Review: Hitachi CR13V Reciprocating Saw

The best DIY demo­li­tion tool.
If there’s demo work to be done, then you’ll need a reci­p­ro­cating saw. Often called a “sawzall” (pronounced “Saws All”), this type of saw is an excel­lent tool for cutting studs away from plates, cutting nails and just getting into those places stan­dard circular saws just won’t go.

A sawzall is very similar to a jig saw, with it’s foot and oscil­lating blade, but the sawzall blade is much wider, and longer, and a sawzall has much more power.

Most sawzalls are very similar in design but vary in power and features.

The most impor­tant features to look for are the ability to change blades quickly without the use of tools, and a comfort­able weight and grip. As control is every­thing when using a sawzall. And of course a great warranty.

That’s why I recom­mend the Hitachi CR13V, as it provides all the features we’re looking for in a reason­ably priced reci­p­ro­cating saw.
Hitachi’s tool-less blade change system not only makes changing blades really fast, but you can also install the saw blade with the teeth facing either side of the saw.This provides extra flex­i­bility for getting into hard to reach places. The easy grip D-handle, and a weight well under 8 lbs provides the safety and ease of control you need.

As far as power goes, the 10 Amp motor with elec­tronic feed­back control gives you all the power you’ll need for most DIY home improve­ment demo projects.

And Hitachi’s five year warranty completes the list of features on our list, and assures excel­lent service for many years to come.

The Hitachi CR13V comes with an all-purpose blade, hex bar wrench, and heavy-duty carrying case for easy trans­port and storage.

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