A few months ago, I joined Rob Robillard and the Tool Box Buzz crew on a head-to-head test of cordless reciprocating saws. For those of you not familiar with Tool Box Buzz, it is published under the direction of Todd Fratzel and Robert Robillard–two professional contractors. The Tool Box Buzz crew is made up of several other professional contractors located throughout various parts of the U.S. The reviewers of the reciprocating saws were contractors who cover the gamut of typical reciprocating-saw users.
For this test, tool manufacturers were invited to send their top-of-the-line cordless reciprocating saw that utilizes a single 18V or 22V battery. There are other larger-voltage reciprocating saws out there (Makita has a 36V, which takes two 18V packs), and DeWalt has the 60V FlexVolt version), but this test focused on tools in the same general voltage category.
We did a number of speed tests in nail-embedded wood, EMT conduit, and gas pipe while gauging things like vibration and ergonomics. In an effort to obtain similar cutting pressure applied to each saw, we hung a 10-pound weight from a rope on each saw.
You can read more about the test and see the results here
