Best Cordless Brushless Reciprocating Saw for small limbs, kindling...etc?

[CrystalRiver1]

Hey Studs,

What's a good Cordless Brushless Reciprocating Saw under $100 for the above tasks, small limbs, kindling...just something I can use
instead of firing up the MS 261?
Been looking at the HERCULES 20V Brushless Cordless Reciprocating Saw at Harbor Freight.
It actually has some decent reviews...this will be used maybe 10-12 times yr MAX.

Peace,

Reg

 

[hacskaroly]

I have not used Hercules products yet, but I have a few Bauer products that HF sells and have been happy with them.

 

[Sloughfoot]

Go to whatever battery/charger platform you already have is what I'd do. Not much difference in one reciprocating saw to another other than ease of blade changing and smoothness of trigger. Really cheap ones have a noticeably shorter stroke. I've got nothing but Makita 18V/36V simply because that's what my drills were 20 years ago.

Good choice on getting a reciprocating saw for pruning. I probably use mine as much for pruning as anything else.

 

[CrystalRiver1]

Go to whatever battery/charger platform you already have is what I'd do. Not much difference in one reciprocating saw to another other than ease of blade changing and smoothness of trigger. Really cheap ones have a noticeably shorter stroke. I've got nothing but Makita 18V/36V simply because that's what my drills were 20 years ago.

Good choice on getting a reciprocating saw for pruning. I probably use mine as much for pruning as anything else.

Much obliged.
BTW...what brand has the best batteries/chargers?

 

[Sloughfoot]

Much obliged.
BTW...what brand has the best batteries/chargers?

Can't go wrong with Makita or Milwaukee. Everything DeWalt used to be hit and miss. Don't know if they got consistent or not.

 

[jblnut]

I dove down the Ryobi rabbit hole a while back and don’t regret it so far. I use my “sawzall” for pruning and it works great with a diablo pruning blade. The only Ryobi tool I have I’d never buy again is the inflator. It’s slow and painful to wait for but does the job in a pinch.

 

[Woodpecker]

I use mine daily for tree work. I already had makita tools/batteries so I got their compact brushless saw. I have a variety of blades I use but the ones with the Japanese style tooth pattern from Lee Valley tools and EZARC are my favorite. They both have the same pruning profile as my Silky hand saws. I’d recommend getting a shorter 6-8” blade and a longer 15ish” one as well.

 

[Sloughfoot]

I dove down the Ryobi rabbit hole a while back and don’t regret it so far. I use my “sawzall” for pruning and it works great with a diablo pruning blade. The only Ryobi tool I have I’d never buy again is the inflator. It’s slow and painful to wait for but does the job in a pinch.

Yeh, me and everyone else I know that's had a Ryobi or two has had the same experience. One works like a champ and the next one gets gifted to an in law. I had a little battery Ryobi blower awhile back that was great. Didn't have it long enough to speak to the battery quality. I've had a 36V Makita blower for 5 years or so that'll push you 10mph on a bike for a minute on the high setting.

 

[CrystalRiver1]

Hmm...some mighty good advice and wisdom here...I certainly appreciate it for sure!
Been looking @ the TEMU 36 volt versions... They're suspect and the reviews are treacherous! YIKES!

I have about $30 in unused credits with TEMU, so I could get it dirt cheap, 2 batteries and a charger come with it...$36. plus the ride, tax, maybe TARIFFS!

 

[jblnut]

Hmm...some mighty good advice and wisdom here...I certainly appreciate it for sure!
Been looking @ the TEMU 36 volt versions... They're suspect and the reviews are treacherous! YIKES!

I have about $30 in unused credits with TEMU, so I could get it dirt cheap, 2 batteries and a charger come with it...$36. plus the ride, tax, maybe TARIFFS!

View attachment 466848

With the “unlimited power” I think it’s a no brainer. They’ll cut through the earths crust !!

 

[CrystalRiver1]

With the “unlimited power” I think it’s a no brainer. They’ll cut through the earths crust !!

I'm with ya..."Unlimited Power" places it in the divine realm fer sure!

 

[legdelimber]

The 35 dollar specials are rather temping for me. I need to cut out a bunch of neglected Holly and other stuff around the old home place.
I've got several choices of bypass blade pruning shears, Up to 3 ft handles.
But if you're wanting to make selective cuts, it's not really practical with the long handles. I've still got an old (corded) Milwaukee sawzall. but even that thing is a bit unwieldy in the shrubs. It's what I used the last time around.
Trying to one hand gets pretty rough if you have carpel tunnel or tendinitis issues.
The $35 compact recip saw starts to look pretty interesting for something I might not need to get but a couple of work sessions from.
I'm probably more concerned over the battery packs life, IF I pull this thing out for a second time, say maybe next year or later?

 

[edisto]

Go to whatever battery/charger platform you already have is what I'd do.

That's the smart move. I did the opposite. Couldn't pass up an older Milwaukee set that came into Habitat for Humanity while I was there. The hammer drill was well-used, the impact less-so, and the saw looked untouched.

The adapter and batteries I had to buy made it much less of a deal, but I was glad to have it when the hurricane punched a tree branch through my daughter's window last year.

I use it a lot keeping the bamboo at bay in our woods.

 

[bucketofguts]

Milwaukee and cry one time. finding a blade that cuts and is smooth is the hard part. The all feel hungry.jerky to me. I cant find the ones I used for years. they make dry and wet blades. with the quick change it is worth changing say a 3 inch limb dry 3 inch green sapling. Keep mine on the Zero
turn and cut all offending. Good luck to ya.