I got one of these saws for Christmas. It appeared well engineered and might even be handy. I charged it and took it to my workshop to experiment on a small 1" thick board. I drew a line on the board to make my cut and behold, I could not see the line! The plastic guard blocks any view to see where you are cutting! This makes the saw useless except for blind cuts. I liked the saw so I modified it by cutting away the first bar on the guard on the left side. (I am right handed) I can now see my line through the new opening. I used a Dremel tool with an abrasive wheel and it came out OK, but I still cannot believe this tool made it through engineering and whatever test BD perform without them catching this obvious defect. I do not feel this modification makes the tool more dangerous. If you can get your finger into that little slot, the blade would pose more danger than the reciprocating mechanism.
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br /The saw does perform well and is light weight. It is a little slow cutting due to it's slow speed and short stroke, but the fact that it is portable makes up for that.

I bought the saw to cut trim and small boards, but it was difficult to use. In order to keep enough pressure on the saw so it didnt want to bounce around the smaller 1/2 inch boards would break. It didn't want to cut 1 inch boards at all. On the good side it allows you to cut hard to cut shapes and changing the blade is simple.
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br /Over all I would not buy this Item again unless it was under $20.

Good concept, but not enough power for any but the softest woods. I actually found it handier, with the right blade, for moderate pruning in the yard rather than for the dimensional lumber used in home repairs.

I was tempted to use "Wimpy, wimpy, wimpy" as the title for this review, but I haven't tried any other battery-powered jigsaws for comparison. My old Black Decker AC jigsaw (which I paid $15 for) is far superior in every way---except that it requires an AC outlet, and changing blades is a hassle. Changing blades on the Handisaw is quick and easy, requiring no tools---A+.
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br /I wanted the Handisaw largely as a tree prunner---however, even with a pruning blade, it really cannot handle branches greater than 3/4"---wimpy, wimpy, wimpy. A switch-blade type manual pruning saw is faster and easier. I tried cutting a 1/2" length of galvanized electrical conduit (using the metal blade), and the saw repeatedly stalled---wimpy, wimpy, wimpy. My old AC jigsaw has never stalled.
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br /Then too I find the basic design to be very annoying: There is an extra switch you have to depress with your thumb before the trigger will work (which fortunately is easily defeated with a chip of wood and 2" of masking tape). There is no "lock on" switch---so you can't take your hand off of the switch for a more secure grip (fortunately this can be defeated with a 1/2"x 1 1/2 rubber band from a bunch of broccoli). The trigger is 8 1/2" from whatever you are cutting, making it difficult to hold the blade where you want to cut (I normally hold jig-saws "by the business end" (near the blade) for precise control---but that is impossible with this saw (unless you defeat the trigger as described).
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br /My cheapy AC jigsaw is variable speed---the Handisaw is not. So the Handisaw is hard to start at a precise point, almost always splinters wood, and almost always stalls in thin metal. Finally, as related by another reviewer---you can't see where you are cutting (although that too is fixible by cutting away a portion of the unnecessary plastic sheild around the blade. In summary, I use this tool only when I'm too lazy to string an extention cord for my AC jigsaw or saber-saw. But then, that's most of the time.
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br /Still, I wish it was more powerful.
br /I wish that it did not have the stupid lock-out switch.
br /I wish that it had a lock-on switch.
br /I wish that it was variable speed.
br /I wish that I could see the material I am cutting.
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A very good saw for light sawing work. It is light weight and will saw with out wearing you out.

i bought this saw with great anticipation..i would use it to cut out electrical device boxes in sheetrock and plaster..i went to use it for the first time this week and was badly disappointed..the charge didn't last through cutting 1 outlet box in plaster and wood lathe..i recharged for about 2 hours and tried it cuting a few boxes in sheetrock..again barely enough to finish..these were not heavy duty cuts(the rock was old 1/2")..i charged it for about 4 hours today..i will put it on charge first thing tomorrow for and hour or two and see what it can do.
br /4/6/2007 update..charged saw overnight battery performance improved marginally..still not very powerful maybe 10 minutes run time..
br /4/10/2007 update..charged the saw overnight and saw an improvement in performance..still by no means a powerhouse, but ok for light homeowner use i think..some other points after working with the saw..
br /visibility isn't that great..if you want to cut on a line, it's tough to line it up because of the saws design..also i found the safety button to be a real nuisance..

Don't expect this to be a heavy duty saw...but it is handy for the small stuff. If you have an AC powered jig saw...hang on to it because this is not substitute. Battery stays charged a long, long time which is an advantage.

This tool is great around the house - it's easy to use, functional, and has more applications that you'd expect. I received it as a gift and figured I'd never use it. But the Handisaw proved to be a quick, easy solution to frequent chores and small projects around the house. I wouldn't use it for a major remodel but for small projects, it beats taking out the reciprocating saw or jig saw. Battery life is excellent and I've used it in mud/wet conditions w/o any problems.
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Received sooner than expected. Really like product. Easy for an older woman like me to use. Thank you

Good for light duty work in and around the house. Only cordless saw I found on the market in this price range.

I find this product to be okay. I bought it mainly because it is cordless. I have several reciprocating saws but I needed something smaller and cordless for some jobs.

Don't expect this little rascal to put you into the house demo business, but I've been surprised at how many useful jobs that I've found for it to do, mostly things around the house where I didn't want to cut off some nail with a hacksaw or whatever. It has been a time saver, and I'm glad that I have one close by. I was amazed at how much power it has for its size. Cutting through nails, small pipes, cutting off dowels, etc. in light usage is no problem. Don't expect much for heavy duty construction type materials, but for a quickie here and there, it is more than worth the price and a time saver.

I have to admit that I bought this item mostly to enter a BD promotion, but I am very happy that I did. I have a backyard fireplace and use the hand saw to cut small limbs and pieces of wood to burn. It even cut through a 2x4 with ease. So far, I have only used it to cut wood but will be surprised if doesn't work as good on small pipe and pvc. The saw is powerful, easy to use and safe. The blades are quick and easy to install with a flick of a lever. I have several BD cordless items and continue to be amazed at their power and battery life. I would highly reccomend this hand saw.

I bought this thinking it might be a good all around the house kinda saw for the odd jobs. The saw itselfs works well for being a little slower and shorter than other powered saws I've used. The biggest bummer was the short battery life. After a full charge, I'm usually only getting 15-20 minutes of action; it might be something I'm doing, but I doubt it. I'm leaving it on the charger when not in use as recommended. But if you only have a small project with minimal cutting, this is great.

Good for small jobs. Not enough power for anything major

VERY VERSATILE. EASY TO HANDLE AND EASY TO USE. WELL BALANCED. USES REGULAR JIG SAW BLADES.

This handsaw is great for small jobs and crafts. It's easy to use, and portable. Not made for big jobs, like cutting big pieces of wood, etc. If you're a crafty person and do a lot of cutting, this Black Decker Hand Saw can speed things up, thus getting your project done quicker and easier. It's a nice little addition to your work tools.
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br /If you're looking for a small piece of equipment to help you get your cutting jobs done, the Black Decker Hand Saw is the way to go.

thought product was a little too pricey at first. today, it has saved me so much time, not having to drag cords out. small size has gotten me into many tight spaces has saved much potential knuckle busting. must have tool.

I was presented with this saw as a gift, I was pretty doubtfull of it when I first held and examined it. I just didn't think something so small and light could be powerful enough to be useful.
br /I was wrong I have used it many times for cutting several types of material.
br /I highly recommend it.

This saw worked very well on a 1 x 12. Saved me from having to break out the table saw for one board and was able to do it on the back porch instead of being confined to the garage. I see it being used for many more small projects around the house..

was a gift seen it advertised and was hoping to rec. one too.
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br /great idea

This product is lightweight and easy to use. The blades sent with the saw are short; only about 2 inches extends beyond the guard. I am now looking for a longer blade for a specific job.

My Dad has just about every tool under the sun, so I was very excited to find this saw. I bought it as a Christmas present for him and this morning when he opened it, he couldn't have been more happy about his new "toy". He had never seen anything like it and was thrilled and let me tell you my Dad has 3 work benches in the basement and 2 out in the garage, so you can only imagine the variety of work tools he has. If my Dad likes, then in my book it is definatley 5 stars and worth letting people know about. So, if you are looking for that hard to find gift for a handy man, try gettin him (or her) this saw. It's a guaranteed winner!!!!

A very handy little recip saw. Just perfect for small jobs or where larger recip type saws are not practical.

br /The Black and Decker CHS6000 Handisaw Cordless Powered Saw is one great little saw. I used it to trim a metal floor register with no problem. The size was just right for the job. I have been very satisfied with all my Black and Decker tools. Along with this 'Handisaw', I'd recommend Black Decker's Alligator, the Black and Decker Plus Cordless Screwdriver with Articulating Head, Black Decker's Power Scissors and the Black and Decker Mouse 5 Amp Detail Sander /Polisher with 41 Piece Accessory Pack as worth buying. ~ The Boss

It's an awesome tool!! Get it for your Hubby you'll love it!or just for yourself. Get the Screw driver too!! Very easy to handle, compact in size, strong in power! So many things to use them on! You'll finish up that Honey do list in no time, get on to the fun things in life!!

My dad gave one of these saws to me for Christmas 2007. I agree it will not cut hardwoods or 2x4s, but it is great for trimming drywall and trim molding. I can cut holes for electrical outlets or ceiling light fixtures in less than 30 seconds. Because of the fast strokes, the mess is minimal -- I usually hold a box lid under the cutting area to catch the dust.
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br /While I love this saw for drywall and trim molding, it is lousy when used for cutting vinyl siding, 2x4s and 1" or greater thinkness hardwoods. It bounces like crazy on vinyl siding -- a finer blade might be the answer. There is not enough power in the stroke to handle 2x4s and moderate thinkness hardwoods.
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br /The blade changing mechanism is the easiest I have ever seen. I am an engineer and like to be my own handyman at home. I am critical on product designs. I am amazed the spring-loaded blade holder holds the blade so well and eliminates need for screwdrivers and wrenches to change the blade.

I'm a "little old lady" who only uses power tools for minor jobs. I found it impossible to cut a round dowel because there is only one speed (fast).
br /It would have been possible if you could have "set" the cut at a slow speed. I have a BD variable speed drill which I use with no problem.

Works OK for small cuts. Lacks power when used on hard woods. Wear safty glasses. Broke a few blades. Blade change really quick and EZ. Cutting material needs to be on solid surface. Hard to see cutting line. All depends upon your needs.

very nice product, useful, easy to use for several small homeworks, with no mess with cords .

The Black Decker Battery operated handisaw was a labor saving tool. I am totally pleased at its performance.

With the short throw small size I bought this to get nails that are in spaces too tight to reach with a sawsall.
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br /With the battery recommendation to NOT keep it on the charger (you'll ruin it!), and that it will achieve full battery power after several uses, it sounds like this is a NiMH battery, not the usual NiCad or Lit folks are used to for a power tool. NiMH needs "special care" which ARE in the instrucions (yes! they are!) to get it started working well long term. But they are weird if you aren't used to them.
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br /I charged 9 hrs before using. Then cut 2x4s to see how strong the cutting power is (no problem when held solid to wood) when the battery would get noticeably weaker. After six 2x4s, with a bit of rest to cool down after each pair, I noticed a very slight decrease in power. It may have just been me getting tired. That's already more thicker wood than I expected out of this small unit anyway, especially on the first, warm up, charge.
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br /I let it cool plugged it into the charger again. I'll expect that it will only get stronger over the next uses. But I'm too lazy to fully fully run it down test anymore, and don't have a lot of jobs for it, just a few hard to reach nails I want to get rid of.
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br /The other thing about NiMH is that it self-discharges so it will need to be used a bit charged perhaps every couple of months to keep the battery fresh, could be a hassle. So it's not a Grab-'n-Go type of tool battery set up. Too bad BD didn't use an Eneloop battery pack. If I can I'll run it down charge the day before I really need a lot of cutting, that's the best system I can think of. If I run into a problem I'll let you know.
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br /One day Update: Cut nails easily in tight spaces. The protective box is rather big making access/angle of some cuts more difficult, but still do-able. The battery is very strong as expected.

We do not own a circular saw. I have always felt like we do not need one. This hand saw was great to use. We used it to orgainaze my outside storage room, cutting peg boards and 1/8 inch plywood to make shelving. It will not cut any thing over 1 inch thick. The cut is a clean cut if you hold it correctly and close to what you are cutting. It charges very quickly and cuts a long time. I believe that,"having the RIGHT tool makes the job a whole lot easier and faster." The storage room looks GREAT.

Bought the handsaw for my husband and he thinks its great. I've also used is a few times and it is so easy to use I will let all my friends and relatives know about it. thanks

Even if you already have every other saw made, you still need this handy little saw! This saw will do way more than its size lets on. Plus it will do real precise work. As far as the reviews that grumble about the packaging, I had previously bought from Amazon the Black Decker power scissors these made opening the bubble wrap a snap! Rember the right tool for the job!

THIS IS A PERFECT TOOL FOR THE THINGS THAT YOU WANT TO DO BUT NEVER HAD THE TOOL
br / THANKS
br / GINO

I gave it as a Christmas gift and it is appreciated. I was told that it works very well and is indeed, handy.

This is a very handy item for the man who has everything. It comes from target, and is pkgd nicely, shipped quickly. Tthis tool really will cut through anything, thick tree branches, sheetrock, metal, wood...its very light weight I think any man or woman would love it if they aredo it yourselfers!

I gave this as a gift to my son he loves it. He cut through pipes, wood metal it worked great, with ease. He said that it's not heavy duty, but it works for what he needs it for. He said he'd recommend this to everyone.

Bought this to use outdoors to trim tree branches. It works very well and I like the size and weight.

I really like this tool, and anticipate I will be using it for LOT of small jobs around the house. I'd been looking for something similar for a while but this price was the best I've seen for a lightweight, battery operated hand saw, especially from a company I know and trust. What is lacks, and what I notice is nowhere shown in the promotional photos for it, is decent packaging! I had no way to know it would come in a heavy plastic "blister pack" that took 15 minutes with an X-acto knife and scissors to extract the saw from, and left me with 2 cuts on my hand from said same plastic. It's mechanically crimp-sealed all the way around, so it's not as simple as just opening and closing the button snaps which are part of the package design, as I've seen on other tools. While this is a great way to eliminate shoplifting, it leaves the end-user stuck with no place to store it, except on the mounting bracket. The blister pack was demolished to get the saw out. OK, I don't have a full workshop, what am I supposed to do with it when I'm not using it?? At the same time and for nearly the same price, I purchased a comparable tool, a Bosch 2.0 amp sander, and it came with it's own little zippered canvas tool bag, big enough not only for the sander, but can easily accommodate screwdrivers, etc. that you might need to carry with it. BD needs to rethink how they're packaging this tool. They can and should do better.
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br /As time goes by... It's been about a year since I purchased this tool and a couple of things have come about. First of all, when I contacted Black Decker about the bag issue, I'm pleased to report that they were more than happy to send me a suitable bag to keep it in, much like the one Bosch furnishes with their sander.
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br /Second, and not quite as happily, the battery has ceased to hold more than a partial charge. It works for less than 2 minutes before it peters out. Once again, I went to the phone and contacted BD. What was amazing is that I didn't even need a receipt to prove when I'd purchased it! They were able to tell that it was still within warranty from a manufacturer's date code stamped into the handle of the saw. Because we couldn't determine whether the problem was in the battery or the charger, they opted to send me a whole new unit! I'm AMAZED to find this level of Customer Service today! Black Decker should be very proud of themselves for maintaining this level of service. It's truly a rarity today.

I bought this to cut wood. It cuts wood and has enough power to do it neatly. The blades attach easily and store in the wall mount. This is very convenient, making it easy to find the saw and hard to lose the blades.
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br /Make sure to buy the Black Decker SZ360 3.6-Volt Ni-Cad Cordless Power Scissors to open the packaging on this thing. They encased my saw in thick plastic that actually had two layers on one side, one of which had plastic rivets anchoring it to a cardboard insert.

This saw is absolutely perfect for my use. It is a little slow but that makes no difference to me. It will cut up the the size of the blade. Perfect when there is no power available. Light weight and easy to handle.

I received this saw for Christmas. It is junk. I can't cut anything thicker than a piece of paper without the blade falling out. And yes, I have read the instructions and am inserting it correctly. Maybe I got a lemon because others don't seem to have this problem. But if mine is any indication, save your money. In general BD makes garbage anymore.

It wouldn't hold a charge and I am waiting for a replacement. I would love to do a review when we get a new saw.

I purchased the "Handisaw" for my husband for Christmas. It was already somewhat charged when he opened it, so he see how it operated without waiting for it to charge. He hasn't used it yet, but I anticipate it will be quite useful especially for small jobs, like cutting door and ceiling trim.

It shows it is good for cutting wire shelves. Unless you have some way to secure the shelf from jumping around or vibrating it won't work even though on the packaging and advertising it made this look easy. So what I bought it for I couldn't use it. I tested it on some wood and it cuts nicely for that. I haven't found another use for it but I am sure I will eventually?

Another great Black Decker product!
br /Handi-saw is compact, powerful and light weight.
br /I really like the rechargeable feature.
br /I own several B D products and this one is
br /just great!
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br /ALS
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It was inevitable that every industry would learn from the incredible success of the iPod: style matters. Things need to look good, feel good. The crowds of today want their toys dressed for success. And now we introduce the Black Decker CHS6000 Handisaw Cordless Powered Hand Saw: the electric handsaw, reinvented. Smoothly covered in a pleasing black and orange color scheme, this bad boy just begs to be used. The perfectly contoured handgrip is gentle yet firm as the saw purrs through anything. The competition will be washed away. Why settle for the Tim Allen of hacksaws when the James Bond model is only $39.50 with FREE super saver shipping? Nothing turns on girls faster than a man with a sexy tool. You can still find the hideously awkward electric handsaws of the old days on Amazon, but soon more people will realize that you simply must own the CHS6000 or your neighbors will lose respect for you and steal your newspapers. Hedgetrimming? Sexified. Got drywall to cut? The CHS6000 is so hot your drywall will actually melt. And with a 2-year warranty, excuses not to own the ultimate in home repair style are quickly running out. Get stylish, or get moving. The iSaw is here to stay.

I ordered this saw as a Fathers Day gift. The estimated shipping date was June 27, which was ridiculous in itself. Now my tracking number is showing the delivery date now JULY 9??? It does NOT take 3 weeks to a month to ship a saw. How ridiculous! I will NEVER buy from amazon again, and will return the saw for a refund (if it ever arrives) and buy it again elsewhere.