I use a sawzall all the time for pruning. I have used it for cutting roots, too. I have a cordless one, but the battery doesn't last long.

 

Thanks for the reply, Im hoping it will actually work, and blades are relatively inexpensive.

It took about a hour and a half to get 8 done at which point I gave up.

 

there is a actual blade for it, it'll help a lot.

 

My DeWalt DC385 is a real timesaver. I have a cordless and besides being a lot more expensive those batteries will only get you through 15-20 2" limbs. If you can go corded, go that route. The blade makes all the difference. For wood the bigger the tooth the better. The blade i use is the best i can find.

 

My sawzall is corded, but that wont be a problem on this job. Somewhere I have a box of multi purpose blades that I use in remodeling houses, they have no problem going through nails or whetever. The soil isn't full of rocks. I think its going to be a lot cheaper than buying a new chain for the chain saw.

 

Agreed.......A Sawzall with a pruning blade is great for cutting roots, its really the only effecient way to do that since a chainsaw cant be run in dirt. As long as the shrubs arent too big the sawzall should work fine there too....do yourself a favor though and get a pack of pruning blades, they cut through live wood MUCH faster than demo blades.

 

Yeah...use mine for cutting out roots also. Works great.

 

Ill pick up a couple pruning blades, the blades I have are "hooked" so the don't go dull when hitting stuff they cant cut.

Honestly I didn't think the project was going to be a big deal, but I was wrong.

 

I agree the pruning blades are awesome but keep them out of the dirt, use the much slower cutting demo blades below ground.

 

I use the pruning blades in the dirt all the time, they take a long time to dull to the point I feel the need to toss them...they're just moving up and down in the dirt, not cutting the dirt. Of course if you have a lot of rocks in your soil that would probably be a different story but we just have sand

 

True, I don't live on that sand bar that is Florida, lived there during college. Up here you can toast a blade in one to two roots.

 

I keep an 18V cordless Sawzall and three extra batteries in the truck at all times. I use the pruning blade for situations where the blade is not likely to contact dirt, coral or rocks. For rough work like cutting roots or plants down to the ground, I like carbide tipped wood blades. Not a week goes by that I do not use this tool. A Sawzall and a18TPI blade will make short work of cutting 11/2" or 2" PVC pipe as well.

 

Loppers for top then chain saw and keep it out of DIRT! Dig small trench around them so you get em cut below ground level.

 

I use a chain saw on the upper, and a 120v sawzall and a 2Kw portable generator for the roots. I deal with large surface roots on heavy old oaks and I ended up going through too many batteries for my battery sawzall.
For me, using the sawzall is easier than trying to dig around the roots...Personal Opinion only!

 

Finally finished the chore. I wound up having to replace my 35 year old sawzall, guess the job was more than she could bear. On the positive side home depoit had a 12amp with a case Sawzall for 99$. I think I paid about 250$ for the old one, but don't remember.

The pruning blades definitely worked the best and the dirt didn't seem to hurt them much, they did however bend real easy. I burned through 4 blades which is about the cost of the polesaw chain at 3$ each.

Im seriously thinking of adding a cordless unit on the truck. I have a bunch of Harbor Freight cordless tools and the saw is 37$ and even cheaper on sale.

Thanks for all the replies and help!

 

I used mine today to cut out some philidendrums. Worked great for cutting the main trunks below grade but not so great on the support roots that run off the trunks since they are so flexible, root tends to go back and forth with the blade instead of cutting. Loppers are fine for those though.

 

You guys using just a blade on your sawzall for trimming? Or did you purchase the attachment to make it a little more like a trimmer?

 

Not sure what you mean? I use a pruning blade.

 

Anybody cut the bush down to the ground and use a brush axe and mattock? My pops gave me one and it works like a champ.

BR,

~D

 

When I bought my millwalkee cordless sawzall the salesman told me that there is an attachment I could buy and use it for hedge trimming.

I decided just to get a hedge trimmer instead. Didn't realize they made pruning blades.

Sorry if it was a dumb question, I may have misunderstood him. I didn't see how it would do a good job on the smaller stuff.

I have used mine with a wood blade for roots and some old heavy lilac braches.

 

I use the reciprocating saw for doing date palm trunks. I have to make angled cuts on the trunk and it cuts the time in half at least. It is also way less tiring than using a handsaw. Harbor freight sells the one with cord for like $20 something dollars with coupon and you can get a pack of blades for a couple bucks. It's a no brainer and makes life way easier.

 

Im going to pick one one up next time I go to the city. I have a whole bunch of expensive cordless tools that are useless because of the battery replacement prices. Harbor frieight battery is 12$ or 16$ with a drill.

Definitely a no brainer.