I bought this saw for occasional light- to medium-duty use, whenever it comes in handy. I wanted a cordless saw, and this one didn't break the bank but still forgoes the cord. For the price, I wasn't expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised.
I should note that I haven't used this tool yet. Curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to follow Dave Jones' old adage: "Don't turn it on, take it apart!" This review is only about build quality for now. I broke out my screwdrivers (Phillips #2 and T10 security bit) and got to work.
Opening up both the drill and battery is simple. There's no glue, tabs, or anything like that holding them together. To remove the guts of the battery pack, you have to pry them up gently with a plastic tool. They just rest snugly in the shell, no tape or anything.
The battery was the first to undergo scrutiny. It's nothing special, but it'll do the job just fine. It contains five 1500 mAh 18650 batteries. The motor draws 3.5-4 amps at max speed under no load, which works out to a battery life of about 25 minutes (again, at full speed and no load). They're not brand name cells, but they appear to be new and not recycled. The capacity is unimpressive, but it's common for cheap power tools to sacrifice capacity for higher current output.
The drill itself is just as simple to get into. Inside is the trigger switch and speed controller, motor, and the reciprocate-y part. The motor is small but pretty beefy with nice chunky windings inside. All gears and moving parts are metal.
I was most surprised by the plastics used in this saw. The frame that holds the moving parts is made of PA 66 (pretty high grade nylon) with 50% glass fiber reinforcement. This is a nice chunky part, much nicer than I expected. The case is made of polypropylene with 20% glass fiber reinforcement – again, surprisingly nice and pretty strong. The black overmolding is TPU, if I'm not mistaken.
Just for laughs, I opened up the battery end of the charger. There's not much to see in there, but it appears to contain a microcontroller for the LED indicator. The charger itself is clever - just a wall adapter with a small connector that slots onto the battery like a tool would. It's a very compact, lightweight, and inexpensive solution. I dig it.
The saw includes one blade. It's a cheap coarse-toothed blade, so you'll probably want to get more blades unless you're just cutting a few tree branches or 2x4s.
Overall, I'm very happy with my purchase. This saw is fantastic for the price. If you're a DIYer or hobbyist who could use a reciprocating saw every now and again, this is a great one to start with. It's not priced much above corded saws, and the extra little bit you pay for this cordless one is well worth it.
Edit: after some use, I'm still very happy with my purchase. I find it a bit lacking in power sometimes, but otherwise it's perfectly fine.
Another edit: I put an enormous blade on this saw and used it to chop up a huge branch. It took three recharges and it sure didn't like it, but the saw powered through. This was a 6-8" branch, so not that easy for a reciprocating saw - the battery only lasted about 1.5 cuts through the thickest part on a single charge. It didn't overheat or break, and for $40, I'm still delighted with it.
| Brand | BLACK+DECKER |
|---|---|
| Color | Black |
| Blade Material | High Speed Steel |
| Power Source | Battery Powered |
| Special Feature | Brake |
| Included Components | (1) BDCR20 20V Max* Lithium Reciprocating Saw, (1) Reciprocating Blade, (1) 20V Max* Lithium Battery and Charger. |
| Product Dimensions | 15"L x 3"W x 7"H |
| Voltage | 20 Volts |
| Item Weight | 4.5 Pounds |
| Speed | 4500 RPM |
| Blade Length | 7 Inches |
| Number of Teeth | 24 |
| Number of Batteries | 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. (included) |
| Manufacturer | BLACK+DECKER |
| Part Number | BDCR20C |
| Item Weight | 4.5 pounds |
| Country of Origin | China |
| Item model number | BDCR20C |
| Batteries | 1 Lithium Ion batteries required. (included) |
| Style | Reciprocating Saw Kit |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Measurement System | Metric |
| Special Features | Brake |
| Batteries Included? | Yes |
| Batteries Required? | Yes |
| Battery Cell Type | Lithium Ion |
| Warranty Description | 2 year limited warranty |
