Outstanding sharpness! In both good and bad ways, it’s “completely different,” but “super heavy” – I tried out the Makita reciprocating saw JR002G (40V).

23 July 2024

Today I compared it side by side with the 18V JR 189 TZ. I thought the size wouldn’t change much,
but it’s noticeably larger.

And the weight when holding it is absolutely incredible.
For now, I’d like to write down my first impressions from today.

When I lined them up, the size difference was shockingly obvious.

When lined up, even though they’re both reciprocating saws, they look completely different.
What I felt from using them is that each has different applications.

The 18V is suited for working on large quantities of thin or delicate materials.
The 40V is suited for cutting thick, sturdy materials. I felt that

using the 40V for both large and small tasks might not be the best approach.

When placed on top of the 40V, you can really see the size difference.

They’re completely different.

The size and weight are significantly increased, making it ideal for cutting thick, substantial materials.
If you try to cut thin, flimsy boards or lumber, the grip doesn’t work well and it vibrates wildly.
For practice, I only used the 40V, but it was inefficient.

Since the overall weight is substantial, the idea is to use that weight to cut firmly and steadily.
When dealing with sturdy materials, it doesn’t wobble.

I got the impression that you really need both.

The orbital mode is extremely comfortable.

When cutting with proper fixation, I think it works very well.

If you try to cut in a loose, careless state, and the blade catches on something, the torque and power often bend the blade.

Honestly, I’ve never experienced this before.
I need to properly master the materials and techniques suited to this 40V.

I wrote about the negative aspects first, but the cutting ability is incredible.
If the body is stable and the blade doesn’t catch, you can cut thick materials very smoothly and easily.
This cutting smoothness is incomparably more powerful than the 18V.
If I had to compare it, it’s like the difference between an axe and a machete.
To be honest, it felt like a specialized tool for cutting thick wood and heavy materials.
I don’t think using just the 40V for all tasks is very efficient.

Since I’ve only used it for 30 minutes, I’d like to use it more and get to know it better.