The two main choices when selecting a Reciprocating Saw are corded or cordless.
Do you go to your work or does your work come to you. If you are working in a scrap yard you may need to run all over to retrieve parts and a cordless model is what you need. If you are cutting catalytic converters off of cars that are on a lift before sending them out into the yard then a corded model will provide you with better cutting power.
Making the choice between corded and cordless models is really that simple. There is no reason to buy a high powered cordless model with a heavy battery if you are always within distance of a powered outlet. You will end up paying more up front, a couple extra batteries can cost as much as your saw and you will never come close to the performance that a corded model can deliver.
The second most important feature is a quick blade change adaptor.
Lower cost models will often come with a hex wrench clamp for the blade and this is acceptable if you are working indoors a lot and the wrench pattern is actually a standard hex pattern in case you lose it but if you are working in tight areas you can be prone to bending or breaking blades and this means you can’t stop for a few minutes to make a blade change. Quick Change adaptors are nice in this situation but they are also the most common part to break on a saw. If you opt for this you should make sure it is all metal parts and understand that your saw could be out of commission for a couple weeks when you send it in for repair.
Amperage or Battery Voltage
Whether you are picking a corded or cordless model you should understand that the higher the amperage or volt of the battery set the stronger the tool will be. In some cases though you might want a 10 amp model over a 16 amp because of weight. If you are using one all day long the few extra pounds will add up. However if you are cutting open car doors at an accident get the biggest you can because speed is more important. most corded models range between 4amp at the very low side to 16 amps at the top and cordless can come in 18, 24 and 36 volt. If you are going battery then always pick Lithium-Ion or NiMH they will last longer and are stronger. And for Saws it is much more important then what you like to use in your cordless drill. Just never buy Ni-Cad for a Saw.
Another feature is saw action.
Some Saws offer orbital cutting action which is suppose to help you cut through material faster because it rocks the blade as it cuts. This is a great feature in Jig Saws but since you are holding the reciprocating saw in your hand and most often don’t rest the nose guard against the stock the orbital action can be a pain in the neck. If you can learn and stick to using the saw as recommended by resting that shoe against your work all the time even in tight places then orbital might be worth a little extra money if you use your saw to cut through glue laminated beams all day.
Blade Stroke and Strokes Per Minute
The length of the stroke is also an important feature as it will run more teeth of the blade across your work while you cut. Strokes per minute well you get the idea the faster it cuts the better as long as it has a variable speed setting when you are working on different material types. Sometimes cutting slow is better.
Blade Size
Almost all Reciprocating Saws will take the same blades however there may be special models that need proprietary blades. The normal sizes of blades are 4, 6 and 12 inches in length and selecting the smaller blade will provide better results while cutting.
Blade Types
There are 3 main types of blades: Wood, Metal and hybrid or a bi-metal / demolition blade. But really there are more choices because you can buy blades with diamond or carbide chips, aggressive wood blades for tree trimming an a variety of other materials that you may never come in contact with.
When buying Blades you always want to stay with a quality manufacturer unless you have a habit of coworkers grabing your blades out of your box then buy bulk blades. Each tool company makes their own set of blades and then there are about 3 other companies that make good quality blades. You should try a couple of each and see how you like them. I am partial to the Dewalt Demolition Blades in lengths over 6 inches and another brand for just about everything else.
Remember when buying your first tool you should go cheap and once you see it is a real asset to your work you can keep your first one as a backup. Don’t go dumping $450 into a Sawsall when you have never used one. Get a $50 one with a hex bolt blade clamp and learn how to use it because you may never need to jump up to that expensive one if you only pull it out of your box once a week or so.
The YouRepair Store carries a full line of Corded and Cordless Reciprocating Saw, Blades and Accessories from a most manufacturers.
Remember Remanufactured tools often come with full warranties and will save you up to 40%.
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