I have used Milwaukee brand pruning blades with a cordless reciprocating saw with mixed results. I found that they didn’t cut that quickly, and that the experience of the extreme vibration from the saw was very unpleasant. There are Japanese style reciprocating blades on the market that are hard to find, and hopefully they would make smoother cuts and provide the operator with a more pleasant experience. https://z-saw.co.jp/en/02b_20103_Pruning210.html
For a DIY makeover, here’s something I have tried:
This is a retrofit, or make-it-fit attempt to adapt a retired folding pruning saw blade to a cordless reciprocating saw(zall). About 15 minutes on a grinding wheel and a sharp bit to drill the hole did the trick.
I first copied the pattern off a regular sawzall blade, marking it onto the “new” blade with a sharpie. As I got closer to the lines that I traced, I used a pair of vise grips to clamp a regular sawzall blade on top and then that became my guide for further grinding (and drilling). My first cut on an apple limb had me sold on how fast this goes through the wood and how clean a cut this made. This is an old blade, as mentioned, a new blade would really rock!
My limited cutting of various wood, (alder, dead pine, and a buckthorn), supports the idea that this could be effective for quieter and fumeless invasive removal, and other utility work, versus a chainsaw. I have to say though, that the harsh vibration remains an issue. It is not the blade, but rather the tool itself that causes this. Overall, it is also a bit heavy and clunky. There are smaller reciprocating saws out there that might make the chore less awkward.
While some folks are finding that the new battery operated STIHL pruning saw (GTA 26) to be a great tool for yard and orchard, (and there are many other brands producing similar models), this homemade retrofit that I describe could be in the running for performance, and it would certainly make smoother cuts at just a fraction of the cost. If you already have a cordless saw, you may want to try this simple modification of an old (or new) blade.
This reciprocating saw blade can be purchased from Shelter Tools in Woolwich. Be sure and order the coarse blade. Blade in the saw is my reworked Felco/Stihl model, which is coarser.
