I used to avoid demolition projects. My old corded reciprocating saw bogged down on nails, overheated in minutes, and left jagged cuts. Pruning trees? Forget it. Cutting old deck boards with embedded screws? Nightmare. Then I bought the #1 best-selling reciprocating saw on Amazon that everyone said “powers through anything.” Nine months later I’ve demolished a shed, pruned 20 trees, cut metal pipe, and salvaged lumber – all with clean cuts and no stalling.
The Saw That Made Demolition Easy: DeWalt DCS367B 20V Max XR Compact Reciprocating Saw (Tool Only)
Current Amazon price (Dec 19, 2025 – Midwest Prime): $44.99 (tool only, coupon usually drops to $39.99) → Find here on Amazon
Bought the tool-only version (I had DeWalt batteries) after it held the #1 spot in Reciprocating Saws for 30 straight months with 75,000+ reviews averaging 4.8 stars. It is now my go-to for every demo job.
Real features that actually cut through anything:
- Brushless motor – 0–2,900 SPM
- Compact 14.5″ length – fits tight spaces
- 1-1/8″ stroke length
- 4-position blade clamp – flush cutting
- Variable speed trigger + lock-off
- LED light
My 9-month demolition log:
- Project 1: First use – removed old deck boards with embedded nails. Cut right through nails, no stalling.
- Project 8: Tree pruning – 4-inch branches in seconds.
- Project 15: Metal pipe removal in basement – clean cuts.
- Month 6: Shed demolition – 2 days instead of a week.
- Month 9 (now): Just pruned storm-damaged branches. Still powerful.
Cons:
- Tool-only (need 20V battery)
- Blades wear fast on metal (buy good ones)
The Recip Saws That Failed Me
- #1: DeWalt DCS367B 20V Max XR – $225 – Compact – Brushless – 4.8★ / 75k+ → Find here on Amazon
- #2: Milwaukee M18 Fuel Sawzall – $129 – More power – Heavier – 4.7★ / 60k → Find here on Amazon
- #3: Makita XRJ08Z 18V LXT – $160 – Good battery – Less torque on nails – 4.6★ / 50k → Find here on Amazon
- #4: Ryobi P515 18V – $49 – Cheap – Bogged down – 4.5★ / 40k → Find here on Amazon
- #5: Some $39 generic – $39 – Overheated – 3.8★ / 30k → Avoid
Final Verdict
If you do demolition, pruning, or need to cut through nails and metal: Buy the DeWalt DCS367B right now → Find here on Amazon
$225. One tool. Everything cuts. Best demo upgrade ever.
Disclosure: This site contains affiliate links. If you buy through one, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. All opinions are 100% my own.
