Sawzalls. Do they really?

[LVSteve]

Borrowed a sawzall to cut a 3-4 inch tree root that is crushing the irrigation control box in my back yard. All I can say is that either "sawzall" is a wish and nothing more, or the tree is fighting back. I think what might be happening is that the core of the root is squishy and fibrous and sort of smushes (technical term ) rather than getting cut.

I've got about 1/3 the way through and progress sort of stopped. I cut a wedge out so the interior can dry where I am cutting and I will try again over the weekend. Maybe I need to dig around the root some more to get it drier.

 

[Hack]

Blade selection is everything.

My Milwaukee SawsAll is a cutting machine.

 

[arjay]

If its a battery powered saw,they are quite wimpy.A corded saw with one or two new, coarse,12 inch blades should make short work of it.(Mines a Milwaukee too lol)

 

[BillK01]

I think you must be using a crappy sawzall, blade or both. My Milwaukee chews through darn near anything. And if it won't there's always the Stihl...

 

[mkk41]

Yep , blade selection is everything. I've used a Milwaukee to dissect some good size trees , roots and all.

DeWalt maks a cordless one that's quickly becoming a favorite home invasion/burglary tool.

 

[diamonback68]

I think you may have a blade selection problem more than anything.

 

[BillK01]

My uncle (a very old school contractor who is now 91 and still working) told me when I bought our house - and was getting to remodel it - a very wise thing that I've never forgotten. It was - "EVERYONE needs a sawzall".

 

[kamloops67]

i use a makita cordless 18volt theyre decent .suck a battery dry in about 4-5 mins though. as said blade selection is important. a new/sharp pruning blade is what you want ,itll zip through that root pretty quickly.
i carry mine with 4 batteries when im driving back roads etc. cut through a 8" windblown fir once, that was across the road. beats an axe and its cleaner and easier than a chainsaw

 

[rwsmith]

Sawsall are magic

But you do need a course wood blade.

 

[Damn Yankee]

Get a "AXE"

 

[Squarebutt]

Dirt is not good for blades. Also, the root may be pinching the blade. I use the Lenox bi-metal blades, and if I've got to climb a ladder to trim a branch I take the Milwaukee Sawzall and leave the two Stihl chainsaws on the ground.

 

[Fishslayer]

Blade selection is everything.

^^^ This....

 

[venomballistics]

sawsall .. well .. seems youve pushed it into the almost region
what your dealing with is something that would give a chain saw fits. Roots twist, bind, clog, and tangle just about anything you try to use on them.
even a torch has trouble due to the water content.

 

[LVSteve]

Thanks, gents. I feel a trip to Home Depot/Lowe's in my future. The blade is new and looks plenty coarse enough to me. Could be that the root is pinching in some way as I cut. Guy I borrowed it from said to just plant it next to the root and not to worry about the dirt.

 

[Smoke]

I've cut down trees with a sawzall (Craftsman)

 

[dswancutt]

Yep , blade selection is everything. I've used a Milwaukee to dissect some good size trees , roots and all.

DeWalt maks a cordless one that's quickly becoming a favorite home invasion/burglary tool.

Sounds like we need require a permit to purchase and registration of all saws.

 

[DeathGrip]

They make Tree Blades for them. Get a couple and give your friend a new one.

 

[10mmauto]

This one has been sawing all for at least 25 years. It was my father's. It helped me tear down and rebuild a deck this summer.



Re: blade selection. (Might have to do with how well the blade clears the dust/chips.)

 

[mkk41]

Sounds like we need require a permit to purchase and registration of all saws.

There were 3 incidents locally where the crooks just cut thru the locked door. 2 they just cut the door in half , and 1 where they cut around the lockset and deadbolt. That was definitely a Sawzall type. The other 2 might have been a cordless circular saw.

 

[Mercury]

Try using something to hold the root in place or have someone else wedge it against something firm with a rake handle while you cut.
I've cut roots before and they wiggle too much. They would get bound up in the blade and then just move back and forth with it.