Anybody own one. Needing to replace deck boards. Don't need top of the line, but don't want junk. Brand, battery powered or electric? Thanks for any advice. 

I'm gonna stay out of mentioning brand names, but yes I got the red one!

 

But I will say that I often purchase tools used at pawn shops, thrift stores, garage sales, and estate sales. All great places to score some nice deals for this type of thing.

 

I really like how cheap the pawn shops can be and their clearance items, but what I especially like are their insurance warranties I can purchase along with the tool for like $5 and get from a 1 month to 6 month warranty on tool I just purchased- no questions asked if I need to return it.

 

They usually don't give cash back, but will give store credit which in large chain pawn shops can be used at any of their stores- which I do quite often. I also buy a lot of rods and reels from pawn shops cheap and other items like my last purchase was a Sears Craftsman heavy duty large socket set ratchet I got for $5. That was a score. I passed up a nice torque wrench like new for $10. So some decent prices to be had in pawn shops and they haggle.

 

So if you have some pawn shops close by, you can spend hundreds for a new tool, or maybe buy a used one cheap sometimes. Just a suggestion.

Love my DeWalt sawzall. I beat the hell out of that thing and it just keeps going. Get Diablo blades for it though. 

I have an electric one and a battery powered one.  The battery one is good for small jobs where I don't have electricity.  The electric one just keeps sawing.

55 minutes ago, FloridaFishinFool said:

I'm gonna stay out of mentioning brand names, but yes I got the red one!

 

But I will say that I often purchase tools used at pawn shops, thrift stores, garage sales, and estate sales. All great places to score some nice deals for this type of thing.

 

I really like how cheap the pawn shops can be and their clearance items, but what I especially like are their insurance warranties I can purchase along with the tool for like $5 and get from a 1 month to 6 month warranty on tool I just purchased- no questions asked if I need to return it.

 

They usually don't give cash back, but will give store credit which in large chain pawn shops can be used at any of their stores- which I do quite often. I also buy a lot of rods and reels from pawn shops cheap and other items like my last purchase was a Sears Craftsman heavy duty large socket set ratchet I got for $5. That was a score. I passed up a nice torque wrench like new for $10. So some decent prices to be had in pawn shops and they haggle.

 

So if you have some pawn shops close by, you can spend hundreds for a new tool, or maybe buy a used one cheap sometimes. Just a suggestion.

good advice, thank you. 

I bought a Ryobi sawzall years ago when I was still racing. Used it in the pits to cut away bent up fenders, etc. still have it and use it. I use DeWalt and Diablo blades, Diablo being the better.

16 minutes ago, Jar11591 said:

Love my DeWalt sawzall. I beat the hell out of that thing and it just keeps going. Get Diablo blades for it though. 

thank you sir, I appreciate your response. 

1 minute ago, volzfan59 said:

I bought a Ryobi sawzall years ago when I was still racing. Used it in the pits to cut away bent up fenders, etc. still have it and use it. I use DeWalt and Diablo blades, Diablo being the better.

Well, Diablo blades it is. Thanks. GBO

5 minutes ago, Jig Man said:

I have an electric one and a battery powered one.  The battery one is good for small jobs where I don't have electricity.  The electric one just keeps sawing.

thanks

We run Dewalt plug in and battery powered out in the sticks.

Dewalt plugin here, works great, easy to change blades. If I were buying now I’d go with whatever line of battery powered I was using, in my case the red ones. Not exactly a finesse tool so brand isn’t a big concern. Ryobi is probably good enough if you want to save a few $.

Do you own other tools? A circular saw? Battery powered tools?

I too own the red corded one.  my MIL actually gave it to me when she moved to Taiwan.   

On 7/19/2025 at 3:42 PM, Jig Man said:

I have an electric one and a battery powered one.  The battery one is good for small jobs where I don't have electricity.  The electric one just keeps sawing.

Same. The battery ones blow through batteries in no time. Corded is better for any jobs near the house. 

I buy "yellow", by the way. 

Dad was a finish carpenter for many, many years. He started in the early 1960's building houses from the ground up. He was a magician with a Sawzall (and a whole bunch of other tools). 

 

I picked up a corded DeWalt version probably 20 years ago. Still going strong!

Ryobi here.  Electric.  2 by 6 ?  Chain saw.

Not sure I can narrow it down to one response. All responses were helpful, and I gleaned something from each. This speaks volumes of the forum and more importantly, the members that are willing to help a brother out. Many thanks. 

Corded DeWalt here as well. Not expensive and tough as nails.

Hot dog, what gives? Never knew I had a tool monkey. 🐒 

I shouldn’t have clicked on this thread, as I told myself I don’t need one (ever) but now maybe I want one. 
I have gathered that I’d probably go red since I already use other red tools, electric and diablo blades.

Thanks, guys. 😝

I've had a battery Ryobi for probably a decade and it still works just fine. 

 

On 7/20/2025 at 10:37 PM, Columbia Craw said:

 2 by 6 ?  Chain saw.

I think this is the right answer. Especially if you have an old chain you don't care about.

I don't need a sawzall, but now I'm thinking about where the nearest pawn shops are and what I could find in them.

Sawzaw is what I’ve seen then advertised here in Alabama (among other weird names)

On 7/20/2025 at 10:37 PM, Columbia Craw said:

Ryobi here.  Electric.  2 by 6 ?  Chain saw.

I need to make the best cut that I can. Chain saw not an option. The other end of boards (for lack of better term) is under the framed/screened in portion of deck. Previously, I used a circular saw on two boards and did a decent job. I just thought a Sawzall or some other saw would be easier. NOT a carpenter here. Thanks for your input.