THE MOST POWERFUL RECIP SAW EVER! 15 AMPS! the first time ever a recip saw ("sawzall"), has ever been at 15 amps. this saw has the most advanced anti-vibration system of any saw. it's powerful, yet it purrrs. most recip saws jerk like crazy in your hands; this one hardly moves at all. it has a 4-speed orbital and is easy to hold. changing a blade is easy: you twist the collar and it ejects the blade; simply insert the blade and it locks automatically. it can easily be done with one hand. it has a two finger trigger and 6 speeds. the adjustable shoe is the easiest i've ever used; one button releases the shoe and the other locks it. no levers or other complicated techniques. again, it's a one-handed operation.
br /i truly love this saw.
br /previous makita recip saws haven't been all that great, and i never even considered them before now. i'm glad i made the right choice. i prefer this over the milwaukee 6523-21 13amp and the hitachi and the porter-cable and the bosch and the dewalt.

This saw is absolutely the best recip saw I've ever used! This saw's features and anti vibration technology,as well as the great Heavy duty steel case are not just gimmicks Makita is putting out there to sucker you in.They are true!This also has a true orbital with several settings based on material being cut,and the speed control dial is excellent.This tool is well balanced with a great ribbed grip on body and the handle is comfortable and won't crowd your hand(just lock the 2 finger trigger and there is still room for your hand under it!)This thing can purr or roar.Here's the thing-I'm a Makita guy,BUT I haven't always been,I once loved the "red one",but there starting to rest a little on their lorels.I switched my other tools to Makita's A couple of years ago,and have not been disappointed since.Don't buy a tool because of it's legend or high price,buy it because it will get the job done today,tomorrow and beyond.This saw get's the job done!!Period.And what I have discovered about Makita is there tool's perform just as claimed!Search around for other reviews etc.,you'll see I'm not alone in my opinion.

I have a few reciprocating saws (all "top of the line"), this one, the SawZall (13 AMP and rotating) and the Hitachi 12 AMP. I think this saw is the best of the group - but still not what I expected. After about 2 months of use this saw broke on me. The motor still turns but the shaft does not move in and out. This saw when it works is very good, cuts well, and the case is nice (I like that it is heavy). Truth be known I do not think any of the reciprocating saws are made with the quality of my original all metal Sawzall. I do not think any saw today is made for professional use and regular demolition work. As far as durability, this unit is made in China, the rubber boot on the blade changing mechanism will break off within about 20 uses (my Sawzall took 1/2 that time to break, my Hitachi still works, my original sawzall still works - 2 repairs in 25 years). The saw gets very hot during prolonged use (the rubber boot on the blade changing piece is there so you can touch it and change the blade because it gets too hot to touch. I think it needs a better mechanism to connect the reciprocating arm to the motor. The arm should go back and forth - no matter what and should stay aligned (the saw does not do anything else!). From what is available today, this unit is probably best of bread and is fine.

I used this tool for 6 months during a major renovation. All started well and I was very impressed with the saw. The one short coming is the front shoe and the shoe holder. The mechanism that holds the shoe became looser and sloppier, causing the blade to cut into the shoe as it would rotate. The entire shoe support mechanism eventually just fell apart, rendering the saw unusable. Something a little more substantial is needed. I would be willing to accept a more robust shoe holder in exchange for the `inconvenience' of having to use a wrench to adjust it. A good motor and good blade change mechanism are offset by the shoe mechanism rendering the saw inoperable after only 6 months. Buy with caution.

So powerful. Too much power really, it cuts too fast. It's my special forces sawzall, and it's so satisfying to have a difficult piece of work, then just say, "get the beast" and watch that tough piece of work get dealt with, quickly. I actually find it hard (well, "skill intensive" anyway) to use when cutting out OSB/plywood for windows because it's so powerful that it's tough to keep a straight line and keep the studs undamaged. Since its so big, corded, and so powerful, it's not my common/lighter use saw, which is the cordless LXT. But the second that I'm frustrated with a sawing application, I have this epiphany, and say, "f*** you, problem" and get the beast. I saw someone complain about the foot, which I guess is a bit dinky for the overall build, but they're probably the most frustrated that they sent it back! No problems with the blade holder, and the foot only got some wear for me at max extension using a narrow 12" Bosch metal blade bent over, and it was minor. Probably should have lowered the foot and no problems. This saw is somewhat heavy, but it actually might be easier to use for the average person since it's got such good anti vibration technology. The power is audible and it sounds like a jet taking off, pretty exhilarating! I'll review the LXT saw for comparison.
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br /Edit: In actuality, the saw is almost no bigger than my LXT, and although it has more girth, I guess it just seems that way because its so powerful! It is a bit heavier.

This saw is amazing!!! Never has demo work gone so quickly. With the right blade, this saw does not just cut like a hot knife though butter, it melts the butter. The orbital setting greatly increases cutting speed, it eats 2x4s, 4x4s, 4x6s, heck this thing will eat trough thick tree branches or a small tree. It got the top pick on Fine Homebuilding magazine. The fit and finish is flawless, the switches are easy to operate. Sturdy steel case with steel hinges and latches. Not some flimsy plastic job. Quick release blade holder grabs the blade tight. The tool-less base slides with ease. Light weight, easy to hold, very powerful motor. This is a must have for any pro. 10+ stars.
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br /I considered a PC Tiger saw with the tilting head. Sure the angling head can get you into hard to reach places, but when you try the orbital action on the Makita, you will not go back to anything else.

I bought this saw to cut two holes in an old roof that was now inside under a new roof. I went into the attic with a dozen blades and prepared for the expected typical beating that every one of this type of saw is known for. The old roof was about 1-1/2" of wood and 1" of asphalt. I cut two access holes in 13" by 24" in a matter of minutes and could not believe how painless it was. The original blade was still going. I've used many different recip saws over the years, but this is the only one really worked.

I've been using this tool almost daily for awhile now and it still impresses me. The antivibration technology is unmatched. Everyone who used this tool wanted one of their own.

This model replaced my original Makita reciprocating saw. Which after 10 years of heavy service finally gave up. The original you might say was a row boat it got you there. This one is like a Battle Ship! Great tool!

I have uesd red, yellow and grey sawsalls, but this one beats them all for power and smoothness...also the metal case is nice to.

I have had this saw for almost a year now and love it. I have used it to cut cars in half, trim trees, remove walls, cut a polished aluminum dash and much more and it has done it all without any problems. When cutting through wood this saw flies! When cutting the dash plate out of polished aluminum diamond plate I merely used a metal scroll blade and set the speed very low, a jig saw would have obviously been the better choice but I didn't have one on hand.
br /My only complaint, as mentioned in a previous review is the rubber boot covering the blade holder. Mine has already become chipped, although not while I was using the saw. I am very careful with my tools and I'm sure it would have never happened to me, but this is most likely the week link in the durability of the saw.

I've always used Milwaukee Sawzalls and I only replaced it with this one because I finally got sick and tired of having to use a wrench the change the blade. I know, they make tool-less blade change models, but I bought this on the advice of a friend who had one. Let me tell you, this is a BEAST! Heavy and powerful to the extreme. The 15-amp motor combined with the orbital blade action will make short work of anything that it touches. The blade literally springs out when released...great for those hot blades. No more burned hands. If you want a truly powerful cutting tool, look no further. This is it.

This is the best reciprocating saw that I have ever used. We just finished up deconstruction of a fairly large house and this was there from the beginning. We have had around 12 guys working on this house everyday for the last few months with around 10 or so reciprocating saws on site. This is by far the best one on site as voted by all those carpenters. We have filled 10+ 30 yard dumpsters worth of materials and it is still just as strong as and as favored as the first day it was on site.
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br /The variable speed and orbital action are really great. I can tell easily when the orbital is off because it starts cutting at the same speed as other reciprocating saws. The handle feels great, however, it is a slight bit heavy and that is the only downfall.

For years, there has only been one manufacturer that offered a reciprocating saw that had a counterbalance, orbital action and a steel case. That has all changed with this saw.
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br /I wont get into the Makita VS. Milwaukee debate. I own a Milwaukee 6321-21 11 amp orbital with counterbalance. It is a great saw. This saw to me is just as good.
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br /A milwaukee is like a hummer. This is like a Cadilac Escalade. Both will do the job, one just has more finese.
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br /In useage I found this to be smoother and quieter than the Milwaukee. Granted,this is new and the Milwaukee is a few years older.
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br /The blade change on the makita is slightly better. The shoe however is not.(as others have pointed out, it is very loose.)
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br /I wont say it is better than the Milwaukee offerings, but it is on par at least.
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br /Home Depot had these on Clearance for 99 dollars. I got mine for 75 because it was a display and did not have the paperwork, case or blades.

I bought the tool, following the recommendation made by Fine Homebuilding Magazine, who rated this tool as a "Best Overall". I worked with this tool for several days, I am Carpenter, and I found this tool to be the best tool I ever had in my hands, WOW!, You can see the orbital action by eye, I was extremely impressed with the performance/cutting action, that any "Milwaukee Sawzall" never reach. Some day I wrote to Milwaukee power tools asking about the orbital action, because I didn't notice it , and the response I received by a technician was that the orbital action starts when the tool is receiving pressure by the wood or work material, but I was not so convinced about this.
br /The problem I found with the tool -Makita JR3070CT-, was related with the front part (Blade holder and steel foot). The tool doesn't hold the blade well, it looses the blade easily. When I tried a 4" wood blade, it was rubbing and cutting the front steel foot, and the lock that secure that front foot is useless. the front foot simply skip the positions and ends in the inner one.
br /I returned that amazing tool. Now I am working with a Milwaukee 360 degrees rotating handle Sawzall, that is not the half that great tool is.
br /Recommended? No. That tool needs work.
br /Other: Made in china, Steel case about 15 Lb. (aoutch!), this review is 100% objetive, no feelings involved here.
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I use these tools for a living. This new 15amp saw does run fast but is way too bulky and heavy. Plus I don't like the rubber gaurd on the blade change lever because it wears fast when shoe is removed to get into tight areas. I would stick to the milwaukee super sawzall, after all they invented the thing and are known to last.