Reciprocating saw?

Bludall · Post by **Bludall** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 9:44 am

I wondered whether a reciprocating saw could be used in the same way as a jigsaw?

Jaeger_S2k · Post by **Jaeger_S2k** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 9:54 am

Easy to say yes, but it has no accuracy.

Recip = Chopper

Jig = Steak Knife.

Bludall · Post by **Bludall** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 9:58 am

It's just that our jigsaw never seems to cut acurately no matter how we adjust it. I saw a reciprocating saw in Aldi and wondered whether it'd do the same job. I guess it just takes the effort out of chopping things off then! Less arm

ache?

Hoovie · Post by **Hoovie** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 10:42 am

Reciprocating saws are probably closer to an axe then a precision instrument.

I use mine for lopping branches of trees and that kind of thing - Rough cutting!

I have also reverted back to a handsaw recently instead of jigsaw for better accuracy. If you want to cut straight lines with precision and also want to minimise arm ache, then a circular saw is what you may be best off getting?

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 10:59 am

Bludall wrote:It's just that our jigsaw never seems to cut acurately no matter how we adjust it. I saw a reciprocating saw in Aldi and wondered whether it'd do the same job. I guess it just takes the effort out of chopping things off then! Less arm ache?

A cheap jigsaw will never cut straight lines or even curved lines accurately.

I have the bosch GST2000 and the Dewalt 18v cordless jigsaw, they are both good, but to be honest the Dewalt is better most of the time. I was at a friends doing some fencing and needed to cut some timber and so we used his jigsaw, which was a cheap make. It took me ages to cut a line that would of took seconds with either of my saws and the line was all over the place.

Cheap powertools are ok in an emergency, but don't expect good results with them!

A reciprocating saw cannot cut out shapes like a jigsaw can and really they are only used for rough cuts, such as when demolishing things.

Bludall · Post by **Bludall** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 11:25 am

Thanks for putting me straight regarding the tools. Our tools are all Bosch, I think that's a good reliable make. I'll stick to my handsaw then if I need to cut anything straight. I wonder why I've never noticed reciprocating saws before, they must have been around for years.

skiking · Post by **skiking** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 11:33 am

Even Bosch have two ranges; a cheap range aimed at the casual DIYer and a range aimed at the active DIYer/tradesman

- as do most power tool companies

Bludall · Post by **Bludall** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 11:40 am

I paid about £350 for Christmas a few years ago for a router for my husband. Is that cheap then? How much do they go up to?

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 11:49 am

Bludall wrote:I paid about £350 for Christmas a few years ago for a router for my husband. Is that cheap then? How much do they go up to?

They go much dearer then that, but £350 for a router should get a very good one, that would suit most people.

For long straight cuts a circular saw is much better then a jigsaw.

The Blue Bosch powertools are much different than the green, although the green are ok for the DIY'er

Bludall · Post by **Bludall** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 11:58 am

Now all I need is a guitar expert.

Hoovie · Post by **Hoovie** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 1:48 pm

FWIW, most of my Power Tools are Green Bosch - I did used to get B&D before I saw the light.
The Bosch seem put together better (German Quality I guess - not sure where they are actually made, though) and never had one fail.

Started getting Ryobi for cordless following reviews and advice here - Very handy being cordless, but so far don't seem quite as good as the Bosch stuff.

skiking · Post by **skiking** » Fri Oct 26, 2007 2:08 pm

I've got a green bosch cordless drill and its rubbish - soon to be seen on eBay once I clean it up.

I've had a B&D hammer drill for some 20yrs+. Its been my main work horse for heavy stuff (now used to mix plaster

). I've also had a B&D cordless drill for a number of yrs and that has been very good but I broke the chuck on it which is why I bought the Bosch.

Now I've moved over to the Ryobi kit - purely by accident but they are proving a great find.

At the end of the day, ask 10 people for their views and you'll probably get 7 different answers. A lot of trade use DeWalt but when you hear peoples views on it over the different forums you hear alot of people slagging it off as it is owned by B&D

My electrician I use swears by Makita, but only 'cos he can burn it out within the warrenty period and then gets a new one to replace it