5 Best Reciprocating Saws For Pruning Trees (Buyers Guide Included)
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When it comes to buying a product, it is often very hard to find the best one. Searching through the web will only give you thousands of options, making it hard for you to figure out the one that will fulfill your needs.
If you are thinking of pruning your trees then a reciprocating saw will come in handy. If you don’t have one then you should check our best reciprocating saws for trees list.
We listed 5 different models that come with different qualities and prices. Except for that, we also wrote a short but effective buying guide where we listed all the things you should check before buying a pruning reciprocating saw.
Check them down below!
| Products | Product Name | Details | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
High Accuracy  | High Accuracy |
| Buy On Amazon |
Long Battery Life  | Long Battery Life |
| Buy On Amazon |
Two Saws  | Two Saws |
| Buy On Amazon |
SDM Blade Changing  | SDM Blade Changing |
| Buy On Amazon |
Electric Brakes  | Electric Brakes |
| Buy On Amazon |
Jump To Page Contents:
Best Reciprocating Saws For Trees
1. DEWALT DCS367B – Best Sawzall For Pruning Trees
- High Accuracy
- LED Light
- Pivoting Shoe
More detailed review ↴
The Dewalt Max XR is designed to be compact in size and light in weight that gives you the freedom to carry it wherever you want without a worry. The material used for its manufacturing is plastic and comes with multiple features that ensure fast and efficient work.
The thing I like the most about this saw is the variable speed trigger that allows me to adjust the speed of the saw according to my requirement giving me better control.
The stroke length of this saw is 1.125 inches. The anti-slip comfort grip provides a firm grip over the saw for higher precision and a safer work environment.
I have used this reciprocating saw for different projects– including tree pruning. The tool has enough power to cut through trees, and it doesn’t vibrate as much as we thought. It comes with a pivoting shoe that stabilizes the material ensuring high accuracy and precise cuts without any difficulty. The LED light provides a higher and clearer vision for detailed cutting.
Another great thing that we found handy is the blade change process. It allows you to change the blade within a few seconds without using any special tools.
On the downside, this saw does not include batteries or the charger in the package meaning you have to purchase them separately.
What We Liked:
- Powerful – Has a powerful motor of 2900 SPM
- Portable – The cordless design allows you to take it anywhere
- Easy Blade Change – 4-position blade clasp
What We Didn’t Like:
- Batteries are not included.
2. Milwaukee 6519-31 – Best Pruning Reciprocating Saw
- Lock Technology
- Long Battery Life
- Protection Clutch
More detailed review ↴
The Milwaukee saw is specially designed to cut through almost any material easily and efficiently with its powerful 12 Amp motor with the speed of 3000 SPM. The stroke length of this saw is 1 – 1/8 inches.
The thing we liked most about this saw is the blade-changing process, you can change the blade by using the latch that’s attached to the side of the saw, you don’t need any special tools. This helped us save a lot of time while we were using this tool.
Inside the saw, there is an internal counterweight that makes the device much easier to use, reduces vibrations, and ensures a comfortable and smooth experience.
Most of the time the motor of the saw wears out much quickly over time with use. Well, that is not the case with this one. The unique feature of a gear-protecting clutch increases the lifetime of the motor and other gears.
This saves you from spending money on buying a new saw and provides you with the best results every time. As a worker, you need to carry your saw from place to place very often. This cordless saw comes with a polyurethane case in which you can easily store your saw and carry it anywhere you want making it highly portable.
What We Liked:
- Fast and efficient – Having 3000 SPM the blades cut very fast
- Portable – Comes with a carrying case
- Powerful – Uses a 12 Amp motor
- Accuracy – LED light provides clear vision
What We Didn’t Like:
- Pricey
Read More — Handheld Reciprocating Saws Review
3. WORX WX550L.9 – Best Saw For Cutting Trees
- Two Saws
- Dust Blower
- Easy to Use
More detailed review ↴
Next, we have the WORX Reciprocating Saw. This saw might be one of the advanced saw we ever used because it consists of not only one but two saws that you can convert to and access just by the push button.
You can either use the jigsaw or the reciprocating saw allowing you to do two different jobs just with a single tool. Instead of the usual way a saw works by moving it back and forth, this saw has the orbital cutting. This means that the blade moves in circular motions which eventually gets the job done more efficiently and relieves strain.
This saw is powerful as it comes with a 20V Max 1.5 Ah Power Share battery and a 5-hour charger. In this way, you can easily take your saw anywhere you want without worrying about finding a power socket. Moreover, the saw weighing only 4.2 lbs. makes it highly portable ensuring easy work.
One of the most unique features of the WORX AXIS is that it consists of a dust blower. When cutting wood, a lot of dust and debris forms around the area you’re cutting which may cause trouble and reduce visibility. The dust blower ensures to blow all the dust away so that you have a clear vision and cut your wood with higher accuracy.
It is designed to be used for almost any material such as wood, metal, ceramic, plastic copper, etc., without difficulty, making this saw all in one.
What We Liked:
- Sharp blades – Can cut through any surface
- Lightweight – Easy to carry around
- Replace any blade – You can use any blade with this machine
Cons:
- Low-quality material used
4. A.B Crew Rechargeable
- Cordless
- SDM Blade Changing
- LED light
More detailed review ↴
The A.B Crew has done a fine job in creating this model of reciprocating saw. It is a cordless saw that uses two 21V Lithium-Ion batteries. From our tests, the battery lasted at least 1.5h, sometimes even 2 hours.
The strong motor of 3000 SPM allows you to cut through trees effortlessly. Coming back to the fact that the saw is cordless, the saw is easily portable and it prevents you from certain injuries that may be caused by the wire twisting and getting stuck.
The blade changing system is very easy to use. It has an SDS system that allowed us to change the blade within 2 seconds.
The most interesting feature about this saw is that it consists of two blade variations. For wooden logs, the blade with big teeth is to be used and the blade with smaller teeth is designed to cut metal pipes and boards both, neatly and accurately.
Every company’s main goal is to make their user’s work easier and efficient. Therefore, for a firm and easy grip, the handle of the saw is made of anti-slip rubber which prevents it from slipping even when your hands get sweaty. The plastic carrying case makes the saw compact in size so you can easily carry it from one place to another.
On the downside, we feel that this tool doesn’t have enough power to cut through hard materials.
What We Liked:
- Uses Batteries – Two lithium-ion batteries are used
- Firm and Easy-Grip – handle is made of anti-slip soft rubber
- Two Blade Variation – You can cut wooden logs as well as metal pipes
- Portable – Plastic carrying case makes it easy to move
What We Didn’t Like:
- Not enough power.
5. BLACK+DECKER BDCR20C – Best Reciprocating Saw For Pruning
- High Accuracy
- Speed Triggers
- Electric Brakes
More detailed review ↴
The BLACK+DECKER reciprocating saw is a battery-powered machine. Its package includes a 20V Lithium-Ion battery along with a charger, making it efficient to use and easily portable. The saw itself is light in weight and does not come with any complicated instruction manual so that the user can easily learn to operate it.
The powerful 3000 SPM motor allows you to easily cut trees and other materials. For more stable and accurate control, there is a variable speed trigger that allows you to adjust the speed of the saw depending on how much you squeeze it. When the trigger is released the electric brakes installed instantly stop the blade from moving.
The blades need to be changed which can be a hassle for some saw users. However, BLACK+DECKEER is all about the comfort of their customers as this saw allows you to change the blades without using any special equipment.
Initially, the saw comes with a 5-inch blade and can fit up to 12-inch blades. The adjustable pivoting shoe helps in extending the blade’s life and gives you better control over certain cuts and also helps to pin down flexible material to ensure a proper cut. This gives the user ease of access and comfort while cutting or pruning trees.
What We Liked:
- Light in Weight – You can easily carry it from one place to another
- Portable – Small in size makes it easy to move around
- High-Quality Performance – Sharp blades cut through without vibrations
- Powerful – Consists of a 3000 SPM motor
What We Didn’t Like:
- It has a high vibration.
- Short battery life.
Best Reciprocating Saws For Pruning – Buying Guide
Now, let’s move on and find out the factors that you have to acknowledge before making a purchase. There are reciprocating saws that consist of features that you do not have the use of.
So, since my experience with these tools, let me explain to you what you should be looking for so that your purchase is worth the money.
Stroke Length
When it comes to cutting, it is not only the type of blade that matters but what is the length of a single stroke. The continuous back and forth movement help you cut the material, however, if the stroke length of the blade is less then it would take up a lot of your time and effort.
When looking for a reciprocating saw, always look for the one with a longer stroke as that will make your work quicker and easier.
Typically, the stroke length varies from ¾ inches to 1 ¼ inch and a few models also allow you to adjust the range yourself.
Read More — Milwaukee 2719-20 M18 Review
Speed
The speed of a reciprocating saw is determined by the number of strokes it can make per minute (SPM). The higher the number of strokes, the higher the speed and the more efficient the cutting.
Usually, the speed of the saw is 3000 SPM that provides you with efficient results and less fatigue giving you much better control of the movement of the blade to ensure accurate cutting.
If you’re looking for a saw to use infrequently, then a higher speed may not be required. But if you’re a professional and require daily use, look for the one with a high speed at an affordable price to make your work quicker and efficient.
Anti-Vibration
Working with power tools means that there will be a lot of vibration while handling due to the motor machinery installed, which can make your work difficult and tiring.
However, thanks to anti-vibration, these help in reducing the vibration in your hands allowing you an easy and smooth cutting experience without causing much fatigue.
Some companies however do not provide this feature, so you need to make sure that your saw has anti-vibration otherwise your work will cause you difficulty. This will reduce fatigue and allow you to work more efficiently and get done with daily work hassle-free. Your comfort and safety should be at the top of the priority list.
Read More — Electric-Powered Reciprocating Saws Review
Power Source
There are two types of the source through with a tool that can be powered that is either through a corded power socket or a cordless source as batteries. Just like everything these two happen to have their pros and cons.
The advantages of a corded power outlet are that it provides you with continuous and direct power without worrying about charging batteries. However, it also restricts you or causes difficulty if you want to cut wood where a power source is not available.
This can cause great difficulty for the user. Moreover, with a corded saw, the safety of the user is also a cost as the wire can tangle or twist or even get stuck somewhere risking lives.
Whereas a cordless saw is highly portable and does not require any power sockets allowing you to take it anywhere ensuring your safety at all times. The disadvantage of the cordless saw is that the batteries need to be charged repetitively. This may cause hindrance in your workflow as most batteries only last for an hour.
Read More — How to Cut Trees With a Reciprocating Saws?
Speed Control
Variable speed control allows you to adjust and control the speed of the saw as per your use. This gives you better stability and helps improve precision.
If you’re buying for occasional use then the speed control may not be that important but if you work at a larger organization and require daily use then this will help ensure better control while you cut through your materials.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pruning Reciprocating Saws:
What Power Should a Reciprocating Saw for Cutting Trees Have?
The power of the saw depends on the type of work you need it for. If you want to use the saw for small household work such as cutting trees, then a low-powered motor may be great. But if you’re using it for constructional purposes then you need a high-power motor.
Usually, the power levels vary from 5 amps to 15 amps and even higher. The environment of the job determines the level of power you should get,
How Does the Reciprocating Saw Cut Trees?
For safety purposes, there is a safety lock button you need to release to get the saw working. Once you do that, all you need to do is press the speed trigger to your required speed and get cutting. Release the trigger once you’re done and ensure to turn on the safety lock for your safety.
How to Know Which Blade to Use?
Every blade is designed differently to cut specific materials. Blades range from 3 – 24 teeth per inch. A blade with less TPI will cut the material efficiently but will provide a rough result. Whereas a blade with high TPI will cut slowly but provide neat and smooth results.
Read More — Cutting Straight With a Reciprocating Saw
Final Words
The usage of these reciprocating saws can turn out to be very helpful. They’re easy to use and are also not that expensive.
Our best reciprocating saws for trees list has some great products. The rest is up to you to choose whichever reciprocating saw is the most suitable for your use. However, we do recommend the Milwaukee 6519-31 Reciprocating Saw as the best option.
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