Five Great Reciprocating Saws for Builders and Gardeners

One of the main advantages of the Einhell Expert TE-AP 750 E reciprocating saw (besides the attractive price, which is not much higher than budget devices) is its light weight. Therefore, even women, elderly people or teenagers will be able to prune branches in the garden or cut boards without any problems, without much strain. Thanks to the weight of 2.6 kg, this saw can even be held in one hand (sometimes it is necessary to hold the object being cut with the other hand), which would be very difficult to do with larger electric hacksaws, which usually weigh 3.5 - 4 kg. In addition, its relatively small size allows you to use this saw as a jigsaw if you need to cut plywood, furniture board or thin board.

Taking into account the fact that the engine power is small (750 W is not so much by the standards of electric hacksaws), this saw is intended primarily for working with wood or other not too dense materials. Therefore, the only file that comes with the tool is designed specifically for cutting wood. But buying replacement blades is not a problem, because you can install not only branded attachments in the cartridge, but also blades produced by other manufacturers. The only condition is the presence of an L-shaped shank (however, this is the most common format of files for electric hacksaws, and such blades can be purchased at any online tool store). The quick-release fastener equipped with the Einhell Expert TE-AP 750 E saw allows you to change blades without the use of wrenches or other tools.

There are other good saws in the Einhell tool range that may appeal to those looking to buy an inexpensive reciprocating hacksaw. We are talking about the Einhell Expert TE-AP 950 E(950 W) and Einhell Expert TE-AP 1050 E(1050 W) models. They are more powerful, but at the same time larger and more expensive than the option under consideration.

The shape of the body immediately shows that the Black&Decker KS880EC is not an ordinary reciprocating saw. This form factor is due to the transverse location of the engine. The motor has low power(400 W) - two to three times less than average. But thanks to such a small motor, Black & Decker managed to make the saw compact and very light. It fits comfortably in the hand and is suitable in weight even for women and the elderly. During operation, this tool is held with one hand. The saw may nod slightly (the center of gravity is slightly shifted forward), but this even helps it bite into the material being cut more aggressively without additional pressure.

This saw has a small working stroke (the blade makes reciprocating movements with an amplitude of only 10 mm). But the frequency of these movements is high - 4600 strokes/min (one and a half to two times higher than that of a typical reciprocating hacksaw). Due to the high speed of the toothed blade, a cleaner cut is obtained. Therefore, you can trim living branches on trees without leaving “burrs” on the bark, saw OSB without “raising fur,” or cut insulation with granules (like polystyrene foam) without crumbling it. The main thing is to remember the low power of the motor and not to overdo it with the load.

This saw has a convenient and original mechanism for keyless blade replacement (press the lock button, turn the blade 90° and remove it from the pin). But it is of little use. After all, there is only one saw in the kit, and it is universal - it can cut wood (cut depth is limited to 100 mm), steel (up to 3 mm thick) or plastic pipes (up to 50 mm in diameter). The canvas here is unusual. It is short and wide (like a classic hacksaw). Therefore, not all blades are suitable for Black&Decker KS880EC, but only special ones. They are produced by only a few manufacturers: Black&Decker itself, Piranha and a couple of others. They are not very often found on sale, so when buying a saw it is better to immediately buy blades for it in order to have replacement equipment on hand just in case.

Despite its unusual nature, the Black&Decker KS880EC is a fairly popular saw that has been produced since the late 2000s and is still in demand. But if you plan to attack thick logs, then there is no point in buying this hacksaw. It is a tool for other tasks. It is suitable for gardeners and summer residents, as well as those who do their own repairs. In fact, the Black&Decker KS880EC bridges the gap between electric jigsaws and large reciprocating saws, but can (with certain reservations) perform the functions of both the former and the latter. Among other network tools of this kind, we can only highlight Black&Decker RS890K and AEG US 400 XE, but they cost significantly more.

With a 1010 W motor, the Makita M4500 corded hacksaw has enough power to cut various materials: wood and wood products, steel and non-ferrous metals, plastic and thermal insulation boards. For effective work, you only need to choose the right speed mode (the tool is equipped with electronic speed control, the stroke frequency changes in proportion to the force of pressing the start button) and the hacksaw blade. There should be no problems with the last point, because, in addition to branded Makita accessories, you can use saw blades produced by other tool manufacturers.

The saw blades are fixed in the chuck using a reliable, traditional, time-tested mechanism. That is, they are simply clamped with a screw using a hex key. But the adjustment of the sole, which serves as a stop during operation and determines the cutting depth, is carried out without any keys (its position is fixed with a button). When the sole is completely “pressed” into the body, a large cutting depth is provided - up to 255 mm (for wood). The design of this hacksaw provides excellent protection from dust and moisture. To prevent dust and chips that form during sawing from getting inside the housing, air from the engine is blown forward. At the same time, the air flow blows sawdust away from the cutting line, providing a good overview. And the protection of the tool from water is provided by rubber seals installed at the outlet of the gearbox.

This saw has an analogue, identical in technical characteristics, but a little more “advanced”. We are talking about the Makita M4501 reciprocating hacksaw, which differs only in that it has a mechanism for keyless blade replacement (therefore it weighs 100 g more and costs more). Both models are the “little brothers” of the popular Makita JR3050T reciprocating saw. The fact is that for some markets Makita produces tools in which some of the components are replaced with less expensive parts. They can be identified by their red body (as opposed to the turquoise color traditional for the Japanese company's products), and in some countries they are sold under the separate brand name Maktec). In this case, the “simplification” of the design is that Makita MT series saws use cheaper bearings, buttons and switches. Due to this, the manufacturer managed to reduce prices to an acceptable level, but at the same time, the quality of the instrument still remains head and shoulders above the numerous “Chinese” ones produced under little-known brands.

Inside the body of the Ryobi RRS-1200K saw, an electric motor with a power of 1200 W is placed longitudinally. Rotating, it sets in motion a swinging mechanism, which moves with an amplitude of 30 mm and a frequency of 3000 strokes/min. Due to this, the tool can perform useful work - cutting wood (up to 200 mm thick), steel (up to 20 mm), plastic or other materials. Since the movements of the main mechanisms of a reciprocating saw cause noticeable vibrations, an anti-vibration system is built into this hacksaw. The rear handle of the tool is “suspended” from the body on vibration-absorbing hinges. They significantly reduce the force and amplitude of vibrations that are transmitted from the operating saw to the user’s hands. This is a very useful feature for those who cut wood, dismantle wooden structures, or trim trees for several hours at a time. Thanks to the low vibration output, the hands and joints suffer less during long-term work.

To save users time and eliminate the need to carry a hex key for the chuck, the saw is equipped with a keyless mechanism for changing saw blades. It is enough to flip the latch on the “neck” of the tool to release the file and change the blade. However, it should be noted that this latch is made of plastic, and this solution is not very reliable (but this is the only serious complaint about the design of the hacksaw). The tool comes with one saw blade, so you can start working immediately after purchasing your Ryobi saw. And when the need arises to buy a new blade for a reciprocating saw instead of a worn one, you can not limit yourself to branded Ryobi accessories, but take a file from a different brand. The fact is that any blades with L-shaped shanks are suitable for this saw, and almost all tool manufacturers produce such equipment. The hacksaw also comes with a convenient plastic case designed for storing and carrying the device.

In terms of all its characteristics, the Ryobi RRS-1200K electric hacksaw can compete with saws of some brands that are considered “cool”. But you should remember that Ryobi products are considered household-grade power tools. If you need a professional reciprocating saw to get you through your shift, you'll want to look to brands like Milwaukee or AEG (the same corporation that makes Ryobi), Metabo, DeWALT, or Bosch.

Electric hacksaw Bosch GSA 120 Professional 06016B1020 is a professional reciprocating saw. It is large and not at all light (3.7 kg) due to the powerful and durable components and mechanisms hidden inside the case with rubberized linings. The tool is equipped with a 1200-watt motor. The motor speed (and, accordingly, the stroke frequency ranging from zero to 3000 strokes/min) can be changed using the start key to select the optimal sawing speed for a particular material. The quick-release chuck, which holds the files well and reliably, allows you to instantly rearrange the blades if necessary, switch from one type of work to another. The set includes one Bosch branded saw, designed for sawing metal.

Thanks to a high-torque motor with above-average power and durable components that can withstand heavy loads, the Bosch GSA 120 saw is ideal for intensive sawing. It easily takes wood (up to 220 mm thick), confidently cuts thick sheet metal (up to 20 mm), and when using appropriate saw blades, it can even be used to cut sand-lime and ceramic bricks or aerated concrete blocks (although for this it is, of course, better to use special tool - alligator saw, like Bosch GFZ 16-35 AC or Eibenstock EDB 480). A tool like the Bosch GSA 120 is versatile because it can be used on a construction site, in a car workshop or in the garden - basically, anywhere you need to saw or cut something.

Why, despite such good characteristics listed above, is this saw cheaper than, for example, Bosch GSA 1300 PCE Professional 060164E200 or some other hacksaws from the “blue” Bosch line? The fact is that the equipment is quite simple. It has neither an anti-vibration system, nor a pendulum stroke, nor stabilization of speed under load, nor even a simple backlight - none of those things that are present in the most “advanced” electric hacksaws. On the one hand, this is a plus, because the lack of bells and whistles allows you to buy a professional reciprocating saw at a very reasonable price. But, on the other hand, the listed functions would be of great use to anyone who buys an electric hacksaw for serious work and plans to use it often.