Reciprocating saw

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Hand-held sabre saws are examples of a variable-speed, reciprocating saw Reciprocating Saw.JPG
Hand-held sabre saws are examples of a variable-speed, reciprocating saw
Reciprocating saw at the Roscheider Hof Open Air Museum RoscheiderHof-waldmuseum-saegegatter-2009.jpg
Reciprocating saw at the Roscheider Hof Open Air Museum
Reciprocating saws have many uses; here, one is shown cutting through hard-to-remove nails in a staircase. Cutting nails with sawsall.jpg
Reciprocating saws have many uses; here, one is shown cutting through hard-to-remove nails in a staircase.

A reciprocating saw is a type of handheld, small, machine-powered saw, in which the cutting action is achieved through a push-and-pull ("reciprocating") or back-and-forth motion of the blade. The original trade name, Sawzall, is often used in the United States, where Milwaukee Electric Tool first produced a tool of this type in 1951. [1] [2]

Contents

The noun "Sawzall" is commonly applied to a smaller type of chargeable or battery-powered handheld saw used in construction and demolition work, as well as in gardening and the pruning of larger trees or plants. This type of saw, also known as a hognose, recip saw, or sawsaw, has a large blade, resembling that of a jigsaw, and a handle oriented to allow the saw to be used comfortably on vertical surfaces. The typical design of this tool has a foot at the base of the blade, also similar to that of a jigsaw. The user holds or rests the foot on the surface being cut, thus countering the tendency of the blade to push-away from or pull towards the cut as it travels through its movement.

Design

Designs range widely in power, speed, and features, from less powerful portable, handheld models that are usually shaped like a cordless drill, to high-powered, high-speed, corded models designed for heavy construction and demolition work. Modern reciprocating saws almost all have adjustable speed setting, either via trigger sensitivity or with a dial. Another feature that has become important to the way these saws are used is the inclusion of an orbital action, consisting of oscillating the traversed reciprocation in an up-and-down fashion (perpendicular to the motion of cut), causing the tip of the blade to move in an oval pattern, up-and-down as well as back-and-forth. This feature is primarily for wood or the pruning of tree branches, allowing quick cuts.

A reciprocating saw is a popular tool used by many window fitters, gardeners, landscape architects and construction workers, as well as emergency rescue workers. Variants and accessories are available for specialized uses, such as clamps and long blades for cutting large pipes. [3] [4]

Blades are available for a variety of materials and uses; common blades include those designed for cutting metal, wood, composites or drywall, among other materials. Furthermore, most of these blade types come with a variety of tooth designs intended for special purposes, such as plant and shrub pruning, demolition work, clean cutting, or use on contaminated materials. Abrasive, coated blades are also available, for hard materials like tile, rock or stone. [5]

The term reciprocating saw (or oscillating saw) is also applied, generically, to any saw which cuts with a back-and-forth motion. These include:

Powered reciprocating tools are also found in surgery and dental surgery, where they are used in operations that require cutting or grinding of bone.

Mechanism

Operation of reciprocating saw swashplate mechanism Sawzall machanism operation.gif
Operation of reciprocating saw swashplate mechanism

The reciprocating action may be produced in several ways. A crank [6] or Scotch yoke type drive may be used, a swashplate [7] type drive, a captive cam or eccentric, barrel cam, [8] or other rotary to linear drive. Modern tools are built with variants of all of these mechanisms. Eccentric cam, crank and scotch yoke drives need balance weights to reduce vibration in the plane of the rotating element, and may still exhibit vibration that is objectionable to a user of a handheld saw and can lead to difficulty in controlling a cut. The swash plate drive has the advantage that there is little rotational out of balance, so the principal vibration is in line with the blade. This is generally controllable by keeping the foot of a handheld tool against the work.

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drill</span> Tool used to create holes

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chainsaw</span> Portable handheld power saw with a rotating chain

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Table saw</span> Woodworking tool

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sawmill</span> Facility where logs are cut into lumber

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bandsaw</span> Power saw with a long, sharp blade

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jackhammer</span> Pneumatic tool

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angle grinder</span> Handheld power tool for cutting or polishing

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A miter saw or mitre saw is a saw used to make accurate crosscuts and miters in a workpiece by positioning a mounted blade onto a board. A miter saw in its earliest form was composed of a back saw in a miter box, but in modern implementation consists of a powered circular saw that can be positioned at a variety of angles and lowered onto a board positioned against a backstop called the fence.

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A scroll saw is a small electric or pedal-operated saw used to cut intricate curves in wood, metal, or other materials. The fineness of its blade allows it to cut more delicately than a power jigsaw, and more easily than a hand coping saw or fretsaw. Like those tools, it is capable of creating curved cuts with angled edges, by tilting its table along the axis of the cut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reciprocating motion</span> Repetitive back-and-forth linear motion

Reciprocating motion, also called reciprocation, is a repetitive up-and-down or back-and-forth linear motion. It is found in a wide range of mechanisms, including reciprocating engines and pumps. The two opposite motions that comprise a single reciprocation cycle are called strokes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Milwaukee Electric Tool</span> Power tool manufacturer

Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, known more commonly as Milwaukee Tool, is a multi-national company that develops, manufactures, and markets power tools, hand tools, tool accessories, tool storage, and personal protective equipment. Milwaukee Tool was last sold in 2005 for $626.6 million to the Hong Kong–based Techtronic Industries, also known as TTI Group. The company is now a subsidiary of TTI Group alongside brands like AEG, Ryobi, Hoover, Dirt Devil, and Vax. In 2022, $206 million was invested in Wisconsin research and development facilities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wire saw</span> Saw that uses abrasive metal wire or cable

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swashplate</span> Mechanism to convert between reciprocating and rotary motion

A swashplate, also known as slant disk, is a mechanical engineering device used to translate the motion of a rotating shaft into reciprocating motion, or vice versa. The working principle is similar to crankshaft, Scotch yoke, or wobble, nutator, and Z-crank drives in engine designs. It was originally invented to replace a crankshaft, and is one of the most popular concepts used in crankless engines. It was invented by Anthony Michell in 1917.

A rotary saw, spiral cut saw, RotoZip or cut out tool is a type of mechanically powered saw used for making accurate cuts without the need for a pilot hole in wallboard, plywood, or another thin, solid material.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skilsaw</span> Brand name of professional construction tools

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oscillating multi-tool</span> Power tool which works by oscillation

An oscillating multi-tool or oscillating saw is a multitool and power tool that oscillates, powered by battery or mains. The name "multi-tool" is a reference to the many functions that this tool can perform with the range of attachments available. "Master Tool" is also a trade name used in North America, short for the original tool by Fein called the Multi-Master. Attachments are available for sawing, sanding, rasping, grinding, scraping, cutting, and polishing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jigsaw (tool)</span> Type of saw

A jigsaw is a reciprocating saw that can cut irregular curves, such as stenciled designs, in wood, metal, or other materials.

References

  1. Rick Schwolsky (17 May 2007). "Hall of Fame 2001". The Journal of Light Construction.
  2. "HOUSEWORKS: Reciprocating saw a versatile power tool with an unusual history | Saltwire".
  3. Fein, Reciprocating Saws for Pipe
  4. Reciprocating Saw Accessories
  5. Home Depot, How to Find an Ideal Reciprocating Saw Blade
  6. Papworth (1958), Portable Power Reciprocating Saw
  7. Ristow (1960), Portable Reciprocating Saw
  8. Schmidt (1949), Power Conversion Attachment