Reciprocating or circular saw for cutting up pallets/bearers?

[William127]

Both my makita 18v circular saws have died, had very hard lives so no complaints.
One of there main jobs has been busting down pallets/packing timbers made from 3×1 and 3x3 to clear from sites.
Thinking about getting a reciprocating saw (milwaukee 18v) instead. Never really used one for this type of thing, would it be better for it than a circular saw? I'll still need a circular saw for wood work obviously but if the recip is better for the above I'll have one of each

 

[Lancs Lad]

Both my makita 18v circular saws have died, had very hard lives so no complaints.
One of there main jobs has been busting down pallets/packing timbers made from 3×1 and 3x3 to clear from sites.
Thinking about getting a reciprocating saw (milwaukee 18v) instead. Never really used one for this type of thing, would it be better for it than a circular saw? I'll still need a circular saw for wood work obviously but if the recip is better for the above I'll have one of each

Circ be quicker but recip more robust

 

[Smiffy]

Deffo stick with the circular saw. Recips are quite slow really. Really good in the right circumstances where nothing else will fit.

 

[Jimoz]

Someone put a pallet for free on my local facebook today people were snapping his hand off. One person even offered him a tenner wtf? I think a few were like i want it but cant fit in car. One said they want it for the timber to make homes for cats

 

[V8Druid]

Someone put a pallet for free on my local facebook today people were snapping his hand off. One person even offered him a tenner wtf? I think a few were like i want it but cant fit in car. One said they want it for the timber to make homes for cats

seems fairly similar here unless they're big sheet pallets or large quantities

 

[William127]

Deffo stick with the circular saw. Recips are quite slow really. Really good in the right circumstances where nothing else will fit.

I'll buy a new circular saw first
Especially as I've just remembered my Dad has an 18v milwaukee recip so I can give it a try, or just borrow it

 

[Grahams]

Both my makita 18v circular saws have died, had very hard lives so no complaints.
One of there main jobs has been busting down pallets/packing timbers made from 3×1 and 3x3 to clear from sites.
Thinking about getting a reciprocating saw (milwaukee 18v) instead. Never really used one for this type of thing, would it be better for it than a circular saw? I'll still need a circular saw for wood work obviously but if the recip is better for the above I'll have one of each

Like so much else getting the right blades is very important as to how they perform. Any blades they come with (either circular saw of recipicating saw) are normally s**t.
If you are likely to run into nails recipricating blades are cheaper to replace.
Also I think 3x3 are thicker than the max depth of a lot of 18v circular saws, but you can get 30cm blades for recipricating saws.
Best option is to buy both. Recipicating saws with a whole bunch of different blades are vey handy. I found I often went to the recipricating saw rather than a disc cutter as no sparks.

 

[William127]

Like so much else getting the right blades is very important as to how they perform. Any blades they come with (either circular saw of recipicating saw) are normally s**t.
If you are likely to run into nails recipricating blades are cheaper to replace.
Also I think 3x3 are thicker than the max depth of a lot of 18v circular saws, but you can get 30cm blades for recipricating saws.
Best option is to buy both. Recipicating saws with a whole bunch of different blades are vey handy. I found I often went to the recipricating saw rather than a disc cutter as no sparks.

Blade wise the last year I have been using milwaukee cordless specific circular saw blades and they're amazing, like a knife through butter

 

[Rob65]

Like so much else getting the right blades is very important as to how they perform. Any blades they come with (either circular saw of recipicating saw) are normally s**t.
If you are likely to run into nails recipricating blades are cheaper to replace.
Also I think 3x3 are thicker than the max depth of a lot of 18v circular saws, but you can get 30cm blades for recipricating saws.
Best option is to buy both. Recipicating saws with a whole bunch of different blades are vey handy. I found I often went to the recipricating saw rather than a disc cutter as no sparks.

Exactly this. For quick rough cutting with a recip saw I use the blades intended for cutting green wood. They cut on both the pull and push so are super fast.

Admittedly they are not as fast as a circular saw but given cost and convenience they are my weapon of choice to get something quickly reduced in size.

 

[William127]

Job done

 

[Silversabre]

I got one of these was cheaper when I bought mine and a client insite saw mine when I was stripping some pallet/skids down for the burner and got me to order one.

Works a treat and is very heavy duty, looks like will outlast the offering from others and alike

https://ebay.us/m/lMEXUe

 

[V8Druid]

I got one of these was cheaper when I bought mine and a client insite saw mine when I was stripping some pallet/skids down for the burner and got me to order one.

Works a treat and is very heavy duty, looks like will outlast the offering from others and alike

https://ebay.us/m/lMEXUe

"license to print"
max 8-10 quid for materials

 

[Mogman]

I got one of these was cheaper when I bought mine and a client insite saw mine when I was stripping some pallet/skids down for the burner and got me to order one.

Works a treat and is very heavy duty, looks like will outlast the offering from others and alike

https://ebay.us/m/lMEXUe

Made one years ago for a joiner to rip out floor boards