I used the reciprocating saw while opening the floor and passenger-seat platform. The job also exposed a problem with the metal blades: two broke during the floor cut.
My reciprocating saw at the floor opening during the under-seat work.
Why I bought it
The under-seat project required cuts in existing van metal, first in the floor and then around the seat platform. The DCS380B was part of my tool list for those openings.
The tool had a different role from the drill and grinder. The drill created starting access, the saw worked along the opening, and the grinder was another part of the metal-removal process.
How I used it in my camper van
I marked the floor rectangle using the mounting plate, drilled the initial opening with a step bit, and worked with the saw and grinder to complete the cut. The photograph shows the reciprocating saw positioned at that opening.
On the following stage I cut the seat platform using the drill, step bit, reciprocating saw and grinder. I removed a metal handle that would interfere with the planned cover, then used a file and sandpaper on the cuts.
My review
This was a multi-tool job. The saw contributed to the openings, but the floor cut also involved two broken metal blades. That problem belongs in the account of using the saw even though it does not establish a fault in the saw itself.
My useful lesson is how much of the job happened around the cut: laying out the opening, making access, removing interference and finishing the edges. The saw was one part of that sequence under the passenger seat.
The saw made sense within a sequence of drilling, cutting and finishing.
Alternative products
Two alternatives to compare
The DEWALT DWE305 and SKIL 9206-02 are corded alternatives to my cordless saw. The DWE305 adds a four-position blade clamp to this comparison, while the SKIL provides another variable-speed corded arrangement. Power supply and blade-position options are the useful distinctions here.
DEWALT DWE305 Reciprocating Saw
This corded reciprocating saw combines a variable-speed trigger with a four-position blade clamp. The clamp provides different blade orientations for cutting and flush-cutting work.
This corded reciprocating saw has variable-speed control for cutting tasks. Its mains-powered design offers a different power arrangement from a cordless saw.
