SKYLIGHT II THE ULTIMATE "OPEN HOUSE"

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RECIPROCAL SAWS

Imagine a bruiser of a jigsaw that looks like a chuckless industrial drill with a blade sticking straight out at the nose. It's called a reciprocating saw...and, in the building trades, it's a godsend.

The tool is powerful and maneuverable and fits about six dozen different kinds of blades. As a result, it can cut wood rough, smooth, and in circles; metal in bars, sheets, and tubes; and a variety of composition, fiberglass, and laminate materials...all with the back-and-forth motion that you'd use with a handsaw.

It's ideal for a project like installing a skylight because, mated to a wide blade of the proper length (4" to 7") and pitch (about six or seven teeth per inch), it can cut like rip through a hard-to-reach rafter in one pass. And, though a circular saw can cut a long, straight kerf better on an open surface (such as a roof sheathing), a well-supported reciprocating saw can come close, and can cut curves too.

About six different companies manufacture saws of this type, yet there are only minor variations between the products. If you're thinking about buying a reciprocating saw, consider its weight (6 1/2 pounds is light; 9 gets to be tiresome), cutting speed, and whether it's a variable- or two-speed model. A variable-speed drive can come in mighty handy when plunge-cutting or sawing metal.

Other things to look for are good balance, minimal vibration, and a clear view of the blade through the shoe. Some shoes are adjustable to control the depth of cut and allow you to use different sections of the blade as it wears down. Don't be intimidated by the list price while you're looking, either. On special, even the most expensive models can sell for less than $120.

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