? on Reciprocating Saws

Shaun @ Tru6 · 05-30-2007, 06:38 AM

My 10-year-old Sears 6 amp sawzall just bit the dust cutting through a torsion bar tube. Value for $ was unmatched while in service.

I'm looking at 2 saws now, both around $100.

Milwaukee and DeWalt, both 10 amp, corded.

The Milwaukee has a 3/4 cutting stroke, the DeWalt has a 1 1/8.

I only cut metal, and because the blade is many times "inside" a boxed section, I like the 3/4 stroke to help prevent the blade from hitting the inside of the box.

DeWalt has a 3 year warrantee, couldn't find that info on the Mil.

My question: is a shorter stroke or longer stroke better for cutting metal, or does it not matter?

DeWalt

Milwaukee

KFC911 · 05-30-2007, 06:44 AM

I can't answer your question, but I recently purchased one (like the one Moses' has):
Do I really need to explain this purchase?

I didn't really need the 13amps, but the 360 degree rotating handle made it worth the extra $ imo. I used it this past weekend straightening the bottom of a wooden garage door, and now I'm just looking for stuff to saw "just because I can"

notfarnow · 05-30-2007, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Shaun 84 Targa

My question: is a shorter stroke or longer stroke better for cutting metal, or does it not matter?

Mine has a shorter stroke, which I like for a few reasons:
-When you're cutting in tight areas, you're not as likely to beat the crap out of surrounding bits & pieces.
-Not as prone to bouncing itself, and me, around
-I don't seem to break as many blades

If I have A LOT of straighforward cutting to do, I borrow my friend's Makita

David · David's Garage

I have the DeWalt. I never thought about the stroke when I bought it, but I know when I reach the end of the blade and the blade tip hits whatever I'm cutting, it knocks the crap out of me. Perhaps the Milwaukee would be the better choice.

Nostril Cheese · 05-30-2007, 08:01 AM

The Milwaukee will last 30 years. Thats good enough for me

KFC911 · 05-30-2007, 08:07 AM

I remember that for the Milwaukee's that I was looking at (10,12, & 13 amps), the stroke increased with the size.

Bill Douglas · 05-30-2007, 12:30 PM

A 3/4" cutting stroke would be excellent. I use a Ryobi A LOT as I tend to work mainly renovating houses and it has a long stroke. I take the chance of massacring plumbing and under floor wiring with the longer stroke.

But I love the tool for doing things like adding windows and frence doors to houses, cutting underfloor galvanised pipes. I've even used it to cut a section out of the sewer pipe to add another toilet.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

Check out the Porter Cable, it's the one I bought after the DeWalt died and was replaced twice. The DeWalt couldn't take the heat!

Shaun @ Tru6 · 05-30-2007, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by azasadny
Check out the Porter Cable, it's the one I bought after the DeWalt died and was replaced twice. The DeWalt couldn't take the heat!

I will Art. I actually stayed away from the PC after my general observation (other friend's tools) that PC seems to be building cheap, homeowner-quality tools these days while relying on the company's excellent reputation.

Have a newish DeWalth grinder and now 3-year-old drill and think the world of these 2 tools.

heading off to Sears after traffic dies down.

VINMAN · 05-30-2007, 02:34 PM

Shaun spend the extra $ for the Milwaukee its well worth it and you will get longer life. I have both but the Dewalt isnt as durable.

RallyJon · 05-30-2007, 02:41 PM

Quote:

when there is one from Asia there for $100

Even worse when they are FIVE for $100 from Asia: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=4095

on2wheels52 · on2wheels52's Garage

I sold a construction guy regular a Bosch that looked like it had made one cut for $100. He was back the next week and said it had some type of magic self-adjustment mode that made it cut through stuff like butter. I could tell it was a neat looking tool but it wasn't something I needed to keep for my use.
Jim

Icemaster · Icemaster's Garage

Speaking as a Dewalt owner (drill, cordless drill, mitre box, grinders, hammer drills, etc...), buy the Milwaukee. You'll never look back.

azasadny · azasadny's Garage

I have a few Ridgid battery-operated tools that are complete garbage. They had a 5 year warranty, but they can't do anything I need them to do...

Shaun @ Tru6 · 04:27 PM

good news, bad news, sorta. I left shortly after my last post, went to Sears, pulled the DeWalt, Mil and PC out of their display and onto a free workbench. Immediately put the PC aside...too heavy, didn't like the trigger, forward grip not well designed which is critical for cutting cars apart.

DeWalt: not well balanced with a heavy head but I liked the feel, industrial blade guard which I really liked, good trigger. can insert blades in 4 directions. great instant blade install.

Milwaukee: perfectly balanced, feels light in your hands. good ergonomics, trigger very springy, delicate blade guard, OK instant blade install.

After 10 minutes of fondling them both, I went for the DeWalt, one reason being it has a 90 day money back guarantee. So I missed all your good advice on the Milwaukee.

Took it out back to hopefully finish cutting the just the rear seat cups out of an early rear deck, which is a much more difficult job than you would expect. first impression is that I love this saw. Much more powerful than my old Sears one, the heavy nose guard is great for shoving into floppy metal or carefully levering the blade around a radius. It also creates a natural lever arm doing more work than your arms.

Should I take it back and get the Mil? Don't know. will finish the job tomorrow and see.

Vinny, can you give a few more details on durability of De vs. Mil? Overall, the De seems better constructed, but then the Mil motor may be better?

Pete, you've had bad experiences with DeWalt?

I always thought Makita, Mil and De were all on par, Porter Cable a little better. Is DeWalt the 90's Mercedes of the crowd?

porsche930dude · porsche930dude's Garage

milwawkee is my 1st choice. just keep the blade quck release lubed and clean or it will stick after a while. Iv never had a milwaukee motor fry where almost every other brand i did. I only know of one carpenter whos milwaukee chop saw threw its brushes and he claimed the motor was done for and that was a 20 year old saw used weekly. Dewalts are very good although they cannot take as much strain and start to burn up but even so last along time. Dewalt builds its tools in partnership with other companies. Iv seen dewalts that looked exactly the same as black and decker and others im sure. Most of my tools are milwaukee after burning up countless craftsman and a few porter cable. But i use a dewalt 3/8 drill and circular saw. I chose these over milwaukee for their weight and ease of use and they have been awesome. If youve already bought the dewalt stick with it. I dont know about the new models they may be even better than milwaukee. Most of the guys i work with have dewalt sawzalls and there 15+ years old and running strong

Icemaster · Icemaster's Garage

No bad experiences with Dewalt, quite the opposite in fact, the average age of my tools are probably 10 years old, they just make great stuff that lasts.

When it comes to saws, I've just always had a better feel for the Milwaukee eqpt. Probably cause it's what I cut my teeth on in contracting and tool rental, and they weren't that great when they first came out. Honestly, I've put those more miles on the Milwaukee stuff than all my tools combined, with the exception of my cordless drill (Dewalt). They've always had better balance, precision, and reliability than everything else I've used.

It's really a personal preference, if you're comfortable with the Dewalt, keep it. Reliability and performance wise, you wont go wrong with it. Some guys like Ford, some like Chevy.

Brian 162 · 05-30-2007, 06:31 PM

I have an 18 volt De-Walt sawzall that I use every day for mostly cutting copper pipe up to 2 1/2 inches in size.It's around 4 years old. I drop it or drag it along the floor, cut pipe while water is drowning the saw, and it keeps on working. It's been repaired once since I've gotten it.

LakeCleElum · 05-30-2007, 08:08 PM

I rarely need mine, saw it a Harbor Freight for $59....Went back 2 weeks later to get it; was on sale for $19.95.....

Had it 2 years, used 5 or 6 times....Still works and doesn't owe me a thing......

HardDrive · 10:57 PM

I have the Milwaukee. Oceans of power, and I really like the trigger switch. Easy to control the speed, even when you are getting a lot of vibration.

Milwaukee is basically all I buy at this point. I have their 18v cordless drill, and it is awesome. The torque is massive for a cordless. Excellent keyless chuck design.

Not sure on the sawzall, but the drill was made in Croatia.