Makita 4390DW 9.6 Volt Ni Cad Cordless Reciprocating Saw

Customer Reviews

Does Exactly What It's Supposed To Do.

2004-05-02
I bought this to finish cuts in underflooring in preparation for laying a new floor. While I wanted something that I could move about quickly without the heft of this saws older (and corded) brethren, I was a bit worried about whether or not there was enough power here to actually make it useful.

Much to my surprise the saw has done everything I wanted it to and more. While it handles plaster board and thin plywood better than it does 2x4's and pipe, it attacks everything with zest. Heavy work means you have to recharge the battery more often, but the job really does get done. This has become my general purpose go to saw, and the one most likely to get tossed into the car for emergency work. The tools is well balanced, and works well as a one-handed cutter.

My biggest gripe is that the blades are a bit flimsy. One has to watch to make sure the blade hasn't been twisted by a non-thinking maneuver. While it's no real problem to straighten a bent blade, don't expect the precision of a solider saw - despite what the manufacturer claims. Battery life is acceptable, but not incredible. If you are going to be doing a lot of cutting or trim work buy a spare battery or expect to take a break now and then.

Used it for years 2008-02-29
This is the same tool I've used for my business for many years. The original cost was about twice as much. This is my third in about 11 years.
There are times when it has saved me a lot of time.

has old style battery 2007-12-28
Was dissapointed that saw had old style battery.Don't know why,but date of manufacture should tell something.Four years old ,but new !!!!

On the plus side-easy to change battery- have bad hands. The 18 volt battery case takes 2 of us to change. Have 2 drills ,flashlite and now replacement saw.
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Old and obsolete design, poorly made 2007-12-20
I'm amazed and shocked that Makita still produces their line of underpowered, thin plastic, poorly made, 9.6 volt tools. Seeing this tool for sale on Amazon has prompted me to make a comment and we have nothing good to saw about the device. We owned one of these cordless reciprocating saws when they first appeared in the early nineteen-eighties.

Twenty-five years ago, the Makita 9.6 volt cordless reciprocating saw was a novelty, and sold along side of 9.6 volt cordless drills, 9.6 volt cordless saws, and 9.6 volt flashlights. Today, no one uses 9.6 volt batteries (except, apparently, Makita) for any modern cordless tools where there's an anticipation they will be used for any real work.

Today's cordless reciprocating saws run on powerful 18 or 24 volt batteries, and don't have a puny 9/16 of an inch reciprocating action, they are comparable to their corded brethren and reciprocate a good inch or more for fast and powerful cutting.

Makita 9.6 volt batteries are expensive, hard to find, and in my opinion Makita tools like this are only good for VERY infrequent consumer use. Unless your needs are extremely minimal, like cutting plastic or copper plumbing tubing hidden under a hard to reach sink, or you just want to say you own a "cordless reciprocating saw", I would suggest looking elsewhere for a better designed tool that has the prospect of real use and utility.

Makita 4390DW 9.6 corldess recip. saw 2007-01-19
Great tool for light work and in tight spaces. Also good for cutting off pipes and stubborn bolts.

The right tool for the job. 2006-03-20
This Makita reciprocating saw works well for cutting pipes in the wall next to a stud. The sawzalls sometimes just can not get it done in close quarters. I highly recommend it for light duty cutting in close quarters.