Cutting depth
The greatest depth of cut provided by the saw.
In most types of saws (see “Device”), the depth of cut directly depends on both the engine power and the size of the tyre / disk. The specifications give a value for the maximum allowable size of the working nozzle; when using nozzles of a smaller size, the depth of cut, respectively, will be less. But in band saws, this depth is rather weakly related to the actual length of the tape — it is determined primarily by the length of the open section of the tape, which is directly involved in the work.
Anyway, the greater depth of cut makes the tool more versatile, but comes at the cost of weight, price, and electricity/fuel consumption. So when choosing, it is worth considering the real features of the planned work and the dimensions of the workpieces that are planned to be cut. As for specific values, the most modest tools provide a depth
of up to 50 mm ;
50 – 75 mm is considered a low indicator,
75 – 100 mm is average,
100 – 125 mm is above average,
125 – 150 mm is already quite an impressive thickness, and the most powerful modern saws can have a cutting depth
of more than 150 mm.
Steel cutting depth
The greatest thickness of steel workpiece that a reciprocating saw can handle. Note that in practice, the maximum cutting depth will depend on the grade of steel and the characteristics of the material. It is not recommended to exceed the declared indicators - this is fraught with undesigned loads on the tool with all the ensuing consequences.
Max. stroke rate
The highest frequency of blade strokes provided by a reciprocating saw (see "Device") in normal operation. A higher frequency, on the one hand, increases productivity and provides a more accurate cut, on the other hand, it increases the load on the blade and requires a rather high power.
In box
- Disc. The presence of a saw blade is included in the delivery set of the circular tool. It can be either one or
several, which allows you to use the saw “out of the box” without the need to purchase additional consumables. If you already have a saw blade or intend to select it for specific tasks, it is worth taking a closer look at the configurations
without a blade - they are usually cheaper.
- Chain. One or
more chains included as standard with the saw. The presence of a chain with teeth for cutting allows you to do without purchasing a separate executive body for chain saw. However, there are configurations
without a chain - it is assumed that the customer already has a chain or he will select the required option himself.
— Saw blade. The presence of one or
more saw blades in the complete set of a reciprocating or band tool. They ensure that the saw is ready for use literally immediately after unpacking. There are also configurations of reciprocating or band models
without a saw blade - they are cheaper, and the customer has the right to choose a suitable blade independently.
—
Dust collector. A dust collector is included with the saw. The dust collector is a container for collecting sawdust and other d
...ebris generated during operation; As a rule, such a container is made removable. Installing a dust collector slightly increases the dimensions of the entire tool, but this is compensated by cleanliness and convenience: dust and other production waste mostly settle in the container and not on surrounding objects.
- Charger. The presence of a charging block in the package allows you to charge batteries. Accordingly, for models with batteries, this accessory is necessary to power the battery. However, there are models without a charger. And saw with it may differ in the charger model, the name of which will allow you to learn more about its characteristics and, if necessary or if required (breakdown), purchase a similar one.
— Case (bag). Availability of a case or bag included with the instrument. A case is a container-suitcase made of hard material; bags are usually made of soft material. This way the case provides maximum protection and the bag can be folded away compactly when not in use. The specific type of case that comes with the saw should be specified separately. However, in any case, a complete case or bag will be more convenient for storing and transporting the instrument than impromptu packaging.
- Stand. The stand makes the saw tool more stable, reliable and safe. The presence of a stand is typical for stationary type saw. Mostly these are powerful, productive, large and heavy models that are located in a separate place. The stand can be implemented either with classic legs (bed) or with a cabinet with a tool compartment. The stand can be equipped with various types of saw: circular saw, miter saw, band saw, cutting saw and even chain saw (with electric drive).
— Wheels for transportation. Transport wheels make it easy to move sawing equipment around the shop. The presence of wheels will come in handy when the saw needs to be moved a little to install some large workpieces or simply when cleaning the workshop. As a rule, wheels are typical for stationary saw with a table top or work holder.Battery voltage
The operating voltage of the battery in the saw with the appropriate type of power supply (see "Power supply"). The more powerful the tool, the higher the battery voltage, usually. At the same time, this parameter is usually selected in such a way as to optimally match the characteristics of a particular model; therefore, in fact, voltage data may be required only when looking for a spare or additional battery.
Note that most often in modern saws one of two standard voltages is used —
18 V or
36 V. Batteries
less than 18 V are typical mainly for compact low-power models, and
40 V or more — for heavy units, mostly professional ones.
Charging time
The time required to fully (from zero to 100%) charge the battery in the cordless saw (see "Power supply"); this refers to the complete battery and standard charger. The shorter this time, the shorter the breaks will have to be done for recharging; however, higher capacity batteries inevitably take longer to charge than smaller ones. This can be compensated by the use of fast charging technologies, but they, in turn, affect the cost of the tool.
Weight
The total weight of the tool. For petrol models (see "Power Source"), usually, dry weight is indicated, excluding fuel.
In general, it makes sense to pay attention to this parameter primarily when choosing a hand tool. At the same time, note that higher power, a more capacious battery or a capacious tank will inevitably affect weight. However, tools with similar characteristics can and do differ markedly in weight. And here it is worth considering that a lighter model will be more comfortable to work with, but weight reduction may affect reliability and/or cost. In addition, a more massive tool is more stable, it is not so prone to jerks under uneven loads. If we talk about specific numbers, then a weight of
3 kg or less is considered very light,
3–5 kg is relatively small,
5–7 kg is medium,
7–10 kg is significant, and some powerful tools (mainly gasoline) weigh and
over 10 kg.
As for stationary saws, weight is of secondary importance for them — it mainly affects the ease of transportation.
