Replies

1. 
   CarpenterPJE | Jan 06, 2004 12:07am | #1

   Hi Wolfman,

   Welcome to tool talk & all the forums.  Yes this topic has been hit hard, If you go over to break time & look up past discussions you'll find a lot.

   Pretty much Milwaukee & Porter Cable have won out.  Stay away from the orbital models, the orbital seems to be the weak link for all manufactures.

   Good luck

   PJE

2. 
   JMartinsky | Jan 06, 2004 02:59am | #2

   Hi Wolfman,

   Welcome. The PC is the way to go, I like the orbital action, MUCH faster than not having it. As a vetern of MANY, many, mmaanny, hours of using them, I cam tell you the following:

   1. Go with orbital action, unless your primary use is metal.

   2. Use good blades.

   3. It will not be a tool that you have for twenty years.

   4. Amazon.com sometimes has them in thier "remanufactured" listing and can save some $.

   http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/531632/ref=br_ca_/104-9453557-3195929

   Good Luck,

   John

1. 
   CTI | Jan 20, 2004 04:11am | #4

   Oh dear, you all are as bad as the cooks in getting me to amazon. Is this a good deal? Urgent primary use is pruning small (1-2") branches, secondary will be cutting holes in walls and thirdly small boards and larger branches (4").

   Milwaukee 6524-21 The Hatchet 7.5 AMP SawzallMilwaukee

   View Image

   List Price:

    

   $287.00

   Price:

    

   $159.99

   You Save:

    

   $127.01 (44%)

   Now I need to find another tool to get it up to $199 and they'll take off $25. Free shipping, too.

1. 
   JMartinsky | Jan 20, 2004 03:44pm | #5

   Dear CTI,

   My one concern with Milwaukee is that their blade holding mechanism has been known fail pretty easily. Unless that has been addressed, I would stay away from it. Typically the ones that would break had a plastic ring that would be grasped to change the blade. That would appear to be the case here. The type of work that you describe makes me wonder if a "cordless" model would suit you better. Anything 18 volts should do the trick. They may seem a bit pricey, but without a cord, pruning should be MUCH easier. Again I would go with Porter-Cable or Bosch, but Hitachi and Milwaukee make good machines as well. If you go that route, be sure to order the "kit" and not just the tool, because the kit includes the charger and batteries.

   Good Luck

   John

1. 
   CTI | Jan 21, 2004 02:16am | #6

   Thank you John!

2. 
   CarpenterPJE | Jan 24, 2004 03:46am | #7

   The plastic ring has been changed out to a steel one & I believe that it is a free change out. I have the steel one & it jambs up a lot.

   I also have talked to the Milwaukee reps about the orbital saw & have been told by them to not get it, that it seems to be a weak link for all makes.

3. 
   nicknukeem | Jan 20, 2004 02:54am | #3

   There is a good reason Milwaukee has dominated the Sawzall market, since they practically invented the tool.  I have had 3 Sawzalls and my current model is the Super Sawzall with orbtal action.  Gotta say that is one mean cutting machine.  It's a pleasure to pick up and it has yet to fail me, and I do renovation work for a living.

   I never met a tool I didn't like!
4. 
   28ozhammer | Jan 31, 2004 03:52am | #8

   i use de-walts

   my crew beats on my tools. and wether i have an expensive sawzeverthing or not.

   the kid on the crew is gonna drop it 17 times a week.

   so spending $99.00 a year per sawzall.

   when it gets ruined i'm not to concerned about it.

   plus it's another "write off"

1. 
   CarpenterPJE | Jan 31, 2004 04:26pm | #9

   plus it's another "write off"

    

   I'm sorry but I really hate it when I hear that. You have to EARN,  the money before you spend it & then write it off. Just because someone  writes something  off does not mean you somehow get the money back. The money is gone. Sure you still have the new tool, big deal, If the first tool was taken care of, perhaps you would still have it.                                                                                                                                     You seem to be happy having YOUR profits stolen away slowly & justify it with,  Oh well , I'll just write it off. Please don't get me wrong, Normal wear, tear & replacement of tools & equipment is part of doing business.                                      

   If the abused tool had a $9900.00 replacement cost, you would be yelling, "WHERE THE HELL AM I GOING TO GET THAT KIND OF MONEY?" not, Oh well , I'll just write it off.

   Now a $99.00 saw is not that big a deal,or is it?  Replace it 5,6,8,10 times starts to add up. What are the guys doing to the rest of the tools,"Boss really doesn't care, Hell, he writes them off!"

   You have to set the tone with the employees, its your money.

   PJE

1. 
   28ozhammer | Jan 31, 2004 09:32pm | #10

   yo pje

   i hear ya.

   however when your constantly renovating, sawzall's are gonna take a beating.

   i'm not replacing any other tool, with the exception of that particular item.

   and when they do burn out they go to the shop until i have enough to rebiuld a new one. i've rebiult 2 sawzalls out of 4 dead ones.

   thats the beauty of sticking w/ one particular brand .

   as far as write-off's, yes i need them.

   and never do i charge them to a client.

   ( oh , by the way i broke a sawzall on your job, you have to replace it) thats just dumb.

   i run a legitimate biusness. no sub's. just employee's.

   w/ that comes wormans comp, unemployment tax, and matched ssi on a weekly basis.

   that's a big nut to swallow , however knowing my crew will be taken care of, and not sent away injured w/ a "well tough luck attitude" gives me great peace of mind.

   and as contractors "we" should figure in monthly or yearly costs for tool purchase,repair and replacement.

    don't get me wrong as a fellow carpenter i do respect your opinion.

   mine just happens to be different.

1. 
   CarpenterPJE | Jan 31, 2004 11:43pm | #11

   Fast Eddie.

   I guess I just hear that thrown around a lot without proper thought, I guess from people who do not own or run a business or have any idea what they are talking about. I didn't intend on jumping down your neck on this & bet you & I are pretty much on the same page when it comes to the business end of things.

   I have a neighbor that has been employed in a union fabrication shop all his life with no clue to the world of business & he on many occasions has made comments like "Rich business owner"  & " Oh you just write that off." He must think life is one big write off & bed of roses for use "Rich business owners"

   So when I saw your thread, I just heard my neighbors stupid comments.

   I'm glad to hear it's pretty much just your sawzalls & not all your hard earned tools that abused.

   Have a great day.

   PJE

1. 
   28ozhammer | Feb 01, 2004 12:48am | #12

   yeah pje

   i hear vioces too!!

   !ROAR!

5. 
   Dreamcatcher | Feb 23, 2004 09:22am | #13

   Wolfman,

   To the point...

   I have a Porter Cable Tigersaw. It works great. I have also used Milwakee, Craftsman, Dewalt, and Hitachi.

   The Hitachi was great too. Very fast and accurate.

   The next sawzall I buy will be a Porter Cable Tigerclaw with variable position neck.

   Whatever you do, don't buy cordless.

   gk

1. 
   crosscutter1 | Mar 11, 2004 03:03am | #14

   i recently bought a new milwakee super duty around $200.00

   boy its great almost like a chainsaw great on demo cuts very quick but you have to buy good blades

   hey guys remember when a sawzall was just that, no fancy features ,turning heads ,cordless & removable cords the more i type the more pissed i get .i used to use a yankee screwdriver had 3 of them set up then makita came out with cordless screw guns ( 9 v )those 9v & BATTERYS LASTED ME 20 YEARS !!! THEN THE NEW WAVE CAME OUT NOT TO MENTION DIFFRENT VOLTAGES AND BATTERY SIZES

   9v 12v 14v 18 v & so on these tools were supose to take the place of extension cords did they really ?? all diffrent size & types of chargers the extensin cords were alot lighter as far as weight in my truck !!

   heres another one to consider  !!! battery might last 2years cost $40.00 divide that X 24 thats 1.66 a month x HOW MANY CORDLESS TOOLS WE ARE BEING #### & RENTING OUR OWN EQUIPMENT !!!!!!!