Reciprocating saws can be used by people of all skill levels and can be applied in a number of different situations which makes it a great construction tool investment for anyone. However, it is not always easy to choose which particular saw is best for you. There are a lot of factors to consider such as brand, price, features, and specs. We can help you make an informed decision on this power tool without all the headaches!
For Professional Use
The best place to start is to consider what you are going to be using the saw for and how often you believe you will be using it. If you're a professional contractor you are going to require a contractor grade reciprocating saw. Brands like Hilti, Makita, DeWalt, Ridgid, Bosch, and Hitachi are known for their high quality and highly durable construction tools. These saws deliver higher strokes-per-minute (2,800 - 3,000 SPM) and more powerful motors (10 - 15 Amp) than most other saws on the market. These brands of saws can run you about 0-0 but are well worth the investment. Some of the other features you will find with these industrial made reciprocating saws include:
Long 1-1/8"+ stroke lengths for more cutting per stroke Up to 4 position blade clamps for flush cutting and increased versatility Keyless/Tool-less blade changes Variable speed controls Ability to switch between orbital and linear stroke Vibration reduction systems
For Light Duty Use
For those of you out there who are not professionals but still do enough projects to require a reciprocating saw, I would still recommend the brands listed above. Look for a saw with 9 - 10 Amp motors. They will weigh less, have less power, have fewer strokes-per-minute, but will have plenty of power for any small project. The biggest benefit of these smaller saws is price. They will cost half as much for a tool that is almost as good as the industrial models.
