tool talk
 

just wondering if any of you have a battery operated reciprocating saw. I am thinking of getting one (probably in a combo kit). but was wondering if they lasted long and if they were as tough as the corded versions. or should I just get a milwaukee corded one and say screw it.

I was looking at this set.
DeWALT at Lowe's: 18-Volt Cordless Combo Kit

I am not partial to brands either. Home Depot had a Ryobi set for $300 with lithium batteries and included the same stuff as above
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...egoryID=501763

We use that DeWALT in the Fire Dept. That bitch is tough as hell and we are NOT easy on it. Battery seems to last pretty good too.

We use Dewalt's, it is just as strong as a corded saw (which we still use) but you can kill a battery pretty quick (5 minutes) with heavy wood cutting. It seems to last longer cutting metal for some reason.

Absolutely one of my handiest tools, but I wouldn't replace my milwaukee corded saws with them.

ok good info, anyone else?

aH (amp hours) mean more then V's do as far as TQ and Battery Life

I have used our DeWalts for WAY longer then that. I have used one battery to cut up two school busses for extrications. And I have used teh same for a days work building houses. If your battery only lasts 5 min something is wrong and you need to get a new battery.

I have owned both sets. Go with DeWalt, the Ryobi is Junk!

i have been very pleased with the ryobi and a lithium battery last 2:1 all other batteries
Also Snap-on just came out with a new saw and have used the heck out of it cutting brackets off truck frames doing lift kits and it is also a very nice unit. the Snap-on seems to be well balenced both of these units are 18v

i have the dewalt set,but milwaukee is a sturdy tool also.

I got the ryobi lithum kit for christmas last yr and love it! It's really not worth spend twice, if not three times the $$$ for the dewalt or milwaukee kits. The lithium batteries really do last a long time and charge back up in no time. I've cut up a few dozen pallets with my sawzaw on just one batt. And they can take a beating even though they're "junk" too some folks.

I've broken our dewalt tools at work more than i have my ryobi's. Oh and they have a ton of different tools that all use the 18v batt.

For the price,, YA CANT BEAT EM!!!:U:

I used to be a DeWalt fan all the way through until the last few things I've bought and they been crap. Did a little research and found out that DeWalt was bought out by Black n Decker and tools roll out of the same factory now. No more for me. I got a $300 cordless drill sittin here that got replaced twice in the first year and now it's just out of warranty and crappin out on me again. Their reciprocating/sawzall corded style didn't even last through more then a few hours of use. I'm back to Milwaukee now for my heavy use stuff.

yeah i read that somewhere. i am not impressed with some black and decker stuff

Actually, Black and Decker started Dewalt in an effort to start a new brand with no bad connotations, I'd say they did a good job considering the masses that think dewalt's stuff don't stink.

RSWORDS,
My batteries will last a long time cutting metal, not all day of continuous use but considerably longer than cutting through 4x4's or any other heavy wood. For metal I love it, also for pvc I love it.

they actually bought dewalt in the 1950s.

When Kmart bought out Sears I stopped buyin Craftsman to. Just think boys, go buy ya that fancy set a Craftsman wrenches but make sure they have a Blue Light Special on em so you don't pay to much.

in my experience with dewalt, ryobi, porter cable, milwaukee, craftsman, black and decker, and rigid .. milwaukee beats them all hands down with two exceptions. Dad has an old b&d industrial 7" grinder that is still going strong; and one of my former teachers from back in the day has an ancient makita cordless drill that he still uses. For a long time dad was a die hard porter cable guy until b&d bought them out and the quality went to crap. He switched to rigid but I've never really been impressed with their tools. I have a 19.2v cordless porter cable from the pre-b&d days and its been worth every penny I paid for it. We had a lot of dewalt tools when I worked for the usda and they would have to replace them yearly. They finally started switching over to milwaukee tools and by the time I left they had replaced most of the dewalt tools with milwaukees. The same is pretty much true for the grain elevator were I currently work. They had to replace some dewalt tools and a couple of rigid tools. The rigid tools didnt have the power and the dewalts had 4 of 5 batteries that wouldnt hold a charge. I finally talked the boss into trying milwaukee tools and now they have a milwaukee drill, circular saw, corded sawzall, and cordless sawzall. He seems to be very happy with them because he keeps buying them and then borrowing them for projects at home. My personal preference is for milwaukee .. I think you will be very happy if you get the milwaukee .. corded or cordless both are very good tools.

I have had dewalt, makita, and milwaukee at different times. In my opinion, the milwaukee is the #1 runner for me, but I haven't used a dewalt in 4 years. I would really like to get my hands on a new Makita lithium-ion sawzall because of my experience with their impact driver.
I'd say, if you are going to use it alot, get a big named lithium-ion powered kit. If you are not going to use it much, get a corded one, or a cheap lith-ion one. If you have a cordless kit with Ni-cd or Ni-MH batteries and do not use it much, your batteries will be shot after a year. The big 3 all have 18 volt lith-ion kits now.
makita 4-tool
Dewalt 4-tool
Milwaukee 4-tool
Or you could get the big boys.
Milwaukee 28 volt 4-tool
Dewalt 36 volt 4-tool

I got a Ridgid in a combo set that works as good as my Milwaukee corded one.

Well I found a screaming deal today. milwaukee 4 piece m18 lion. $275 nib:U:happy b-day to me

Nice, Milwakee is top of the line.:U:

Dang you got yourself a deal on that.

I have used the Ryobi, Dewalt, and Ridgid. None of them like drywall dust, Ryobi will be the first one to overheat, Dewalt will be the first to get stuck batteries. Ridgid has been good to me, they take drops like a champ also.

:U: good deal on good tools.I use the crap out of my milwalkee everyday:hammer: