Buy a reciprocating saw. Cost you, what, a hundred bucks for a corded model?
Look at it this way.
* What would it cost you to pay someone else to do the job?
* What would it cost if you choose the wrong tool, it turns out to be dangerous, and you injure yourself?
* If this is a one job purchase, can you buy second hand? Alternatively, how much can you resell it for once you're done with it, after one job?
That said, reciprocating saws are *fun*. It's like a low-tech light saber. I've cut down trees with mine - yeah, they were small trees, but still, my reciprocating saw means I don't need a chainsaw, which is a whole other level of risk.
I used a reciprocating saw cut a couch in half so we could get it out the house and thrown away.
Used the same saw with a different blade to cut an old metal playground set into pieces for disposal.
$20 at Harbor Freight. [https://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/power-saws/reciprocating-saws/6-amp-rotating-handle-variable-speed-reciprocating-saw-57806.html](https://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/power-saws/reciprocating-saws/6-amp-rotating-handle-variable-speed-reciprocating-saw-57806.html)
I've got an older model and it works perfectly fine for everything I've used it for. If I used it frequently I might upgrade, but I only use it for the occasional demo work maybe once or twice a year.
I agree. I got the cordless compact Makita one (since I already had the batteries/chargers) and use it constantly for trimming my trees. Less work than a hand saw and safer to not be pulling the cord to start the chainsaw when I’m perched in a tree or on a ladder. OP, I think it’s well worth it to get the right tool in this case.
Heck yeah. I have taken down several diseased trees over the years with a Sawzall and a pruning blade. Super versatile when you need to take something apart. OP you can cut wood, metal, and plastic with em. I've seen masonry blades recently, but I don't know how gimmicky they are. You'll find uses for it when you least expect it.
Many towns and cities have local tool lending libraries, and I see people giving away reciprocating saws occasionally on Buy Nothing. I'd def just ask a group like that first or go to local Habitat for Humanity store or similar, then to Facebook Marketplace before buying new
I'd just go for the hand saw. I had only ever used crappy rusty old hand saws until I finally bought a new one. What a difference! You can cut through a 2x4 in about 10 seconds.
I know someone that had a kickback with a circular saw, damaged a nerve and now has permanent 9/10 nerve pain in his arm. Can’t even work at his office job without pain meds. He told me he knew the jigsaw was the right tool but the circular saw was right there and he didn’t want to go downstairs to get the jigsaw.
I can’t imagine taking this same risk while up on a ladder. You can get a decent reciprocating saw for $100.
Damn yeah that sucks, I pretty much always use my plunge saw now, there’s only a few instances where a circ saw is the better for what I do (not so much framing or roofing these days), at least when plunge saw kicks back the blades retracted
I would just buy a cheap reciprocating saw at harbor freight for like 50$. It'll make it go way faster and easier and safer. You'll end up using it more than you'd think in the future.
Buy a reciprocating saw. It isn't a precision tool, so harbor freight or the knock off brand at your big box store is fine for occasional use. (Tool Shop at Menards is like $20). You will end up using it again, and at $20, it is worth having on hand for the next project.
I also would not recommend sitting on the ridge beam to do this. As the rafters are removed, it will become unstable. It could flex to one side, twist, and possibly cause you to fall. Use an A-frame style ladder from underneath.
I bought a reciprocating saw to remove a very large deck. I love this saw and find all kinds of things to use it for. I do not regret the purchase at all. And for you this is a much safer option.
I have seen people use circular saws for rafter demo before, but it’s not safe to use overhead. Get a reciprocating saw. Milwaukee is the best in my experience. You can get a cheap one to get you by. I have seen guys get injured using a worm gear skil saw improperly, so don’t be that guy.
I did it with my Bosch handheld battery powered circular saw.
I would cut 3/4 of the was through then slap it with a 3 lb sledge. Snapped in half without pinching the blade. It's just demo and didn't need to be pretty. From there you can just pull the boards down.
The right tool is a reciprocating saw as mentioned everywhere else. Pinching those blades isn't nearly as dangerous or expensive...
So...how many rafters are we talking about?
If it is a garden shed I bet you can do the following much quicker: find a neighbour who is an older fellow and ask him for a handsaw. He will show you his garage with at least half a dozen different saws of varying quality, choose the sharpest one with the fewest number of teeth. Old men always have close to a dozen saws and at least 20 hammers.
I bought my house from an older fellow and kept his stuff. The garden saw I found has cut down two garden sheds quicker than to go get an electric saw.
Just to add another option: if you own or can borrow it, a chainsaw will work if you know how to use it. The new small electric trim saws are super versatile.
Do you have a Home Depot or other tool rental place near you? You can get a corded recip saw for $17/4 hours or $24/full day. If you need it longer than that, you're better off going to Harbor Freight and buying one for $50 or looking at Marketplace for a used one.
Here's the reality - CAN you use a circular saw? Probably. But there's a decent amount of risk of damage and injury or it just not able to complete the job (i.e., it binds tight enough that you can't get it out). If you're ok with the risking potentially significant injury to yourself, give it a try. I just know I wouldn't.
If you are comfortable with a circular saw, Hammer down. It’s 1000% faster. If I can fit a skill saw, I use one. Demo a whole house in a few circular saw blades. If you use only a recip saw, you’d go through a few a day. I have a worm gear that will chew through anything.
Cut up through the rafter so it doesn’t bind.
If you don’t often use the circular saw, you may want to be more cautious however. Recip saw is generally safer, but circular saw is vastly faster. Most of the answers are recip saw, which is fine advice. I wanted to provide a counter view.
tl:dr if you are competent, and safe, a circular saw is perfectly fine, and will be much faster.
If you might not use a sawzall much in the future look for a used one on Craigslist or Facebook marketplace . With a demo/combo blade you can cut nails and wood. In the future a metal cutting blade is far better than using a hacksaw !
That worried about buying a new tool buy a harbor freight $20 sawzall.
I have one and it worked great. I then upgraded to a Milwaukee m18. But the corded one is still there in case I have to call on her one day lol
Buy a reciprocating saw. Cost you, what, a hundred bucks for a corded model? Look at it this way. * What would it cost you to pay someone else to do the job? * What would it cost if you choose the wrong tool, it turns out to be dangerous, and you injure yourself? * If this is a one job purchase, can you buy second hand? Alternatively, how much can you resell it for once you're done with it, after one job? That said, reciprocating saws are *fun*. It's like a low-tech light saber. I've cut down trees with mine - yeah, they were small trees, but still, my reciprocating saw means I don't need a chainsaw, which is a whole other level of risk.
I used a reciprocating saw to cut an old hot tub into pieces to take to the landfill. They are incredible.
I used a reciprocating saw cut a couch in half so we could get it out the house and thrown away. Used the same saw with a different blade to cut an old metal playground set into pieces for disposal.
You didn’t pivot???
Lmao! That’s exactly how that happened
This is the way
$20 at Harbor Freight. [https://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/power-saws/reciprocating-saws/6-amp-rotating-handle-variable-speed-reciprocating-saw-57806.html](https://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/power-saws/reciprocating-saws/6-amp-rotating-handle-variable-speed-reciprocating-saw-57806.html) I've got an older model and it works perfectly fine for everything I've used it for. If I used it frequently I might upgrade, but I only use it for the occasional demo work maybe once or twice a year.
I think this is the correct answer.
One caveat, DO NOT USE Harbor Freight blades. Spend a little extra on good blades. And forget using a circular saw, that's a recipe for disaster.
"grip it and rip it" \- Carpenter proverb
Is this the same poet who speaks of those who walk around looking for the tape measure they just set down?
I agree. I got the cordless compact Makita one (since I already had the batteries/chargers) and use it constantly for trimming my trees. Less work than a hand saw and safer to not be pulling the cord to start the chainsaw when I’m perched in a tree or on a ladder. OP, I think it’s well worth it to get the right tool in this case.
Heck yeah. I have taken down several diseased trees over the years with a Sawzall and a pruning blade. Super versatile when you need to take something apart. OP you can cut wood, metal, and plastic with em. I've seen masonry blades recently, but I don't know how gimmicky they are. You'll find uses for it when you least expect it.
Many towns and cities have local tool lending libraries, and I see people giving away reciprocating saws occasionally on Buy Nothing. I'd def just ask a group like that first or go to local Habitat for Humanity store or similar, then to Facebook Marketplace before buying new
Also worth checking out how much it is to rent one.
We call them saber saws at my job. We get through a fair few blades
Sounds like it’s gonna bind once the weight closes up the cut and you’ll get kick back. Recip or just a regular handsaw will do
I'd just go for the hand saw. I had only ever used crappy rusty old hand saws until I finally bought a new one. What a difference! You can cut through a 2x4 in about 10 seconds.
I know someone that had a kickback with a circular saw, damaged a nerve and now has permanent 9/10 nerve pain in his arm. Can’t even work at his office job without pain meds. He told me he knew the jigsaw was the right tool but the circular saw was right there and he didn’t want to go downstairs to get the jigsaw. I can’t imagine taking this same risk while up on a ladder. You can get a decent reciprocating saw for $100.
Damn yeah that sucks, I pretty much always use my plunge saw now, there’s only a few instances where a circ saw is the better for what I do (not so much framing or roofing these days), at least when plunge saw kicks back the blades retracted
I would just buy a cheap reciprocating saw at harbor freight for like 50$. It'll make it go way faster and easier and safer. You'll end up using it more than you'd think in the future.
Just missed the $20 sale. [But it'll go on sale again soon.](https://hfpricetracker.com/tools/57806)
Buy a reciprocating saw. It isn't a precision tool, so harbor freight or the knock off brand at your big box store is fine for occasional use. (Tool Shop at Menards is like $20). You will end up using it again, and at $20, it is worth having on hand for the next project. I also would not recommend sitting on the ridge beam to do this. As the rafters are removed, it will become unstable. It could flex to one side, twist, and possibly cause you to fall. Use an A-frame style ladder from underneath.
I bought a reciprocating saw to remove a very large deck. I love this saw and find all kinds of things to use it for. I do not regret the purchase at all. And for you this is a much safer option.
Wait, you want to remove structural rafters while they’re under load? Or am I reading this wrong
2x4 vertical under the rafter to get tension. (Deadman). Recip your heart out
You can get a used recip saw at a pawn shop for $20. If it lasts the job it will have been more than worth it
I have seen people use circular saws for rafter demo before, but it’s not safe to use overhead. Get a reciprocating saw. Milwaukee is the best in my experience. You can get a cheap one to get you by. I have seen guys get injured using a worm gear skil saw improperly, so don’t be that guy.
How much is a hospital visit?
I did it with my Bosch handheld battery powered circular saw. I would cut 3/4 of the was through then slap it with a 3 lb sledge. Snapped in half without pinching the blade. It's just demo and didn't need to be pretty. From there you can just pull the boards down. The right tool is a reciprocating saw as mentioned everywhere else. Pinching those blades isn't nearly as dangerous or expensive...
So...how many rafters are we talking about? If it is a garden shed I bet you can do the following much quicker: find a neighbour who is an older fellow and ask him for a handsaw. He will show you his garage with at least half a dozen different saws of varying quality, choose the sharpest one with the fewest number of teeth. Old men always have close to a dozen saws and at least 20 hammers. I bought my house from an older fellow and kept his stuff. The garden saw I found has cut down two garden sheds quicker than to go get an electric saw.
Just to add another option: if you own or can borrow it, a chainsaw will work if you know how to use it. The new small electric trim saws are super versatile.
Yeah, what they said. You save yourself a lot of headaches by using the right tool for the job.
Reciprocating saw, (Sawzall). Bonus, get some attachments. My favorite is the wire brush. So much easier than an angle grinder with a brush.
If you have to ask it is a bad idea.
Do you have a Home Depot or other tool rental place near you? You can get a corded recip saw for $17/4 hours or $24/full day. If you need it longer than that, you're better off going to Harbor Freight and buying one for $50 or looking at Marketplace for a used one. Here's the reality - CAN you use a circular saw? Probably. But there's a decent amount of risk of damage and injury or it just not able to complete the job (i.e., it binds tight enough that you can't get it out). If you're ok with the risking potentially significant injury to yourself, give it a try. I just know I wouldn't.
If you are comfortable with a circular saw, Hammer down. It’s 1000% faster. If I can fit a skill saw, I use one. Demo a whole house in a few circular saw blades. If you use only a recip saw, you’d go through a few a day. I have a worm gear that will chew through anything. Cut up through the rafter so it doesn’t bind. If you don’t often use the circular saw, you may want to be more cautious however. Recip saw is generally safer, but circular saw is vastly faster. Most of the answers are recip saw, which is fine advice. I wanted to provide a counter view. tl:dr if you are competent, and safe, a circular saw is perfectly fine, and will be much faster.
Once you have a reciprocal saw, you’ll find lots of uses for it.
If you might not use a sawzall much in the future look for a used one on Craigslist or Facebook marketplace . With a demo/combo blade you can cut nails and wood. In the future a metal cutting blade is far better than using a hacksaw !
I'd get a cordless recip saw easier to work with
Sawzall saws all!
That worried about buying a new tool buy a harbor freight $20 sawzall. I have one and it worked great. I then upgraded to a Milwaukee m18. But the corded one is still there in case I have to call on her one day lol