Craftsman Reciprocating Saw 315.171020 Review

Sometimes you just need to cut a big hole in a wall. I had to wall-mount a couple of air conditioners a few years ago and needed to cut three large rectangular holes in the exterior plywood wall of my home, so I got a Craftsman 315.171020 reciprocating saw. I believe that I paid around $90 on sale, and this was probably 12 years ago.

What it is

A reciprocating saw is something like a large jig saw. Bullet-shaped, it has a sturdy blade at one end and an easy-to-grip handle at the far end. In between is a long motor assembly, which is controlled by a trigger in the handle. The blade is about six inches long and it moves back and forth (reciprocates) to make a cutting action. 

The Craftsman 315.171020 reciprocating saw has a sturdy black plastic case and a heavy-duty 10-foot long non-grounded power cord. It came with a general-purpose blade, a blade-changing tool and a molded plastic carrying case. The Craftsman 315.171020 has a variable-speed motor controlled by the trigger in the hand grip.

The Craftsman 315.171020 reciprocating saw is probably a little too lightweight for heavy contractor use, but it is excellent for a homeowner or tradesman who uses such a tool occasionally. It is well built, smooth operating and easy to control.

Using it

The Craftsman 315.171020 reciprocating saw is heavier than a jig saw but it is easy to hold and maneuver. However, it is a powerful tool and it can get away from you quickly if you are not careful. I have to use two hands -- one on the grip and one on the motor body -- to operate the saw safely.

Although I could have used a jig saw to cut the holes, the size of the holes and the heavy plywood would have made it a tough job. On the other hand, the Craftsman 315.171020 flew through this plywood like an Olympic swimmer through a pool. In seconds, I had a hole cut and the saw wasn't even breathing hard.

Recently, I used the Craftsman 315.171020 reciprocating saw to cut two holes in the roof in which I mounted solar-powered attic fans. These holes involved cutting right through the roof shingles and the underlying plywood. The Craftsman 315.171020 did this task in seconds and was easy to control. I particularly like the completely variable trigger that makes it easy to control the speed of the stroke. Starting slowly, I maintained control of the saw and cut the holes quickly with minimal struggle.

I've not done a lot of work with my Craftsman 315.171020 but it has worked perfectly. Everytime I start it up, I expect to struggle with such a powerful tool. However, its smooth variable-speed trigger makes Craftsman 315.171020 reciprocating saw easy to control on startups and the saw has more than enough power to practically glide through the jobs I've had.

Keep in mind that this saw has a power cord. I like that the power cord is 10 feet long, but keep in mind that this is not a cordless saw. It requires a nearby power outlet or extension cord.

Summary

The Craftsman 315.171020 reciprocating saw has probably been superceded with something newer. However, if you find this at a flea market or if it is still in stores, this is a great light-to-medium duty tool. It is easy to control, powerful, smooth and a pleasure to operate.

I recommend the Craftsman 315.171020 reciprocating saw.