This is a great saw for the homeowner. That having been said, I might as well get rid of the negatives first. The only real negatives I've seen are:
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br /(a) It's made in Mexico. I don't have much of a problem with this, but it might be a little jolting to some to buy the DeWalt name, just to find out the tool was not made in the US.
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br /(b) It doesn't seem as heavy-duty as the Sawzall models. If I were a working carpenter depending on this saw day in and day out, I'd probably buy the Milwaukee. But for the typical homeowner like me, this saw seems perfectly adequate.
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br /The positives:
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br /(a) It seems to be a solid, well-built machine.
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br /(b) The four-way blade chuck is a very nice feature. It's very handy for cutting in different directions. I believe that seasoned carpenters wouldn't need this feature as often, as they are used to using their saws every which direction. But, again, for us homeowners it's great.
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br /(c) The price-performance is excellent. You'd have to pay twice as much to get a Sawzall with the capability in the previous item. I love tools, but I can't justify the extra expense given that I'll only use it now and then.
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br /(d) It weighs about the same as the equivalent Sawzall model, and less than the Sawzall that lets you cut in different directions.
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br /As somebody else noted, it only comes with one blade (a metal cutting one). So make sure you buy at least one more blade. If you're new at using a recip saw as I was, I'd recommend just buying the standard short DeWalt wood-cutting blade until you get used to using the saw. After that, go buy a 12" blade. You'll need that long blade, for example, for building a deck: for cutting through the centers of 6x6 timbers, because your circular saw won't reach all the way to the center.
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My first reciprocating saw...and a dandy for the average handyman who has often scratched his head and knuckles trying to figure out how in the world to make a particular cut. The Dewalt is sturdy, if a bit heavy. The power is adequate for everything I've encountered so far...wood, steel, etc. Nothing cleaver to learn how to use, no wrenches or screws to misplace when changing blades, just straightforward cutting. the drop-in blade clamp is simple and effective. It makes changing blades fast and certain. Dewalt only send one blade with the saw and it's a metal cutting blade, so to keep up with chores involving wood, you need to pick-up a variety pack of blades at the local hardware store. This saw is everything I would expect.

I've owned this saw a couple years now. It's done everything I asked it to do, it's had enough power to handle anything I've thrown at it, blade changing is a snap, it's a great tool, and very durable.
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br /People keep comparing this to a Milwaukee, IMO generally speaking Dewalt tools are not as well made as Milwaukee, but you didn't pay a Milwaukee price for this saw either, y'all get what you pay for. Yes, I have a Milwaukee sawzall which I believe is better, but this Dewalt does something the Milwaukee doesn't, the 4 blade positioning comes in extremely handy especially when needing to make flush floor cuts.
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br / I like this saw, glad I bought it, and recommend it to anyone.

This is my first reciprocating saw and I was not disappointed. I really like the fact that the blade can be used in any position (up, down, left, right) and is very easy to change. The blade quick change system is great and easy to use, just lift the lever and insert the blade. It has a variable speed trigger. The tool is also very comfortable to hold and is not too heavy. It comes with a carrying case that allows you to store the tool with the blade inserted (you don't have to remove it). The case has plenty of room for extra storage.

I originally bought this DeWalt DW304PK reciprocating saw to cut 4x4 wooden fence posts, and thought it would be a tool that I would use maybe once every two or three years at most. Was I ever wrong! I have used this saw to cut nails, screws, metal pipe, landscaping timber, tree limbs, you name it (my hack saw hasn't been touched since I got this!). It has never failed, and is still in great working order today. The saw is lightweight, and it has a variable speed trigger which came in handy when I was lining up to start my cuts. This was the first DeWalt product I had ever bought, and I must say that I'm a satisfied customer. All at a good price, too!

I have owned this saw for two years. It has never failed. It worked PERFECTLY about 18-months ago during a horrible winter wind/rain storm. my awning was ripped from the ground and into the neighbor's yard. I had little time to secure the awning as we had wind at about 50mph gusts with 70mph+ gusts at anytime. But this bad-boy worked like a champ allowing me to cut up the awning into enough pieces to secure them until a more through job could be done.
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br /I have cut 6x6's PT lumber, metal, wood and even cut down several medium sized fruit trees. It never has failed or made work harder.
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br /Remember to keep a fair number of blades as they do tend to get dull or bend. This is not a fault of the saw or the blades but rather just the nature of reciprocating saws in general. I keep at least 5-blades of each type and a couple lengths. After every job I buy a few new blades. I do this because a sharp blade will help the saw work with less effort and therefore make the work easier and cleaner.
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br /I can highly recommend this saw for a must have for any homeowner or DIY sort. You will truly wonder how ya lived w/o one.

The saw performed as I had expected. It is a good value for the money. The four position blade feature is exactly what I needed.

I've been impressed with this saw over about four years of use. Very tough, and I'm not even sure how it's still working. I've used it for everything from cutting broken irrigation lines in a ditch (lots of dirt in the thing, but it keeps on going), to rebar, demolition, roughing the ends of 6x8 redwood beams, plastic piping by the bundle, you name it. I previously owned a Milwaukee model, and I'd rate this saw as tough. It is a little lighter than the Milwaukee I owned. This was my first DeWalt purchase (I wasn't convinced they were that durable), and I've bought several other tools from them based on the durability of this saw.

Buying from Amazon is always a pleasant experience. The product comes quickly and is always the cheapest around. The DeWalt Saw is great. I have used it numerous times for the deck I am building with my son. I had to cut some 1/2 inch bolts off and it sure beat doing it with a hacksaw. It cut through it like butter. The 2x8 joists we had to trim came off very easily. A great purchase and it should last for years.

When you need a reciprocating saw, only a reciprocating saw will do. Our company has several dead saws, but this one is still alive and well. It has always had enough power, and everyone likes to use it because the blade is easy to change without trying to find a tool. We don't use it every day, and if I did I might need a beefier model, but for the price you can't beat it.

Bought this over a year ago to demolish 200' of old wooden fencing. It easily cut through 20p nails, posts, boards... amazingly fast. I then used it to cut tree roots out of my new fence pole holes. Blades got dull, but even in the dirt it performed well. I've used it many times since for cutting pipe, screws, nails, rebar, branches, posts... don't know what I did without one of these for so long.

I cannot believe how long I have functioned without a reciprocating saw. I used several brands of these saws in the 70's , but for some reason would never plunk out the change for one in the past 20 years. I picked this saw up about a year ago, and frankly, for the grief it has saved me in replacing electrical boxes alone, I think it was a good purchase. Add to that its value in numberless other demo tasks, and you really have a pretty great tool for under a hundred bucks.

On power tools, I have two rules I steer by: 1. I must feel comfortable using it or I can't use it effectively..or safely. 2. It must be made of quality because this is probably my only chance to buy this type of tool..it has to last for years. This tool more than satisfies both for me. Of all the recip saws I handled, this saw had the best balance and feel. The Milwalkee a close second and $20 more. Having had luck with DeWalt miter saw, I knew it would be quality construction and built to last. I've been very happy so far. Today I sliced through 3.5" steel pipes without problem. Very cool. The options with blade placement is only a perk and not necessary..but a very nice perk. Cutting something almost fl;ush to the floor is great. I recommend this tool.

I'd recommend purchasing other blades because the one it comes with is not so good, but this saw is awesome. I love it. Cuts through anything.

This is a very good saw, i use it on most home improvment projucts like new windows to screen doors, weither you got to trim a little bit off the end, or just chop it in half, it does a nice job of it.

Very handy tool . . . use for cutting tree branches, landscape timbers, or for metal instead of a hacksaw (bolts, rebar, heavy sheet metal, etc). The worst problem I have with mine is that I store it in its nice steel case, and keep forgetting that I own it until I have been fiddling with some hand tool for too long. Should hang this on a hook in the garage for quick accessibility. Fairly lightweight and very rugged. Nice variable speed response. Note: I also recommend keeping a blade assortment ready at hand (you can buy blade assortments on Amazon at a decent price). No complaints at all.

Don't know why I never purchased a reciprocating saw in the past. Excellent and heavy duty. Great for completing demolition in advance of cottage rehab. It is heavy, so it's definitely a two-handed tool.

I bought this saw at Lowes and it initially sounded like a quality tool with nice features (four way clamp is a nice idea... on paper).
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br /It worked fine for about 1h of demo work, eventually the clamp developed a problem where it would not lock the blade in horizontal position (and I needed that the most to cut close to wall without bending the blade) anymore and releasing vertical lock was sometimes a challenge as well.
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br /The clamp also became VERY wobbly to the extent that the blade was oscillating around like crazy.
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br /The tool was returned and Lowes rep said this is not the first time this tool was returned to them for this or similar issue with clamp.
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I used this saw to cut out sheetrock over studs. worked great. The veriable speed is a great help. recommend this product

This is a good saw for a home owner or occasional use around the yard, etc but I would not recommend it for regular use. The motor is powerful enough for most jobs, and while the 4 way blade change system is convenient, it often doesn't work. The release mechanism will only work at the beginning of the stroke so you sometimes have to slowly run the motor to just the right position to change the blade. The locking pin often locks up and has to be persuaded with a screwdriver to lock in place. this takes all of the convenience out of the quick change system. My quick change system was ruined after cutting through some slightly damp boards, which was enough to cause some surface rust to creep up on the blade change mechanism, preventing it from locking at all, I can now only change blades by taking the entire head apart, and even then it will only lock in the sideways position and not the vertical. If you are a contractor or pro, spend the extra money to invest in a heavy duty Milwaukee sawzall.

The trigger switch failed. Replacement switches cost about $40-$50 (50% of the price of a new one). DeWalt is just a tricked up version of the old Black Decker. When their reputation hit bottom, they bought out DeWalt, a company that still built quality tools, just to continue selling their inferior products under a new name. Mine died on the jobsite this afternoon. I think I'll go with Milwaukee next time.
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I received this saw for Christmas and let me tell you it fita all my needs around the house. So far no cutting job I have had is too big for this saw. A couple of weeks ago I had to make room in my garage for a workshop expansion. I had decided to get rid of my old Universal weight gym (one of those giant multi-stationed pieces of steel. I was curious if this saw would cut through it. Let me tell you, after about 30 mins I had that monstrousity laying in a pile of 12" pieces. This saw had no issues making the cuts.
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br /The saw was comfortable to hold, although my hands did tingle from the vibrations. I think that is more due to the fact that I was cutting free standing pieces rather anything that was weel secured. Great saw, great price. Love it.

I bought this saw after my first DeWalt was stolen. I had purchased the cordless model originally because I was doing demo in a house with no electricity, but now that I am electrified, I figured I would go with the corded model so I wouldn't have to be concerned about running out of juice. I haven't used it much yet, but the time or two I have I was pleased. Good price, good power. Love the options for blade position. Ideally, I'd like it to be a bit lighter, as I tire pretty quickly from the weight and vibration, but overall I am quite pleased. Amazon had indicated that a blade would be included, but alas, no blade. So I chatting with Amazon, then the good folks at DeWalt, who explained that they are no longer including blades in that kit. DeWalt sent me some free ones anyway for my trouble. Nothing beats good customer service.

I bought this as an anniversary gift for my spouse and he loves it. I purchased it based on the DeWalt reputation and my spouse has an entire collection! Very nice and nice case!

I have used this reciprocating saw a lot in recent days glad I bought it. It replaced a Porter Cable Tiger. Over all I like the features better of the dewalt. The quick change release the different blade positions are very helpful. I'm very satisfied recommend this product.

This saw is an outstand addition to any tool box. It arrived in nearly new condition with only a few blemishes on the outer casing. I have used it to cut 2" cast iron pipe, and through 4 x 4 pressure treated lumber. It cut through both like hot butter. I know that there are horror stories about recondition equipment, but this one definately gets a thumbs up.

I think this dewalt saw is the best for the money. it has plenty of power and is relatively small. One suggestion, buy some good quality blades. It comes with one, but you will need more trust me. Milwaukee makes a great set that I bought here on Amazon. Oh, and it comes with a case which comes in real handy and my new set of Milwaukee blades fit in there too. So if you need one of these look no further, unless your a pro and use it constantly then get the bigger one, but this is perfect for me.

Excellent saw, and light-weight too. It made quick work of some thick lilac branches, and that wood is dense and tough.

great tool. easy for me to use (i am a 50 year old woman) easy to change out blades and very versatile.

Super buy and great product, will cut through anything and do it quickly..........

This saw cut the top off of a steel barrel in just a few minutes. It did not bog down. My husband was very pleased that I bought it for him.

Great saw. With multipositioning blade it makes cutting almost anything a breeze. Should have bought one a long time ago.

I bought this saw to do some exterior remodeling on my house. It cuts through wood like a hot knife through butter. I've cut all thicknesses of plywood, 2x4s, and paneling and it hasn't given me the least bit of trouble even once. I've used it enough to go through a few blades (which change out easily and lock in place securely) and it still looks and behaves like it was brand new.
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br /The grip is comfortable and the weight feels solid but not heavy.
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I like De Walts products for the most part and this one didn't let me down.
br /Amazon was great as well. I had my order in only a few days.

Love it. So far it has cut through everything we've needed it for in our bathroom remodeling. Dewalt is a name you can trust and this tool does the trick.

Lighter, More power and the best i have use after two other well known brands.

product came quickly and in perfect condition. when ordering the item, I was thrilled it was on sale, and then, I received free shipping and a $10 coupon as well, which made my day. I would definifely purchase items from this seller again. the saw was a gift, and my dad has already tried it out and enjoys it.

Everything Dewalt works great for me and the Amazon price is the best I've found. Be careful using this, though, as it is strong enough to "get away from you".

I bought this to replace a Porter Cable model that also worked extremely well until one day it died before it's time. This one does its job and doesn't rip your arm of while you are trying to hold it like the Porter Cable. This has some adjustment in the guide that allows you to get in close to cuts with no clearance. The Porter Cable I had was articulated in every joint so could go anywhere. That saw also cost twice as much as this one and still only lasted a couple of years. Would be nice to have one of these and one of those. The Dewalt to be the workhorse and the Porter Cable to get in those tight spots.

This is probably one of the best value for your money. It feels rugged and has not given me any problems. I have been using (sometimes abusing) the saw but it just keeps going. I wish it was made in USA rather than Mexico. When we buy DeWalt, we associate "Made in U.S.A." This doesn't mean the product is poorly made but I wish the jobs stayed here. The delivery was ON TIME. Bravo Amazon!!

Got this recip saw free with DW744X table saw purchase, and what a bonus! The blades can be inserted into the "chuck" horizontally or vertically. That's a nice feature, keeps you from having to turn saw sideways on some jobs. It has plenty of power too. I recomend it!

my order arrived fast in an undamaged package. this is a great addition to my home tools, good value

This is a pretty decent sawzall; it does what it needs to do, and the 4-position blade clamp sometimes comes in handy. I've never managed to get a blade to bind to the point of sticking, which I guess means the motor is pretty tough, and I've definitely used it to make some pretty questionable cuts (including halfway through a tree branch I was hanging from before I realized what I was doing, but that's another story). The thing that takes this from an excellent tool to a crappy one, at least for me, is the blade change mechanism.
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br /I have to disclaim this by saying that I work for a remodeling company, and so this tool sees the sort of heavy day-in, day-out use that takes a serious toll on your equipment, but after a few short months, the crappy plastic blade changing lever is all but useless; I guess it's bent or something, but I haven't had time to try and fix it. To get a blade in or out of it, you have to plug it in, which can be a pain if your extension cords are elsewhere, and feather the trigger to get it into the fully retracted position on the stroke, to get the play out of the shaft so the lever can work right. Sometimes, that doesn't even work and you have to jam a screwdriver into the mechanism. This is definitely a "feature" I could do without.
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br /That said, this sawzall is "good enough." When I replace it, it's actually going to be with the same model, because I got another one as a present, and it's sitting in the back of my truck right now with the zip tie still on the cord. It's one of those things you just deal with, I suppose.

I bought my dewalt about 2 yrs ago. Having problems with the
br /motor stops and then I have to tap on it to get it to run.
br /For the money the quality is not there and I am a big dewalt buyer and fan. Not sure if after I try to get it serviced if I will purchase another dewalt saw or not.

This saw is great! I got it for my husband for his birthday and he loved it. Great buy.