Battery Powered Sawzall ?

[koja]

Do any of guys have or used a battery powered saw all ? If so how well do they hold up ? Thinking of getting one for cutting tree roots bigger than three inches in diameter .

 

[Daren Todd]

I've had several over the years. Started with a dewalt and had reslly good luck with it. I would just buy the kits, that had a screw gun, circular saw, and sawzall. Killed that set after about 10 years. Bought a ryobi set. Don't waste your money on that kit. The batterys would quit taking a charge after a month or so.

I currently have the kolbalt lithium ion set from lowes. Has a five year warranty on everything. Kit came with a sawzall, circular saw, screw gun, and spotlight. Light lasts forever on the batterys. Sawzall, circular saw, and screw gun will last an half hour to an hour with heavy prolonged use. Will last 2 to four hours on a charge if it's quick cuts and just putting in screws. Had the kit for a couple years now and have been really happy with it.

 

[Diydave]

I have several of the old ryobis floating around the farm. They have the advantage of being cheap, and the batteries are about $30, at homo depo. I think I got most of them off of craig's list, or at yard sales...

 

[85Hokie]

I've had several over the years. Started with a dewalt and had reslly good luck with it. I would just buy the kits, that had a screw gun, circular saw, and sawzall. Killed that set after about 10 years. Bought a ryobi set. Don't waste your money on that kit. The batterys would quit taking a charge after a month or so.

I currently have the kolbalt lithium ion set from lowes. Has a five year warranty on everything. Kit came with a sawzall, circular saw, screw gun, and spotlight. Light lasts forever on the batterys. Sawzall, circular saw, and screw gun will last an half hour to an hour with heavy prolonged use. Will last 2 to four hours on a charge if it's quick cuts and just putting in screws. Had the kit for a couple years now and have been really happy with it.

Ditto what Daren said -

believe it or not - Kobalt is some of the "best" tools out there FOR the money!
No - they are not the best tools period....but the warranty is worth the price of the tool. I used to use sears craftsman tools for the shop - tape measures etc...... stop buying them do to the warranty - or lack of ! Would no long own up to what the written warranty said. NO more .....

I use nothing but Kobalt tape measures now, I have one in my truck now, going back to lowes, no questions asked, hand me a new one - sign a piece of paper and out the door!!!

As for the reciprocating saw, get you a lithium ion multikit, you will spend a bit on it - but like Daren said - the warranty is better than you find anywhere else for the price. I have about 20 cordless tools at the shop - my dewalts are starting to break down , my boschs are slowing going too, but they catch hell to begin with!

here is a very nice bang for your buck!

http://www.lowes.com/pd_233310-1124...t=multi+tool+cordless&page=1&facetInfo=Kobalt

5 year ....hassle free! Find you some large tooth reciprocating saw blades and have at them ROOTS!

 

[Daren Todd]

Ditto what Daren said -

believe it or not - Kobalt is some of the "best" tools out there FOR the money!
No - they are not the best tools period....but the warranty is worth the price of the tool. I used to use sears craftsman tools for the shop - tape measures etc...... stop buying them do to the warranty - or lack of ! Would no long own up to what the written warranty said. NO more .....

I use nothing but Kobalt tape measures now, I have one in my truck now, going back to lowes, no questions asked, hand me a new one - sign a piece of paper and out the door!!!

As for the reciprocating saw, get you a lithium ion multikit, you will spend a bit on it - but like Daren said - the warranty is better than you find anywhere else for the price. I have about 20 cordless tools at the shop - my dewalts are starting to break down , my boschs are slowing going too, but they catch hell to begin with!

here is a very nice bang for your buck!

http://www.lowes.com/pd_233310-1124...t=multi+tool+cordless&page=1&facetInfo=Kobalt

5 year ....hassle free! Find you some large tooth reciprocating saw blades and have at them ROOTS!

I used to do all craftsman tools as well. Till about 7 years ago when they told me they wouldn't warranty a ratchet that stripped out they said since there was a scratch in the handle, that I abused it. needless to say I asked him if he bumped his bloody head, demanded a manager and proceded to get escorted out of the store by security when they wouldn't honor the written warranty . I haven't set foot in a sears store since and refuse to buy anything from them. The house tools are all kobalt, SnapOn, and matco. The snapon and matcos come home from my tool box at work when I update something

 

[85Hokie]

when I returned a couple of tape measures to Sears - I guy in front of me was raising holy hell with the manager......

when it was my turn - I told her ma'am I just want these tape measures replaced.....
she went on to tell me that she could NOT replace them......I smiled and said, ma'am to you want me to act like the last guy??? SHe replaced 3 outta six......I was happy....
AND HAVE NOT BEEN back either!!!!!!!!!!

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

Used Milwaukee Battery powered sawzall's for years, loved them.
I too would go with either Porter Cable or Kobalt for a new one now.

 

[Orange Turbo]

On the craftsman note, First set was 1968 been faithful, with no issues till about 8-9 years ago, Will Not buy another craftsman period, Every time I take something back wrench, ratchet, The replacement is always smaller and cheaper than the one traded in. There total cheap china JUNK!!!. Kobalt tools are looking pretty good. For sure a lot better than craftsman's.

 

[2grit]

I own a Ryobi and a Milwaukee. I've had the 18V Ryobi a long time and it works great. Upgraded to lithium batteries and it is a world of difference. I bought the 28V Milwaukee for heavy duty all day work and love it but it is heavy. For casual use, the Ryobi is fine and will cut any roots you hand it

 

[RCW]

I have a Porter-Cable kit from Lowes - so far, so good, and its about 3 years old or so. I really like the recipro saw, and use it a lot. Used it today to prune lilacs. 3" stuff might be a little big for those. My experience is 2 or less works fine.

For 3" stuff - might want to think chainsaw.

Also have an older Craftsman kit - no reciprocating saw in that bunch.

Several years ago, Lowes had a sale on one of those oscillating saw things that came with a battery for $30 or so. Got it just for the battery.

 

[bmblank]

I love the ryobi one+ tools. they've taken a beating and keep going. I had one battery die on me, but it's also taken some big falls onto concrete.

Sent from my XT1254 using Forum Fiend v1.3.2.

 

[clay45]

I love the ryobi one+ tools. they've taken a beating and keep going. I had one battery die on me, but it's also taken some big falls onto concrete.

Sent from my XT1254 using Forum Fiend v1.3.2.

Same Here.!!!!

 

[skeets]

The only time I have ever been around a battery power saws all is when I investigated some clown trying to steal copper mine cable,,, Ya know when you cut in to a hot 25kv feed cable, things happen, and parts were scattered all over the sub station. Was not pretty

 

[Lil Foot]

I have a small, ancient 9.6v Makita, good for single cuts or quick trimming of small limbs, and extensively used a Milwaukee that belonged to our group at work. It was a workhorse!

 

[Mbarrette]

We've tried all types at work (I.e. Makita, Dewalt, Ryobi, Porter Cable, Milwaukee...) and they all work pretty good relative to what you pay.

We started using Festool battery drills for applications where a standard drill won't work. They are very expensive, but very well made. Unfortunately they don't make a sawsall

 

[koja]

Thanks everyone for the replies . Pretty sure I'll be buying a porta cable one here in the near future .

 

[ShaunRH]

My 18V, ten year old, Ryobi still works great and is powerfull enough. The older LiIon batterys are GARBAGE, but the NiCd/Nimh battery packs really hold a charge and almost all of my packs of that type last at least 3-4 years with average DIY use/abuse.

Did buy a corded Makita Recipro saw and it can take down trees, it's a beast, but it's corded.

 

[Tooljunkie]

Nothing beats root cutting.recip all the way. I havent got a cordless one, but my preference is dewalt.

 

[SLIMSHADIE]

Using my 18v Dewalt sawzall to help cut out 2 big overgrown evrgreens as we speak. Ive probably had that cordless set form maybe 15 years. I thought i cooked my drill 1 day. It smoked and smelled like an electrical fire. Let it cool down and has been working for 5 more years.
I have 6-8 batteries and replace a couple every couple years. They are on sale at xmas and I ask for a set then too. I use them almost as much as my Kubota.

 

[Grouse Feathers]

Thanks for posting this thread. After reading this I bought a Porter Cable kit yesterday. Today I took out 5 stumps and knocked down two trees. It was all smaller stuff 6" to 12", but all the work was completed with a shovel, sawzall, and the fel on my BX2370. A couple of days work reduced to 1/2 day.

Larry