reciprocating saw for cutting branches?

[badalley]

I have shifted to a new house and have a garden in this house. I want to trim the branches of the trees , so was thinking of buying a reciprocating saw . I want a lightweight saw which can be charged very fast. Please suggest the best available saw.

 

[widefat]

I have shifted to a new house and have a garden in this house. I want to trim the branches of the trees , so was thinking of buying a reciprocating saw . I want a lightweight saw which can be charged very fast. Please suggest the best available saw.

Welcome!
A reciprocating saw may not be the best option. The back and forth action of the blade coupled with the flexibility of the tree branch lends to significant vibration. Your eyes will bounce around and your arms will go numb, while the tree branch laughs at your feeble attempt. Trust me on this.
For the same price of a reciprocating saw, I would recommend a small chainsaw. A Husqvarna or Echo from a big box store, or possibly a battery saw.

 

[TractorGuy]

I imagine any brand name reciprocal saw will work for you on large branches. I use mine all the time on limbs that are too large for my loppers. As widefat said they aren't worth a flip on smaller stuff. I use teh Fiskers brand gear reduction type loppers for most of my limbing. I have a 19.2V Craftsman reciprocal saw that has worked well for years on the large ones and some small trees.

 

[mwayne]

I use these blades for my cordless sawsall:
https://www.northerntool.com/shop/t...eciprocating Saw Blades&utm_source=Google_PLA
You should use a back and forth action to clear the sawdust from the cut or else the blade will clog up and overheat. For 2" diameter branches the sawsall and these blades are the best! Up to 4" diameter can be cut under ideal circumstances. As mentioned earlier they don't work well on small branches.

 

[ning]

Depending on how high the branches are, you may be well served by a pole saw. I personally have a manual sectional saw with has 6' poles which can be added or subtracted, and a very sharp saw goes on top (optionally, a lopper head instead).

I can easily cut branches up to 8", 23 feet up; the saw gets more difficult to operate with more pole units attached (4 poles will get me almost to 30' but because of pole flex you have to be very steady or there's too much pole bounce).

Many folks here like powered pole saws for this as well, basically a small chain saw on a stick; they're great and make quick cuts but have limited reach.

I have shifted to a new house and have a garden in this house. I want to trim the branches of the trees , so was thinking of buying a reciprocating saw . I want a lightweight saw which can be charged very fast. Please suggest the best available saw.

 

[widefat]

Depending on how high the branches are, you may be well served by a pole saw. I personally have a manual sectional saw with has 6' poles which can be added or subtracted, and a very sharp saw goes on top (optionally, a lopper head instead).

I can easily cut branches up to 8", 23 feet up; the saw gets more difficult to operate with more pole units attached (4 poles will get me almost to 30' but because of pole flex you have to be very steady or there's too much pole bounce).

Many folks here like powered pole saws for this as well, basically a small chain saw on a stick; they're great and make quick cuts but have limited reach.

Very true - I have a battery pole saw that is very handy. A Kobalt from Lowes - I think they are going for around 199 with a battery.

 

[Thomas]

I don't think you would be please with reciprocating saw more so if you needed to reach above your head...pole saw or small chain.

 

[deserteagle71]

I use loppers on the small branches. My 18v DeWalt sawzall with pruning blades works excellent for everything else - and a lot safer than using a chainsaw overhead in awkward positions!

 

[Diggin It]

Height and diameter are the key issues. For most things shoulder height or below and under 3" diameter, a recip saw works fine IF you use the right blades. Either a rough cut wood blade or the special pruning blades will work.

Above the shoulder, up to about 12', a power pole saw will be a better choice.

 

[dusty3030]

Since it is close to Father's day with all the tool sales going on it's a good time to buy a battery recip saw and other battery tools regardless.
The battery operated recip saw, battery 4 1/2" angle grinder, and battery 1/2" impact gun are some of the most used power tools I've ever owned.

The pruning type blade linked above and a battery powered recip are very handy at trimming limbs that are within easy reach. Also good for using around where you think there may be metal like bushes or trees growing through a fence. Spots where you wouldn't want to damage a chainsaw chain the recip blade will chew through.

 

[Professor Marvel]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NNPWEWQ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I have this for up to about 4 in stuff. use it more than other stuff I have
Love it

 

[jjp8182]

Unless you'll have ready access to an outlet I'd go with a cordless, and then look at the brands that have a wide variety of tools that use that same battery as batteries for cordless tools generally aren't cheap.

Personally I use Makita 18v cordless tools as being able to use the same batteries for a reciprocating saw, a chainsaw, a powerhead that can attach a string trimmer (or pole saw), a leaf blower and all my other cordless tools to be extremely convenient. Plus they tend to run specials where buying a tool/battery combo-pack will include with an extra set of batteries.

If you do have ready access to an outlet then a corded Milwaukee saw can make some really quick work of tree limbs (especially when using an orbital cutting action).

In either case a pruning blade for reciprocating saws makes a difference over a blade meant for cutting lumber.

 

[TractorGuy]

Pole saws and chain saws are too much maintenance. Oil for the chain, constant tensioning, and sharpening. NO THANKS! I will save my chainsaw for logs and stuff it was made for.

A good ol battery powered reciprocal saw is hard to beat and you can use it for anything from steel to wood.

If you have a fat limb up high just tie it onto a pole and snap the battery in. I use a 16' piece of aluminum T-bar.

 

[/pine]

Before the latest advancements in cordless tool batteries...several of the multi-attachment power head tools...string trimmer, edger, hedge trimmer etc., etc...also had reciprocating saw attachments...they have gone by the wayside with cordless pole chain saws...

 

[Gem99ultra]

I don't think you would be please with reciprocating saw more so if you needed to reach above your head...pole saw or small chain.

I certainly agree with the pole saw suggestion. I do have a battery powered reciprocating saw, and have tried it for pruning. Yuck. A kitchen pairing knife would work better. The pole saw can be used for cutting limbs, probably up to 4" or more. And it is also good for clearing vines such as blackberry vines, honeysuckle, etc.. Having a pair set of nippers handy in your back pocket is always a good idea.

I'm not suggesting that the pole saw is a replacement for your regular duty chain saw, but it will quickly become the #2 tool in your possession.

Regarding the maintenance complaint - yep, pole saws, as well as every other tool does require maintenance. That simply part of the game.

 

[Gary Fowler]

The 20v Black and Decker Alligator Lopper chainsaw is about as safe as you can make a chainsaw. I used one my son-in-law had and it worked fine for small limbs up to about 4 ". The chain is almost completely covered so not much chance of getting into it and it is around $100 which is about as cheap as you will find a battery powered chain saw. If you already have some 20v batteries, then $88 will get you the saw. Personally I prefer a pole saw, but that is because all my trimming is up high .

 

[Xfaxman]

I have two cordless reciprocating saws:

The small one is balanced for one hand operation, while holding the branch with the other hand:

I use the bigger one for larger branches and trees:

This cedar was 24' tall:

 

[the old grind]

The 'trick' to using a recip saw is to use it properly in the first place. Hold the shoe tight to the work-piece like it was designed. Too many users don't, and they complaining about vibration, bent blades, shaking object to be cut, etc. (OEM shoe can be made longer or redesigned as needed for large diameter rounds.)

My neighbor has the B & D Alligator Lopper, corded version. Easiest, safest, and most ergonomic limb cutter I've ever seen, but a two-hander to use. I use a Echo 12" top-handle saw when in the man-lift bucket. It's a dandy one-hander, and I'd have the 18v cordless 10" Makita top-handle saw in a minute if I didn't have the Echo already. Cost isn't much different.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I just used my Ridged 18 volt (sawsall) to cut off a dying bush at my Lady Friends place. Yes it worked, but compared to a chain saw, it was painfully slow. The orbital feature does help.

 

[Teachu2]

Another Old Guy suggested these: Diablo 12 in. Carbide Pruning and Clean Wood Cutting Reciprocating Saw Blade-DS123CP - The Home Depot . I bought a pack, and love them. Fast and handy, and work great for cutting roots.