A Reciprocating Saw would not be a good choice for cutting 4x4 post if you want a clean cut.

A DeWalt DW384, 8-1/4" circular saw (about $225)can cut to a depth close to 3". With a circular saw you just need to make a cut. Flip the post and make the finish cut.

A Reciprocating Saws blade being thin and heated during use would make a very wavy cut accross the post edge.

Yeah, I'd use the skill saw too for those fence tops. But, I bought a Dewalt sawsall that sure has come in handy. I also have pruning blades for all kinds of outside cutting chores. That's a pretty handy little tool.

The posts are already in the ground. I figured I would make a sleeve out of a 2x4 to aid in making a straight cut. I was hoping to buy something cheaper than Dewalt. I guess that was the reason for my post. If I buy a cheaper brand, am I just buying a piece of junk? Like I said, I won't be using it everyday.

A circular saw is a much more useful tool in general. I cut the tops of fence posts with mine all summer. It's much easier to line up and you get a better cut than with a sawzall. Have a look at Hitachi or the Makitas that you find in the hardware store. Either will last you a long while, and be more useful long term than a sawzall.

Thanks for the recommendations. I have a Craftsmen circular saw. I will give it a try. I may still by a reciprocating saw because it never hurts to have another saw. However, my wife would likely disagree.

Saws are like Horsepower....you cant have too much. I have a Milwauke Sawzall. I see them all the time around $100.

Are you planning to cut them off flat, or angled so that water will run off. I think that would make them last longer. Your idea of a clamp-on guide should work well with a circular saw.

I bought a used 11 amp. Super Sawzall from Amazon.com. It's been handy for pruning, demolition, and casual cutting. I paid $95.00 for a tool that will last longer than I will, I'm sure.
Norm

Milwaukee makes the best, hands down. If you want something smaller/cheaper one of the original Sawzall models is a great buy, even used. The Super Sawzall is a completly different saw--the Rolls Royce version. Counterbalanced internally, heavier mechanism, more power, etc.

Just bought an off shore recip saw (Chicago brand), 4.5 amp variable speed ,Made in China from Harbour Freight. What a little workhorse and really is robust for this low price ... $19.99 US.

Super Sawzall is fast and convenient, and is a good all-around tool. I've used it for trimming post tops, but as they say it's hard to get a perfectly flat topd.

Note that the circular saw suggested was an 8 inch, not a 7 - and even an 8 isn't big enough to cut off a 4x4 in one pass. Milwaukee has a 10 inch, or you can get a "Bigfoot", which is big enough to cut through 4x4s. If you just need to make one cut, consider doing it by hand.

Yet another way is to use a small chain saw - I've got a little Echo climbing saw which has done fine with some Cresote cuts. It's actually easier to get a flat cut with this than with the recip saw.

And I've had bad experience with Ryobi - consider Bosch or Milwaukee or Skilsaw or Makita.

Making odd cuts like that with a circular saw requires some experience.

I suggest you stand on a sturdy ladder so the saw is about waist high, make sure the saw is well supported, travels straight and you hold on tight. If you bind the blade at all, the saw will jump out of the cut and who knows where it will go depending on your body position and strength. If the saw is above your head while you are on a ladder, it could throw you off the ladder and end up cutting you as well.

A coarse hand saw (manual version) will be much safer for the inexperienced saw user.

Be safe, whatever you choose.

You can use a regular 7.5 circular saw, just follow the lines on two sides...

milwaukee all day long.. but regardless whether its a harbor freight special or a top notch saw,, its in the blade..

i have a magnesium skill, bought used for 75 at a pawn shop, the blade was cheapo depot.. which made the saw feel the same, i put a marathon blade and have cut 100's i mean 100's of 2x4, and ripped a many plywood..

its in the blade.

Make your self a clamp with a couple of pieces of wood preferably hardwood if you can, these can be 2x2's or 2x3's cut them 6 inches long, then stack them up one on top of the other evenly, drill a hole completely through these stacked pieces 1 inch from the the ends and exactly in the middle of your wood at these ends, then use 7 inch carriage bolts with a wing nuts in the holes to thighten up the clamp around the 4x4's. These now being perfectly equal and spaced, clamp them around the 4x4 posts to set the height and use them as your saw guide by laying your saw on top of the clamp. This works extremely well if you have sufficient height and are leaving your posts higher than the panels or top crossbar or if the panels are not yet installed, otherwise you will need to unscrew or unnail the panels to do a real professional job.

This gives a far better cut and finish than a reciprocating saw, looks much better to the eye and costs $1.00 max to make with 2 pieces of scrap wood if you already have your circular saw. You just can't mis with this set up.

I always use a chainsaw to cut fenceposts to height.

I can't beleive this thread is still around. :) It must have legs. LOL! Go ahead and buy that recip saw you've been wanting, and use the suggestions of these good folks, cut the fence tops with skill saw, and you have the best of both worlds. Of course, by this time I'm sure you've already done something with whatever tool you decided on.

I have owned just about every brand of Reciprocating saw on the market. I use them every day of my life, so they get quite a work out. I found that all the major brands (Dewalt, Milwauk, Etc.) perform about the same. However, there is one saw that stands out above all the rest and that is the Hitachi. Hitachi blows the rest out of the water. The best part is that it is priced less then the other "commercial duty" brands AND it comes with a 5 year(yes, I said FIVE YEAR) manufacturers warranty. I don't know how they do it, but Hitachi green has earned a spot right next to the old yellow tools in my truck. I am looking very forward to trying some of the other power tools they offer, and pray they hold up as well as this recip saw has. I hope that helps.

I would add that milwaukee has a 5 yr. warranty,on all their tools,also; They had it before hitachi,and they have a 30 day trial period,to were you can return it for no other reason than you don't like it!! Also,they had independent lab. tests that prove that the super sawzall is the smoothest,fastest cutting sawzall,of all!.......................If you want to go the cheap way;be prepared to roll the dice.................If you're not fussy about the finish cut,I would use the sawzall....................If you use a GOOD,sharp blade,with about4 teeth per inch,you shouldn't have too much problem,keeping the cut fairly straight. Other than that, it really is dangerous to use a skillsaw on a ladder,to cut the top off posts;I don't think I would recommend it to someone that isn't used to it,and even then,I would try a different approach------------no need to tempt fate..........................

That is good info Jammer. I had no idea that Milwau. tools had a 5 year warranty. I could have had mine replaced instead of buying a new one!!! Dang.

I don't know if they would replace it,but,they would fix it for free......................If you look in the milwaukee catalog;they have a lot of independent tests,that show the performance of their tools,and it's very impressive.......................check it out

"If you look in the milwaukee catalog;they..."

Can you name me just one Manufactor of anything that does not proclaim to have the best product in there advertising? Show me one manufactor who will honestly say "our products are not the best and we thought that you would like to know that".

I will agree with Blueseatx. Hitachi green are some of the highest quailty tools made. And you cant beat the price. That's coming from a devoted DeWalt owner.

I would use the new tool ReciProMate, a guide for a reciprocating saw. Can be seen at recipromate.com

Even houzz can't keep out the spammers.