Customer Reviews for Makita 12 Amp Corded Reciprocating Saw

I've used Makita tools since I was a kid working around the house with my dad. When I got my own home I got by with a different branded 6 amp saw, and it did the job, but I'm now tackling larger jobs and needed something stronger. This 12 amp saw has more power than I'll ever need but it will also likely be the last saw i'll ever need. Good weight in hand, slightly heavy but that's OK. Rubber on the body gives good grip, and blade changes are a snap with a twist of the collar. Nice little touch is the fold out hook, handy when trimming trees on the ladder and you need to hang the saw for a minute. The included blades are also a decent quality but you'll definitely want to pick up a few extras. Actual operation of the saw is much smoother than my old one, and with twice the amps this saw wont struggle with cutting. I was able to clear lots of debris from my yard over the weekend with this, very pleased. Only reason for 4 and not 5 stars, a tool like this should come with a bag to hold the saw and blades. My lesser saw did and I would expect at least the same from a better tool.

Great reciprocating saw. It's light but plenty powerful. I use this mostly in demolishing wooden structures - so cutting through nail and screw embedded wood. It does an excellent job. The trigger is very responsive and varying the stroke speed is easy. The tool is comfortable to hold and use. By nature it vibrates a lot, but dampens it better than some other saws I have used. The chuck is nice and easy to operate even with gloves on. It holds well so far and releases easily. The joist/stud hanger is a really nice touch. My worm drive saws have this and I've been wishing all my other saws did. This comes with the saw and 2 blades. I'm not big on cases usually, but this is one tool I do wish had a soft case included.

This Makita 12 amp reciprocal saw is built super tough! The weight and feel of the saw seems as if it would last a life time. The rubber exterior skin provides lots of grip and is thick so no need to worry about treating this tool gentle. I used this recently to cut into a wall and open it up, and it handled everything with ease. It does come with a nice instruction manual that easily shows how to use and maintain the tool. This tool more than meets my expectations as I've used some other reciprocal saws from other brands that were lower tier and you def get what you pay for. It also has a collapsible hook that allows you to hang the tool up while not in use, which is nice. While I do prefer to have cordless tools on most of the usually suspects, reciprocal saws can go either way for me and in this option i do prefer the corded as it provides great power with no lag at all. I do with it came with a small bag, but I'm sure other models have that option, I just like having everything in it's own case.

Cuts smoothly and quickly. Cutting 1/4 inch aluminum plate with the metal cutting blade was fast and I always felt like I was in control. The blades go into the chuck easily and clamp quickly and securely. The saw has a nice balance front to back that helps maintain control. The unit has a nice long cord that has good flexibility so the cord does not encumber using the tool.

This is a very good corded saw that you can use with one hand. It has a nice balance and the variable speed trigger makes it easier to get the cut started and completed quickly. I decided to opt for a corded reciprocating saw after the batteries in my old cordless saw started to fade. I got fed up with having to plan out when I was going to use the saw so I could recharge them ahead of time and found that their charge quickly depleted with the saw. Since I do most of my work in the workshop or around the home, I am always close to an electrical outlet and decided to opt for a 120V corded saw instead. This Makita is actually easier to use than the cordless one it replaced – it has a simple trigger to start the saw where my old one had an additional safety switch which made it very uncomfortable to use for any prolonged period. The variable speed trigger makes it easy to get a cut started (such as when cutting metal) at a low speed before pulling the trigger all the way to release the 3,000/min strokes at full speed. I cut a section of 2” metal irrigation pipe in about 2 minutes using one hand. The blades are also easy to change with a twist lock. You just turn the blade lock clockwise and drop a new blade in and then do the same when you want to release it. The blades mount and dismount very easily with no resistance so there is no need to handle the hot saw blades. I also found that the saw has a good balance. According to the specs, it weighs in at 7.1-7.3lbs however I weighed mine on a digital kitchen scale and it came in at just shy of 7 1/4 lbs. By comparison, my cordless saw was just over 5 1/2 lbs however you don’t really notice the additional weight of the 120V motor. I also like the built in storage hook. I already hung my old saw by the handle on my workshop storage wall and I use the two position, built in hook to keep the 8’ power cord tidy. I expect that if you are framing that the flip out hook is very useful for hanging the saw on a nearby stud while you are not using it. Depending on how much use the saw gets, you can also replace the brushes to keep it in tip top shape. The saw comes with a 12 month warranty and is made in China.

I have always preferred a corded saw for all day work. There are no batteries to die. This saw has a comfortable handle and decent grip of the body for support and safety. The blade easily locks in with a twist collar like many other saws. The shoe is large enough to provide good balance without damaging the workpiece. This saw does not have a trigger lock on button, I like this because you are in full control and there is no chance you will let go and have the tool keep running. The hook locks at 90 and 180 and can be used to hang the tool over a ladder, rafter, etc. The saw cut wet pressure treated with ease and did a decent job with 1/4" steel plate.

The saw comes packaged with 2 basic blades (metal & wood) and a manual. There is no carry case included. The 12 amp power is more than enough for my occasional wood projects. The overall construction is solid and the operation is very simple. The blade clicks to fit in the front and the speed changes depending how much you push the lever. I tried cutting a few wood pieces and there was no noticeable vibration, then again I don't deal with very thick lumber. The only drawback I see in the product is the lack of a safety lock. Professional or not, I expect hardwired heavy tools to have either a safety lock or switch. Other than this gripe, its a great product.

Great price on a powerful reciprocating saw. It is a basic corded reciprocating saw That works well. For heavy demolition work I prefer corded to battery powered. This one works well, and blade change out is easy and tool less. I like the tool hook that swings out either 90 or 180 degrees. It makes it capable of being hung from your belt, a ladder, or the bottom stringer of a wood truss. It folds out of the way when you don’t need it.

This Makita reciprocating saw has what it takes to get the job done. It weighs in at a bit over 7lbs so it is a solid heavy tool. The blade inserts like any other reciprocating saw I have used, twist the retention collar and insert the blade. The saw has a be trigger that as room for two fingers and big beefy front grip and allows you to get a secure hold. The front grip has a large safety guard so you can hold the saw fimrly again the workpiece and keep your hands safe. The saw has a hanging hook on it that allows you to hang the tool up on the job site while not in use, but then neatly folds away when you dont need it. When it is time to change blades you twist the collar again, and the blade pops right out.

Very versatile reciprocating saw, comes with two blades which are easily interchanged. This saw works right out of the box, no setup required. This model has a cord, which for me was better than a battery version since I will likely not use it enough to remember to keep a battery charged. Changing the blades is incredibly easy - no tools or chuck needed. It might seem inconsequential, but one nice aspect of that is that I will not end up storing the saw with the blade attached because it is so easy to remove, which will eliminate the chance of damaging the blade when in or in and out of storage.

A powerful efficient saw designed for extended operation. Model JR3051T has a long 1-3/16 in. stroke for faster cutting, a performance advantage. The 12 amp motor maintains power under load. Good ergonomic design. The manageable 7.3 lb weight and 18 inch length make this saw less tiring to use during extended operation. Built-in clamp enables tool-free blade swapping. The wide trigger is easily controlled while wearing work gloves. Pivoting hook for quick hanging storage. Includes 6” wood and metal cutting blades. Use cutting oil when sawing metal to protect blade. Case not included. Motor brushes require periodic inspection for wear and occasional replacement. Double insulated with 2-prong polarized plug. One year limited warranty. Blades made in Switzerland.

I was excited to plug in this Makita recipro saw because I owned a similar model from Makita over a decade ago. Most of my tools are cordless so it's always a little bothersome to have to whip out the extension cord but I decided to give this a try on the rotting wood frame above my garage exterior. I popped in the wood cutting bit that was included in the box, powered it up, and unfortunately the bit bent within ten seconds of use. But it was probably more so user error than the fault of the bit. I'll pick up some fresh bits and give it another try some time. Other than that, the saw itself has a good weight to it, not too heavy. And the hanging hook is a nice feature.

Saw was completely assembled which saved time and effort

exactly what i needed. easy to use. powerful.

Very satisfied with its features and power

This thing is great! I needed my trees cut down to about 2-3’. No one would help so I bought this on sale and not knowing the brand! Cut like butter man cut like butter!

More powerful and durable than my Dewalt

This has been a good saw, it vibrates my arms pretty hard using it on logs with a 3 TPI blade, to the point that it isn’t really useful for that, but it’s pretty great for any other reciprocating saw cutting tasks that I’ve used it for, like cutting steel and plastic.

The drill is easy to use, not too heavy, and easy to change blades. With the correct blade, this saw cuts through fiberglass, wood, and metal easily.

works great and really strong rpm's