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Sawzalls......

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Rot'nRodder, Sep 14, 2006.

  1. RichG
    Joined: Dec 8, 2008
    Posts: 3,919

    RichG
    Member

    I have that one, love it! It also has an adjustable foot so you can use it for short stroked cuts. I also have a corded milwaukee and a Bosch, all of them well used and abused WAY beyond what a cheap tool would last through.

    Next time you're in the big box store ask for the blades called "the torch" (by milwaukee I believe), they are sized from 4" to 12" and those buggers will flat chew right through metal.
     
  2. The Hank
    Joined: Mar 18, 2008
    Posts: 779

    The Hank
    Member
    from CO

    I use these tools a lot and have used many different ones.
    If you want to spend a load of cash get a Milwaukee, they are good but so are some others. Hitachi makes a good one , loads of power and no problems with triggers plus it's cheaper. Sawzalls take a massive beating , they get dropped and worked hard. Stay away from Riobi , pure junk. Ridgid , i'v had two and the ones I did have the blades fell out while cutting [ both brand new and both got returned ] I am here to tell you the BEST one you can buy [ with a cord ] Is a Kawasaki, they have them @ pep boys for 50$ and they have gob's of power, a nice handle, good quick release blade [ like all new ones ] It's as good as any $$$ ones I have used [ Milwaukee , Ridgid,Porter cable,Dewalt,Makita ,Bosch]
    If you go cordless I recommend the Milwaukee,the batteries can be a bitch to change though but other then that it's a great tool. I wouldn't go cordless. Batteries die, you forget to charge them when you need to cut something.
    Anyone that says they have had one for 30 years does not use them but once a month if that. The old Milwaukee's sucked. The cords plugged directly into the tool and failed. Allen wrench to fix the blade to the tool's [ like lot's of older ones] but the old cords were the worst.

    I would put my $50 Kawasaki against any tool out there.Period.
     
  3. uler3161
    Joined: Apr 12, 2009
    Posts: 4

    uler3161
    Member

    Sorry for this being my first real post (other than my intro post), but I just had to comment here because bad products make me mad.

    It seems a lot of people like the Milwaukee. I guess I must be the only one who thinks they are worse than Harbor Freight???

    Bought a Milwaukee Super Sawzall with the Orbital thingamajig about 3 or 4 years back. It lasted probably an hour or so cutting up sheet metal on a car I was junking out. And stupid me, I didn't send in the warranty information. That part was definitely my fault.

    Anyway, the blade holder would no longer hold the blade. I ordered parts to fix it. Got it fixed and found the Orbital was screwed too. Would only cut in a curve and only in one direction. I gave up at that point and it's sitting in my toolbox unused now. A $300+ lesson learned I guess. I don't think I've ever had any Harbor Freight tools fail that fast, especially given the price.

    A little O/T, but we also have some fairly expensive Milwaukee routers for woodworking. For being made in China, they look like good quality, but they also have serious problems. I looked at the Sawzall to see if it said Made in China but it didn't have any location listed on the serial number tag (The routers have it on that tag).

    I do have a cordless Skil sawzall that is a lot more lightweight and cheaply built, but at least it ain't broke. Only complaint I have is battery life.

    Maybe older Milwaukee tools are good, but I'm staying far away from any newer ones from now on.
     
  4. 50dodge4x4
    Joined: Aug 7, 2004
    Posts: 3,534

    50dodge4x4
    Member

    I probably use my Milwaukee sawzall every day, monday through friday, 90 % of the cutting in my shop is done with the sawzall. The current one is about 5 years old and has the quick release blade holder. I have to be sure the release is clossed tightly, sometimes it hangs up. Other then that, it has cut a lot of metal. I use Morris bi-metal blades with 18 teeth per inch, most of the cutting I do is 1/4" or thinner, with the majority being 1/8". Best bang for the buck on blades, in my experence.

    The old one (also a Milwaukee) had the allen wrench blade holder and I was on the 3rd holder when the off set brearing went out, its on the shelf in the back room.

    When I need another, it too will be a Milwaukee, but just the basic model with the quick release. I have found over the years that all the extra options they add to tools tends to give you more things that can (and often do) go bad. Gene
     
  5. KaiserKruiser
    Joined: Jan 9, 2009
    Posts: 84

    KaiserKruiser
    Member

    I have a 28 volt milwaukee sawzall, hammer drill and circlur saw. They are the best cordless tolls ive ever used. I use them for everything.
     
  6. foghorn62
    Joined: Nov 30, 2008
    Posts: 91

    foghorn62
    Member


    I've had a Porter-Cable for about 15 years, and that sucker cuts through anything. Paid a little of 100 bucks for it I think, and never a problem.
     
  7. For what its worth my $20 cheapy chinese made sawzal I got from ace like 4 years ago has treated me well.. the only thing that broke on it was the blade alignment pin which was fixed by buying a 30c new one.. and i have salvaged out 2 motor homes 1 travel trailer various frames etc.. I just bought it cause i needed one when i tore apart my first motorhome (see pics in profile) its not too heavy is speed adjustible.. its the best cheap saw I've owned.
     
  8. Nasty Nate
    Joined: Oct 17, 2009
    Posts: 155

    Nasty Nate
    Member
    from California

    for me nothing beats a corded milwaukee, never fails!! especially using the blue torch bi-metal blades (not cheap though) but works like a dream
     
  9. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 20,134

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

    Milwaukee corded kicks butt
     
  10. I've had a Milwaukee in the shop for over twenty years and it has been abused with a capital A. Kids cutting scrap cars in half, etc. That thing is bulletproof. I'd buy another one in a minute.
     
  11. 067chevy
    Joined: Sep 18, 2005
    Posts: 2,073

    067chevy
    Member

    18 Volt Dewalt I what I use. A must when going to the Junk.
     
  12. RichG
    Joined: Dec 8, 2008
    Posts: 3,919

    RichG
    Member

    Hey, I'll go buy a brand new Harbor Freight saw and trade you straight up for your Milwaukee if you want
     
  13. Nicholson
    Joined: Aug 9, 2006
    Posts: 169

    Nicholson

    Milwaukee corded for me also........about 15 years old and still going strong with no problems
     
  14. Parts48
    Joined: Mar 28, 2008
    Posts: 1,588

    Parts48
    Member
    from Tucson, Az
    1. Hot Rod Veterans

    Milwaukee tools have lasted for me for years... Sawzall has been a workhorse.

    I do get the Chicago Whatever at HF..so my son uses them to trim Mesquites..do yard work around the property..

    I have one hB that is about 10 years old..thought it was dead..bought another on sale for $20..then used the rebuild parts for the first..both work.

    Good for trees..lumber and fire wood..if they die..or get left out..not much to lose.
     
  15. Scott
    Joined: Dec 23, 2004
    Posts: 2,773

    Scott
    Member

    Milwaukee corded sawzall Ive used them for 30 years the best
    Dewalt for cordless the milwaukee has a nicer action but the battery slots wear out faster
     
  16. 1977... bought a Milwaukee for my new house framing business.
    1979... slid off the roof, hit the slab, broke the case.

    1979 & 1 hour.... bought a Makita at a local mom & pop store to 'get the job done'. This is back when they came in a metal carrying case.

    Abused the hell outta that thing, building houses, remodeling, cutting up cars, plumbing, trimming trees, roots, you name it. It's been rained on overnight, dropped off the roof and I loaned it out. This thing should be in the Makita museum. I did replace the cord twice because they wore out.

    A few months ago, it died after 30 years of loyal service.
    Found it's twin, nearly new condition on craigslist for $10.
     
  17. Hitachi, the green monster. I got 3 of them several years ago in an auction cheap. I bought all of them so I could just throw them away as they gave up. They looked like they had already been rode hard and put up wet. So I picked out the sorriest looking one to start with, I figured I'd go ahead and put it out of it's misery. Well that was 4 years ago and I just cant kill the damn thing!

    As for cordless ones, I'd love to have one but an extention cord, a 750 watt Husky inverter and a good hot car battery have never let me down in a remote situation. Not as light as a cordless saw and an extra battery but, I've yet to run a good car battery down and a deep cycle marine battery would probably run one for ever.
     
  18. HOT40ROD
    Joined: Jun 16, 2006
    Posts: 961

    HOT40ROD
    Member
    from Easton, Pa

    I have a corded Porter Cable that i been using hard for 15 years. Cutting bodies frames and heavy steel.

    also have a dewalt cordless with two batteries that I use when I'm out in the yards. Its one of the good ones not the Home depot ones.
     
  19. If you want a Sawzall you have to buy a Milwaukee, they are the only ones who make them.
     
  20. I have their professional model I got 20 years ago at a contractor supply house. Corded of course, never cut the cord or had it get in my way.

    I've cut frames, all sorts of pipe, did house construction and they're great for tree trimming. Go splurge on the Lennox blades, they last a long time. if they get bent, straighten them out with a hammer and keep going.

    Bob
     
  21. 4ever18
    Joined: Nov 1, 2007
    Posts: 588

    4ever18
    Member

    Mine gets used at the home construction jobsites, as well as in the garage and salvage yards.

    I'm a big fan of my Milwaukee Super Sawzall, but my Dewalt cordless is VERY handy. I say get both! For my Dewalt, I purchased a charger that will plug into my cigarette lighter. I have three batteries, which means you can have one charging while you're using the others. It works VERY well for me. As for the battery life, I was able to remove a rearend from a '64 Pontiac Catalina with my battery powered Dewalt and three fully charged batteries. I cut everything - control arms, coil springs, shock absorbers, emergency brake cables, brake fluid line and the driveshaft. Where this car was laying, I wasn't about crawl under it for any more than necessary! The new batteries last much longer than those that were available a couple of years ago. The rearend removal was done with the old batteries.
     
  22. nutajunka
    Joined: Jan 24, 2007
    Posts: 1,464

    nutajunka

    Corded Milwaukee with quick release, abused the heck out of it and never gives a hint of giving up. Cut's metal everyday. I don't hardly ever use the shoe either, to where I can cut curves and go where I want with it.
     
  23. uler3161
    Joined: Apr 12, 2009
    Posts: 4

    uler3161
    Member

    What a tempting offer! If it got as little done for you as it did for me, you might not feel the same.

    One of these days I do intend to take it apart and see what is going on with it. Then I might give it another chance.
     
  24. RichG
    Joined: Dec 8, 2008
    Posts: 3,919

    RichG
    Member

    All kidding aside, Milwaukee has a great parts inventory and you can repair just about anything that breaks on your tools right from them:D
     
  25. slefain
    Joined: Apr 6, 2009
    Posts: 229

    slefain
    Member
    from Atlanta

    I have the same model, love it. How did I ever live without one!
     
  26. Balls Out Garage
    Joined: Dec 8, 2008
    Posts: 107

    Balls Out Garage
    Member
    from Arkansas

    Milwaukee Super Sawzall. I've heavily used (and sometimes abused) mine for 14 years now, and it still performs like new.
     

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