Best Corded Reciprocating Saws

The body shape immediately reveals that the Black&Decker KS880EC is not quite a conventional reciprocating saw. This form factor is due to the transverse motor arrangement. The motor has a low power (400 watts) — two to three times less than average. However, thanks to such a small motor, Black&Decker managed to make the saw compact and very lightweight. It fits comfortably in the hand and is suitable in weight even for women and elderly people. During operation, this tool is held with one hand. The saw may slightly "nose dive" (the center of gravity is slightly forward), but this even helps it to more aggressively bite into the material being cut without additional pressure.

This saw has a short working stroke (the blade moves reciprocally with an amplitude of only 10 mm). However, the frequency of these movements is high — 4600 strokes/min (one and a half to two times higher than a typical reciprocating handsaw). Due to the high blade speed, the cut is cleaner. Therefore, you can trim live branches on trees without leaving "burrs" on the bark, cut OSB without "raising the grain," or cut insulation with granules (like styrofoam) without crumbling it. The main thing is to remember the motor's low power and not overdo the load.

This saw has a convenient and original keyless blade change mechanism (press the lock button, rotate the blade 90°, and remove it from the pin). But it's not very useful. After all, the saw comes with only one universal blade — it can saw wood (cutting depth is limited to 100 mm), steel (up to 3 mm thick), or plastic pipes (up to 50 mm in diameter). The blade here is unusual. It is short and wide (like a classic handsaw). Therefore, not all blades fit Black&Decker KS880EC, but only special ones. They are produced by only a few manufacturers: Black&Decker itself, Piranha, and a couple more. They are not very common in the market, so it's better to buy blades for the saw right away, just in case.

Despite its unusualness, the Black&Decker KS880EC is a fairly popular saw, produced since the late 2000s and still in demand. However, if you plan to tackle thick logs, there is no point in buying this saw. This is a tool for other tasks. It's suitable for gardeners and homeowners, as well as DIY renovators. Essentially, the Black&Decker KS880EC bridges the gap between jigsaws and large reciprocating saws but can (with certain reservations) perform the functions of both. From other network tools of this kind, perhaps only the Black&Decker RS890K and AEG US 400 XE stand out, but they are significantly more expensive.

The Einhell TH-AP 650 E saw is relatively lightweight (2.8 kg) and has moderate power (650 watts). The quality of the plastic in Einhell tools is traditionally quite decent, so the internal mechanisms and electronic components are well protected from dirt and accidental damage. The saw is equipped with a speed control module, so it can be used as a universal tool for cutting wooden boards, plastic and thin steel pipes (although for metal it's better to buy Einhell Expert TE-AP 1050 E Cena od 600 do 751 zł or another powerful model).

The parts of the body that are held by hands are covered with rubber inserts, providing a good grip and partially absorbing vibrations. The quick-clamp blade holder allows changing blades without using wrenches. The sole adjustment is also tool-less, fixed with buttons. The power cable length (2 m) is insufficient even for indoor work, so it's better to buy an extension cord right away.

The saw comes with two blades: one for wood, the other for metal. Any other blades with L-shaped shanks, if their thickness does not exceed 1.4 mm, can be installed in the chuck.

Thanks to its low price, the Einhell TH-AP 650 E saw is perfect for home users. It will handle most relatively simple tasks, such as cutting junk, trimming trees, or cutting boards and wood panels. However, due to not very high power, this model won't be very useful for professionals involved in construction.

The Skil 4961 AA belongs to mid-power class tools. It is equipped with a 900-watt motor, which is enough for making cuts up to 200 mm deep in wooden boards and beams used in construction. This tool can also be used to cut steel billets (up to 20 mm in diameter), aluminum (up to 30 mm), and other non-ferrous metals, as well as to cut plastic pipes and other polymer products. Naturally, for each task you need to buy appropriate blades, as the kit comes with only one blade designed for wood.

The front part of the body, under which the metal gearbox is hidden, and the rear handle are covered with rubber pads, so the tool fits well in the palms and does not slip during work. By varying the pressure on the start button, the user can control the frequency of blade movements (up to 3200 strokes/min at full throttle), selecting the optimal speed for cutting the material in question. Adjusting the position of the support shoe requires the use of a hex key (included), but the replacement of accessories is tool-less. Thanks to the original Clic lock, the saw blade is fixed and released by simply turning the chuck in one direction or the other.

Professionals engaged in construction or demolition know firsthand how uncomfortable prolonged work with reciprocating saws can be. The Skil company has considered this and equipped the Skil 4961 AA saw with an effective and well-functioning VRS anti-vibration mechanism. It is a system of counterweights (balances) that compensate for vibration from high-frequency reciprocating movements of the rod. So even when sawing at maximum speed, the body of the device hardly vibrates, remaining almost stationary. This feature significantly reduces the load on the user's arms, allowing longer unpaused board slicing or pipe cutting without breaks.

With a 1010-watt motor, the Makita M4500 corded saw has enough power to cut through various materials: wood and its derivatives, steel and non-ferrous metals, plastic, and insulation boards. For effective work, it's only necessary to correctly select the speed mode (the tool is equipped with electronic speed control, stroke frequency changes proportionally to pressing force on the start button) and the saw blade. No issues should arise with the latter, as besides Makita brand accessories, saw blades from other tool manufacturers can be used.

Saw blades are fixed in the chuck with a reliable, time-tested traditional mechanism. That is, they are simply clamped by a screw using a hex key. On the other hand, adjusting the shoe, which serves as a support and determines the depth of cut during operation, is tool-less (its position is locked with a button). When the shoe is fully "pressed" into the body, it provides a greater cutting depth — up to 255 mm (in wood). The design of this saw provides excellent dust and moisture protection. To keep sawdust and shavings generated during sawing from entering the casing, air is blown forward from the motor. At the same time, the air stream clears debris from the cutting line, ensuring a good view. And water protection is provided by rubber seals fitted at the gearbox exit.

This saw has an analogue, identical in technical specifications, but slightly more advanced. This is the Makita M4501 reciprocating saw, which differs only in that it has a keyless blade change mechanism (therefore, it weighs 100 g more and costs more). Both models are the "junior brothers" of the popular Makita JR3050T reciprocating saw. For some markets, Makita makes tools where some components are replaced with less expensive parts. They can be recognized by their red body (as opposed to the turquoise color traditional for Japanese firm products), and in some countries, they are sold under a separate brand Maktec. In this case, the "simplification" of the design lies in the fact that more affordable bearings, buttons, and switches are used in Makita MT series saws. This allowed the manufacturer to reduce prices to an acceptable level, but the tool still remains of a higher quality than numerous "Chinese" tools sold under little-known brands.

The Bosch GSA 120 Professional 06016B1020 electric saw is a professional reciprocating saw. It is large and not light (3.7 kg) due to the powerful and durable parts and mechanisms hidden inside the casing with rubberized pads. The tool is equipped with a 1200-watt motor. Motor speed (and thus, stroke frequency within the range from zero to 3000 strokes/min) can be adjusted with the start button to choose the optimal speed for sawing different materials. The quick-release chuck, which securely fixes the blades, allows quick tool changes if you need to switch from one type of work to another. The kit comes with one Bosch brand blade designed for metal cutting.

Thanks to the motor's high power and robust parts that handle heavy loads, the Bosch GSA 120 saw is excellent for intensive cutting. It easily handles wood (up to 220 mm thickness), confidently cuts thick sheet metal (up to 20 mm), and when using appropriate blades, can even cut through silicate and ceramic bricks or aerated concrete blocks (though, of course, it's better to use a special tool for the purpose, like an "alligator" type saw, such as Bosch GFZ 16-35 AC or Eibenstock EDB 480). The Bosch GSA 120 is versatile as it finds a place on construction sites, in auto workshops, or gardens — basically anywhere something needs cutting or slicing.

Why is this saw, despite its excellent characteristics, as listed above, cheaper than, say, Bosch GSA 1300 PCE Professional 060164E200 or some other saws from Bosch's "blue" line? The thing is, in terms of features, it is quite simple. It lacks neither an anti-vibration system, a pendulum motion, nor stabilized speed under load, nor even simple lighting — none of those things are present in the most "advanced" electric saws. On one hand, this is a plus, as the absence of "bells and whistles" allows one to buy a professional reciprocating saw at a very reasonable price. On the other hand, the functions mentioned would be very useful to anyone buying a powered handsaw for serious work and planning to use it frequently.