Tool School Tuesday -- Sawzall

I decided it was time to resume Tool School Tuesday. And what better way than with one of my favorite tools -- the reciprocating saw, sometimes referred to as a tiger or saber saw, but usually just called the sawzall. And it's called THAT because that is exactly what is does, it SAWS ALL! That's why I love it! And it's very easy to handle. You hug it using two hands with your right hand in the back operating the trigger and your left hand holding the front -- kind of like holding a rifle (I imagine). This gives you a lot of control, and the weight is distributed (unlike the heavy saws hanging at the end of your arm.) It also gives you a lot more safety as your hands are holding the barrel and don't go near the blade.
The reason it's official name is the reciprocating saw is because that's how the blade works, it reciprocates (back and forth) instead of going around like many saws. It's kinda like the action of cutting bread, actually that's EXACTLY what it's like -- a glorified electric carving knife. Because of this it can accommodate a long narrow blade that can bend and curve somewhat. This lets you get into many places you normally can't with your basic arsenal of saws.
The blades are also VERY easy to change, something that I can't say about other saws (okay, I confess, I don't even know how to change other saw blades, I always have my husband do it, OUCH!, that hurt to say). So you could be cutting some wood and then easily switch blades and cut some metal. The sawzall can easily handle both. Chances are you probably won't run out and buy one of these as it is a bit pricey and you probably will have little opportunity to use it. It is used mainly in remodeling work for demolition and that's how I came to get and use ours. But it does come in handy on occasions when you just can't do the job the commonplace ways. And it's so fun! It is powerful and it can bounce around the piece you're cutting up (especially if the piece is smaller like paneling), so don't plan on precision work with it. But those times you can use it, you sure are glad you have it.
Now go have some fun with your power tools!

Midge

Just a little hint on when you might use this (and what I might be posting soon), the other day I was dismantling a piano. Some sections needed to come apart and I couldn't get to certain places with a conventional saw or, for instance, as I cut the back away from the front I didn't want to use a circular saw. It was already a little dicey with a lot of reaching so I pulled out the sawzall instead -- viola! It cut easily, with a decent cut, and not at all scary. OOOO, I love the sawzall!