is still the best.

"SteveB" wrote in news:5aNxd.58794$DC.28546@fed1read03:

From years of industrial use of various brands...when it comes to a sawzall...there is NO substitute for a Milwaukee. Get the Super-Sawzall, you will not be disappointed. Same goes for a porta-band...

Ernie Leimkuhler wrote in news:211220040054060662% snipped-for-privacy@stagesmith.com:

Hehe...after reading the rest of the posts....seems we have a more than a consensus...it's a downright drubbing. If he buys anything else....he's been duely warned....

I have both Milwaukee and PC and prefer the Tiger Saw by Porter-Cable over the milwaukee as fasr as power and feel....... Visit my website:

expressed are those of my wife, I had no input whatsoever. Remove "nospam" from email addy.

On Mon, 20 Dec 2004 19:56:53 -0800, "SteveB" calmly ranted:

I got a Porter Cable #738 Tiger Saw for that price. It's a beefy bahstuhd, variable speed with movable nose. I'm happy after demoing my kitchen with it. Milwaukee is about double that but also a good choice. Dunno 'bout the DW. I believe some of their new stuff is consumer-grade Chiwanese import. Caveat Emptor.

-------------------------------------------------------- Murphy was an Optimist ----------------------------

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I bought both a used PC Tiger Saw and a MilwaukeeSuper Sawzall, and I prefer the SS. The PC had more power, but it was violent to use and the internals were more vulnerable to wear. It was quite loose by the time I sold it. The Milwaukee has had an equal amount of use and it's in much better shape. The new SSes are about twice the amperage of mine, so I'd assume they're on a level playing field with the PCs now.

Don't get me wrong, the Tiger Saw is a good tool, but it won't last as long or work as well over the long haul.

GTO(John)

A dissenter! Get a rope!!

Gunner

"Gunner, you are the same ridiculous liberal f--k you ever where." Scipio

I dunno about a PC not lasting. I have a few friends that have a steel building and fabrication business and the only brand they have is PC and they are sure not babied or new tools by anby stretch of the imagination and they work great. This was the main reason I got my PC after seeing what they put their tools through and not having any problems. I agree, there is nothing wrong a with Milwaukee either........and would probably say its a toss up according to features your looking for between Milwaukee and PC. I like the rotating handle and utilize it quite a lot. I do not like tools where the power cord is removeable, like lots of the Milwaukee tools are capable of.

What ever brand yu get make sure you get the quick change blade holder of the variety that does not require any tools........... Visit my website:

expressed are those of my wife, I had no input whatsoever. Remove "nospam" from email addy.

Naah, he's just confused. Seriously, I've used both and I'll agree that the PC has a bit more power. But, if you use it for a few hours or more don't be surprised to find your wrist or elbow hurting the next day. The counter balancing in the Milwaukee is superior.

"They can have my Milwaukee tools when they can pry them from my cold dead fingers", says Jim.

Milwaukee, hands down. Even if you have to blow the budget a bit - you're buying once for the next 20 years, don't cheap out over $20 or you'll just have to do it again later.

I have an older Milwaukee variable-speed Sawzall (regular hex-wrench chuck) I can't kill - well, I do need to get a new detachable cord or shorten the existing one past the sheath damage at the saw end connector, but that's to be expected with rubber SO cord. That's why they invented electrical tape, instant strain relief...

As for cordless tools, the reciprocating saw in my DeWalt 18V 4-pack has been doing yeoman duty in day-to-day use slicing up EMT and other little stuff. But for bigger jobs, I grab the Milwaukee.

The problem with cordless tools is you have to choose carefully that all the tools you need are available before you pick one brand and battery voltage and stay with it. Or you soon have an explosion of 6 different battery pack types and two or three spares of each taking over all your storage space. (And your wallet - they're not cheap.)

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I would be careful about DeWalt. Like many brands, their quality has become questionable as their popularity has grown. Remember when Black & Decker was the only way to go? Now they're little more than toys.

Anyway, ditto on Milwaukee. You can throw one of these down and drive over it with a tank, then pick it up and use it. Another good one is the Porter-Cable Tiger. 99.999% of the sawzalls you see at construction sites will be one of these two.

Ron M.