If you've never used a reciprocating saw, you might wonder whether you really
need one, especially if you have a good circular saw and an assortment of
handsaws. But if your project involves any kind of renovation or remodeling
work, the answer is an unqualified yes.
With a reciprocating saw, you can quickly cut out old framing and sheathing
to make way for new doors and windows, and with the right blade you'll be able
to power through pipes, nails, shingles, and wires, sometimes all at once. A
true professional's tool, reciprocating
saws will get you into places to make cuts that can't be made with any other
type of saw. Saw History: I Came, I Sawzall'd, I
Conquered
Back in 1951, the Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation
introduced an electric saw that mimicked the back-and-forth motion of a handsaw
rather than relying on the rotary cutting action of a circular saw blade. This
early Sawzall, as reciprocating saws are still often called, was pretty basic: a
metal case containing a 4 amp motor controlled by a simple on/off trigger. I
have one of these machines, and it's been a reliable and indestructible
companion over the years. But I have to admit that in my heart, I lust after one
of the new generation of reciprocating saws: they're more powerful; they have
bigger strokes (the distance traveled by the blade); they provide more strokes
per minute, so that they cut faster; and they offer features that give them more
precision and versatility--like variable speeds and orbital action. More...
Check out our other Tool Buying Guides
Biscuit and pocket-hole joinery are techniques used to join two pieces of wood together. Biscuit joints involve the insertion of a specially shaped wood
piece into an identically shaped slot cut into two pieces of wood. Pocket-hole technology joins two workpieces by drilling angled holes into one piece
and joining it to another with a self-tapping screw. Each method offers unique features and benefits to improve the integrity of your
joints. More...
The ToolBox has a fine selection of guides, books and magazines available in our library. They make excellent gifts for the handyman in your life.
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