Reciprocating Saw

[eyedee]

Hi

I've started a job that I don't think I can finish without something like a reciprocating saw. I'm cutting a circular hole in the soffit of a house to pass a vent grill through. I thought I had the right tools, but it turns out I don't and I haven't got the strength to drill 15 holes through the 15mm thick hardwood soffit with a 25mm flat head drill bit whilst balanced at the top of a ladder! And the space between the house wall and the eaves is only 18cm, so I cant get any other tools like a jigsaw in there to do any good. The only tool I can think of to help me cut the hole is a reciprocating saw?!?

I know very little about them, but I've found two that I like the look of. Can I get opinions on the following two, as to whether they are any good or not? I want to buy one that will last for a sensible amount of usage, and that will perform well, but not cost more than about £75, although I'd be wiling to go up to £100 if the tool was so much better.

Erbauer ERB800RL 800W Reciprocating Saw

Ryobi ERS-80V 240V 800W Reciprocating Saw

These seem to sell for around £70 and look like having a decent cutting depth and variable speed selection. That's about all I know about them. I've never used one before.

If anyone has any other ideas for making the hole in the soffit I'd be interested, otherwise, I need to buy the right tool for the job to do the work this Thursday.

Cheers very much in advance for replies.

 

[^woody^]

It wont be easy trying to hold a repo saw vertically, and two handed as it snags and jarrs on the soffit - which is what it does

Surely it would be easier with a cordless and a suitable spade or hole saw?

Or just get a £3 padsaw

 

[eyedee]

Thanks Woody, but unfortunately, I don't think any of those would do the job. The hole to be cut is 115mm in diameter and the soffit wood is so hard that cutting into it manually with a pad saw is useless - I tried it today. Hole saw's don't seem to come big enough suitable for wood, only ceramics and glass etc.

I think a reciprocating saw is probably going to be the only option. I think I'll put a small scaffolding tower up to make the job safer.

Anyone know if either of the rep saws I mentioned are worth getting or have any others around the same price that come recommended?

Cheers

 

[^woody^]

You wont be using it every day so either of those saws will do.

Are you sure you are just not convincing yourself to buy a repo saw?

£13.99 from screwfix

127mm (which suites a 115mm tube)

£6.97

plasterboard saw - cuts on push and pull and will cut timber

 

[big-all]

definatly not a recip saw as the blade has a lot of freedom and cannot be accuratly controlled without additional support to the blade

not a jigsaw as the back off the saw needs several inches off swing in an arc

hole saw is the kiddy but you need 2 hands for when it snatches so not a ladder job

 

[eyedee]

I asked myself the same question actually! No, I just can't see a pad saw doing the job. You'd have to be the hulk to cut a 115mm circular hole upside-down in a hardwood soffit with one of them!

Ta for the info about the hole saw though. I didn't know it was possible to buy ones that size (guess I should have looked instead of assuming!).

And cheers too big-all. Looks like a hole saw is the way forward.

 

[^woody^]

Thinking about it, this kind of job is the perfect one for the Bosch pmf 180

Or the cordless model

 

[eyedee]

I've always wondered what that tool was for. I had a search online and it gets fantastic reviews all-round. For now, I'm going to buy a hole saw and see if that does the job. It's a lot cheaper than the Bosch. But, I may well invest in one of the Bosch Multi tools very soon as I can think of loads of applications that I could have, and would be able to use it for.

Cheers mate!

 

[kjacko]

I have the corded version and it is a great little tool.
The attachment in the pic is great, although mine chipped first time i used it. Still its served me well so far, not sure it would be best suited for your job though OP, maybe the hole saw is better on this occasion.

 

[tilerman]

Check this video out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rv-LAnPvvBY

 

[Inky Pete]

Wouldn't fancy doing that up a ladder!!!

In the time it took him he could have got out his drill and his holesaws and made a much neater job of it.

 

[big-all]

Wouldn't fancy doing that up a ladder!!!

In the time it took him he could have got out his drill and his holesaws and made a much neater job of it.

it would probably be possible with a scrole saw but again a 2 hand job