In a surprise move, Metabo is bringing a new 18V compact cordless reciprocating saw to the US market, SSE 18 LTX Compact (602266890).
It’s said to be a light and handy saw designed for one or two-handed operation. Metabo says that its blade holder design allows for extended reach.
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They also say that it can be used with reciprocating saw blades or jigsaw blades. A compact reciprocating saw that can also be used with jigsaw blades?! Has this ever been done before in a power tool? I’ve seen saw handles with dual blade compatibility, but not anything like this.
Blade changes and depth guide adjustments are both done tool-free.
- 1/2″ stroke length
- 0-3100 RPM no-load speeds
- Weighs 3.7 lbs including battery (presumably a compact battery pack)
- 80 dB(A) sound pressure level
- 91 dB(A) sound power level (LwA)
- 10 m/s^2 vibration when sawing particle board ± 1.5 m/s^2 uncertainty
Price: $129
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The first interesting part of this tool is that Metabo is increasing their USA selection of construction-focused tools.
But the more interesting part, if you ask me, is the dual-blade chuck that can fit reciprocating saw blades or jigsaw blades. I feel a little silly asking this, but have you seen any other reciprocating saws that offer this dual blade compatibility?
Hmm, would you want to use a jigsaw blade in a reciprocating saw? I’m thinking that it offers increased blade choices, which is always good, and that it allows you to use certain specialty blades, and shorter blades. Short reciprocating saw blades can be hard to find, and when you do find them your options are limited.
$129 for the bare tool seems fairly competitive.
I’ve had good experiences with Metabo, and am glad to see them further broadening their 18V cordless tool platform here.
Now, how about we see some new brushless tools or corded-replacement tools next, such as a cordless 10″ table saw, miter saw, or full-size dust extractor.
If Metabo wants increased cordless power tool market share in North America, they’re going to have to do more to rip it from competitors.
Rami
Makita has had a recip saw that can also use jigsaw blades for quite some time (european model number DJR185Z). It’s blade mount isn’t tool free as it requires a hex key like some jigsaws. They also a 10,8v version of it, the JR105DZ (european model number).
Anthony
Metabo also had a 12v version of that exact saw that could do the same thing, but I’m not sure if it was ever released. Certainly never here in the u.s.
Nathan
who is metabo’s parent owner now? I forget but they are owned by someone.
They make decent kit – should be interesting.
I can sort of see the appeal of the jigsaw blade. figure you need to cut a tight corner like a wall box or something. but you have no power – so cordless tools in your bag that day include this. with the way it’s shaped I could see it doing the job with ease. and jig saw blade will make a better cut than any recip blade (in the tight corners).
Doresoom
Hitachi bought Metabo a while back.
Raoul
And KKR bought both.
Stuart
Yep.
https://toolguyd.com/hitachi-acquires-metabo-power-tools/
https://toolguyd.com/hitachi-power-tools-and-metabo-bought-by-usa-based-kkr-private-equity-firm/
Matt
What will deter me from buying Bosch’s or the m18 version that has a platform who’s tools are more readily available….
The fact that it accepts jig blades?
Nope. Metabo can do better than this
Dan
I almost regard this saw to be in a different class to those. SIze and weight is MUCH lower. That’s why you’d buy this saw, for it’s size and versatility with blades and the adjustable shoe.
Matt
What about the platform?…. What about the brushed motor?
So the weight of this saw alone with adjustable shoe will make me buy into Metabo?
Nope
Dan
Only if you need a saw with specs like this. No other manufacturer has one.
The closest would be 12V Bosch or M12 hackzall.
A W
There are smaller gimmicky tools that accept both blade types.
https://toolguyd.com/worx-axis-transforming-reciprocating-saw-jig-saw/
I’m more excited about the m18 fuel hackzall coming out.
Stuart
Thanks, I forgot about that one!
Raoul
Hopefully Dewalt comes out with one. I have been wishing for a tool exactly like this for years, except brushless and yellow of course.
James Skaar
While WORX isn’t great stuff, the AXIS is no gimmick. I use the shit out of that thing. I wish it was a Makita or Milwaukee tool.
Mike
It looks just like Bosch and Milwaukee
Blythe
The only time I can think the jigsaw feature would be handy for me is sometimes when doing a new tile shower I need to enlarge the opening in the subfloor to fit my drain flange. Usually I have to go from a 2+” hole to around 4.5″, which is still too tight to easily do with a standard recip blade. I don’t normally have a jigsaw with me so this could be cool. But that’s a pretty specialized scenario, a basic jigsaw is pretty cheap and would still cut nicer than this is many situations
Dan
I’ve owned this saw for a couple of months now (Australia). I can highly recommend it. Yes it’s short stroke length means it’s not as fast cutting as the Bosch or M18 but this thing is MUCH lighter weight and has a lot of power. It’s basically a 12V size with 18V power. I suspect it’s vibration level is also much lower than the others.
-Tons of power and can take a lot of pressure when cutting
-Smooth motor and great trigger
-Solid feeling in your hand
-VERY lightweight!
-Center of weight towards the blade with a compact battery
-Perfect centered balance over the trigger with a large LiHD battery
-Very aggressive power with a LiHD battery
-Adjustable shoe is very easy to use
-LED light could be brighter but it has one at least
-Did I mention it’s light weight?
This is what a compact reciprocating saw should be, and it complements a full size very well. The Bosch and M18 are too much towards a full size. Plus, it’s the only one of it’s type that has an adjustable shoe (other then the 12V Metabo). I haven;t tried a jigsaw blade yet but the option is there and it makes this saw a good all-round handy saw. Being brushed doesn’t matter, it means the cost is much lower and the tool is robust with a great variable trigger.
Dan
I’m sure the new M18 Fuel will be a much faster cutting saw, but I guarantee it will be almost double the weight, double the price, and a much larger size (I don’t think Milwaukee have released specs on weight yet).
Both saws will have their uses though, so whatever fits your scenario is best.
Raoul
If it was brushless they could make it even smaller, lighter, and better run time. Those are the reasons brushless has become popular and thrusted cordless tools into their renaissance. I agree with the triggers, the old brushless style had so much more fine control.
Dan
Perhaps it could have been better brushless. I wonder why Bosch didn’t do it either. Their new one-handed saw is also brushed.
Would I have preferred this saw brushless? Yes (depending on the extra cost). Am I happy with it regardless of it being brushed? Yes, it is still the only 18V reciprocating saw that is under 2Kg weight (incl. battery), the cheapest one-handed saw on the market and the only one-handed saw with an adjustable shoe.
Perhaps Metabo were thinking “why bother, we get great performance, lets just make this saw lower cost and more robust”. For example, it might be 35% cheaper for only 10% less power and 20% less runtime.
Metabo is the only brand I still buy brushed tools from. Their brushed tech is probably closer to brushless than the other brands and I know of a couple of examples where they achieved a more powerful and lighter tool with brushes VS a competitors brushless.
-Lookup a comparison between the brushed Metabo W18LTX 18V angle grinder VS Milwaukee M18 Fuel brushless angle grinder (and a couple of others). Metabo won that in performance and weight easily.
-Another; I have both the Metabo BS 18 Quick drill (brushed) and the Makita XFD11 Subcompact 18V drill (brushless). The Metabo is rated at 48Nm VS Makita at 40Nm. In real life use the Metabo easily has more torque but the makita has 100 more RPM. It is slightly longer (due to removable chuck), but much smaller in diameter. It’s also slightly lighter weight. So out of these two, the brushed Metabo is a smaller, lighter, and more powerful drill (and cheaper). I do prefer the Makita however, it has a better light and is much smoother to use (great drill).
The brushed Makita 18V planer also has a reputation above it’s competitors brushless.
Runtime however, I’d wager brushless is almost always longer across all brands.
Stuart
Not necessarily.
Milwaukee’s new M18 Fuel brushless Hackzall has a longer cutting stroke and beefier internal mechanism. So it’s not smaller or lighter. Longer runtime? Maybe.
Toolfreak
The $129 price point makes me think this is going to be a cheap-o Metabo-branded product rather than their higher-quality stuff that usually goes for a lot more.
The short stroke length is a killer. The 12V Bosch has a 0.57″ stroke, the 18V has a 0.83″ stroke. Milwaukee’s 12V is about the same, their 18V has a 3/4″ stroke.
The shorter stroke makes a saw feel more in control and it reduces the vibration, sure, but given how even the Bosch 12V can take a looooooong time to cut harder materials, I’d think something with an even shorter stroke really is only useful for shofter stuff like wood, copper pipe, etc.
I guess the more traditional pivoting, adjustable shoe is a plus that neither the Bosch or Milwaukee offerings have.
Maybe for the pro with Metabo stuff this will appeal to them to expand their power tool selection, or let them consolidate brands if they already have the Bosch or Milwaukee.
Dan
As I mentioned earlier I wouldn’t even put this saw in the same class as the Bosch or M18, it’s just so small and lightweight. It’s like comparing a full sized 18V drill to a compact 18V drill just because they look the same shape.
It’s small size and light weight are it’s strengths, short stroke it’s weakness.
It’s only slightly heavier than a compact 18V drill, not much more than the Dewalt DCD791 actually.
This one is made in China and the quality feels great, very solid feeling and slightly better than the other Chinese made Metabo I own. They can produce some rubbish tools, I’ve had a couple myself (the impact driver is one).
I do think the LED is too weak, so that kind of makes it feel cheap.
Given their metal work focus I would say the short stroke is for cutting metal. I’ve used it for pruning trees and the stroke is fine for small branches but I can definitely see how a longer stroke would cut faster. Is it even possible to have a longer stroke and remain so compact?
I haven’t used the 12V Bosch but being 18V it’s able to take a fair amount of downwards pressure when cutting.
Dan
Here’s a weight comparison just to emphasize how light this saw really is:
-Metabo 18V compact 3.7lbs (compact battery)
-Makita 18V subcompact brushless 5.7lbs (compact battery)
-Bosch 18V compact 4.4lbs (bare tool)
-Dewalt 18V compact brushless 5.0lbs (bare tool)
-Milwaukee M18 hackzall brushed 4.1lbs (bare tool)
Jeremy
If I could adapt it to run on Milwaukee batteries I’d be all over this, for those who are wondering why run a jigsaw blade in a sawzall, there are many jobs this would make far easier and faster.
Jigsaws are great for flat square stuff, but access is extremely limited in the type of work that I do, a lot of times an M12 hacksall will just fit with a small battery only. To have a tool that combines the smaller size, and Festool’s phenomenal carbide tipped extra long jig saw blades would be fantastic. These blades are an absolute time and cost saver on every job, but often we have to make a portion of the cut with them and switch to the sawzall which is slower and messier and burns up a few blades to finish the same cut generally. Even the carbide toothed sawzall blades run hotter and don’t seem to have enough set to the teeth.
In a pinch I will cut the back off the sawzall blade, but time is money and being able to use off the shelf blades capable of cutting curves and complex shapes would be a real selling point.
Andrew
1/2” stroke length? I hope they’re kidding, did you see how long it took to cut that 1/2 conduit? I’m pretty sure Milwaukee’s m12 original hackzall had similar specs… I’d expect something more form Metabo personally..