The advantages of a Reciprocating Saw over a Chain Saw

[8digitPDX]

Smart tool and you can use it for quickly processing game.

[1loobie]

Good video, very informative. Someone said "why not a machete?" I got a little bit of a "smart ass" kinda vibe from that question but I could be wrong. I personally use a Machete for clearing bamboo and cutting small firewood but never thought of using my reciprocating saw. I'll give that a try but to answer the question. When I use a Machete It's usually my day off, I'm in no rush, and most importantly I'm in the mood. In the mood to do some work and get a good sweat going.

[gr8mikeY]

I have the 36V version of that saw. I must say it is really nice. Now if I could only get my father in law to bring it back when he is done using it.......

[mrdreadeye808]

i jus bought that saw yesterday and gonna use it on some waiwi trees tomorrow haha

[BillG37]

Thank you for the video! I'm going to cut my tree down in my front yard, because the roots are invading my sewer line. I'm terrified of chain saws. I've never even touched one. I'm going to buy a reciprocating saw for the job. I don't know what kind of tree I have, but it doesn't have one big trunk. It has a bunch of smaller trunks. When the leaves come in, it reminds me of a huge piece of cauliflower. All I know is it's coming down SOON!!!

[leafyism]

1:46 bigfoot

[survivalpodcasting]

@leafyism - Nope a black German Sheppard.

[alexsuchapimp]

@leafyism dude no way!

[sh34sh34]

it definitely agree with the reciprocating saw. The real problem is the 18v battery power. Also, the battery is heavy (1-2 pounds).

For small trees on the gound, I used 18 guage speaker wire and attached my 18v cordless reciprocating saw to a portable 12v Booster Battery (500 cold cranking amps) and I find the lead acid batteries are strong (will run 8 amps instead of 5 amps at a longer voltage) and can run along time. The only issue is the term overheating at a high amperage.

[Oorfmeister]

why not use a machette?

[survivalpodcasting]

@Oorfmeister - Well for one reason a machete won't cut a 4 inch pine absolutely flush with the ground in about 10 seconds.

Seriouly that is like watching a guy cut a 12 inch oak with chain saw and asking why not use a cross cut team saw, sure you could do it but why?

[525donuts]

these are great for truck/car camping as well. You can cut a ton of camp wood and it saves lots of time and energy. I've always been able to cut all the wood I needed before the battery is used up.

[TOWcritter1]

Great video. It would have been better if you weren't flashing the audience though.

[glockman1727ak47]

That is such a great! I would have never thought to use them for that purpose.

[mac63126]

Most companies that make cordless tools have a automotive charger as part of the system. One of these could easily be connected to alternative power system. You might not be able to find it on the shelf of the local big box store, but can probably special order it or get it online.

For pruning with a recip saw, look for the Skil Ugly pruning blades. They look a lot like the blade of a bow saw and go right through branches. Doesn't work so well with stuff under 1/2" or so though.

[basszack]

Thanks for posting and I have found that my dewalt saw devours batteries! It is ok for small jobs around the yard but if I needed to hike a ways to cut those size trees I would use my machete or a woodsmans pal or even a hand saw.Your mileage my very:)

[colefromwpg]

Great tip, thanks again Jack.

[shaolinadr]

@survivalpodcasting sorry

I ment compared lol

[timbobau]

I had completely overlooked the advantages of a reciprocating saw.

You have done it again Jack!

[ROFLpwnedvideos]

What you described with the pine trees is called Secondary succession from an ecology standpoint. :)

Are you going to reuse the stuff you cut down? Burn perhaps?

[survivalpodcasting]

@ROFLpwnedvideos - It is being used as "chop and drop" and the permaculturist (such as myself) would call it. It is being cut up a bit and going to the ground around plants we want to encourage to break down and provide new soil and mulch.

[ROFLpwnedvideos]

@survivalpodcasting

Awesome.

[nightblade18m]

I remember the show where you talked about this. Nice to see the vid on it!

[johnny102marvin]

I never thought of this idea and I have been prepping for 20 years. Jack, I think you are the first one to share this idea to preppers on YouTube. I like the idea that you can recharge the batteries by rigging it to solar panels somehow. I think you can. I'll have to think about it more. I also like the idea that you can do things with the reciprocating saw that you CANNOT do with a chain saw like one person said below - they cut a cast iron bath tub in two in 6 minutes.

[survivalpodcasting]

@johnny102marvin, I.m sure others have used one this way but I have yet to meet anyone else who has. I worked for Asplundh as a kid in PA and we never did it, to be fair though there really were not any cordless ones around back then. One doesn't top with a hot extension cord!

Like most good ideas it just kinda happened. One day at the BOL my chainsaw failed. I needed a part and didn't want to leave to get it, I picked up the DeWalt and realized it was a great tool for some applications.

[IronicallyVague]

I agree with you %100 on the advantages against chainsaws..way too much maintenance involved when a thick steel blade often works better.

& I hope that wasn't a bear behind you headed for the picnic basket..

[survivalpodcasting]

@IronicallyVague

No not a bear one of the "vacation dogs" a black German Sheppard named Abby that lives with one of the few families on our private road. She has a brother named Archie they both get along very will with Max by the way.

[IronicallyVague]

@survivalpodcasting

I'd still watch that picnic basket though :-P

[sleddogpodcast]

@IronicallyVague

So funny. At the 1:50 mark, I thought it was a bear also. I live in Bear Country in Northern Michigan, and i instinctively thought jack was going to spin around and pull out a gun. Oh well. Not an action flick today....

[vention4wh]

Good video.

Mine is almost exactly like yours. I always bring it camping. It's handy around the house too. This weekend I was removing a bathtub and it was stubborn. It was a modern cast iron type. I cut the tub in half within about 6 minutes.

Like you said in your reducing your tax footprint podcast. I'm doing the work myself so I'll save a lot in both labor and taxes.

[DoctorsWife56]

What a great idea! Thanks Jack! I'm definitely gonna use that idea.