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Reciprocating saw for pruning branches

Updated: 21 October 2026

You want shrubs and small branches cut. A reciprocating saw for pruning branches can do that if the wood is supported, the blade is coarse, and you stop when the limb is too thick or too high. The saws in the [Makita reciprocating saw comparison](/hub/power-saws/makita-reciprocating-saw) are mostly short-stroke bodies that name Makita 18 V packs, plus one compact CXT saw. Peter F. used amazon.co.uk listings from 20 October 2026. Taking the battery off is on the [how to use](/hub/power-saws/makita-reciprocating-saw/sub/makita-reciprocating-saw-how-to-use) page. A qualifying purchase through our links can earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

You want shrubs and small branches cut. A reciprocating saw for pruning branches can do that if the wood is supported, the blade is coarse, and you stop when the limb is too thick or too high.

Our top picks

OHAISFELA OHAISFELA body only

Best overall

OHAISFELA OHAISFELA body only
6.5/10about £59.99
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Builrand Builrand bare tool

Best value

Builrand Builrand bare tool
6.2/10about £48.99
View offer
Roadtime Roadtime body

Rank 3

Roadtime Roadtime body
8.5/10about £59.99
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.When a recip saw fits the garden
  2. 2.Blade, shoe and supporting the branch
  3. 3.What to expect from these Makita-pack saws
  4. 4.Power, runtime and stopping

When a recip saw fits the garden

A recip saw fits when you can stand on the ground, hold the branch, and keep the shoe on the wood. Once the wood is above comfortable reach, use a pruning saw or a chainsaw. Do not fell, do not take a hung-up limb, and do not cut overhead from a ladder. If you cannot see what the stem will do when it lets go, that is a tree surgeon’s job. The JR105DZ can reach into a tight shrub, with a 13 mm stroke on dealer data. If your only packs are 18 V LXT, that saw will not start. Platform choice is on the buying guide.

Blade, shoe and supporting the branch

Use about 6 TPI for green wood. CMT’s UK range puts about 14–24 TPI on metal, which is the wrong blade in a shrub. Gautesy’s UK reviews say not to rely on the bundled edges, and the £49.99 JOJOCY reviews say they dull quickly. Fit a named wood blade with the battery off, then tug the collet. The shoe has to touch the branch, or the blade chatters. Support the far side so the kerf cannot pinch. Undercut a little, then finish from the top while you hold the weight. A Fledukten review says the shoe is fixed, so you choose a shorter blade. A luolety review says a slow trigger whines without moving the blade.
OHAISFELA OHAISFELA body only

Testsieger

OHAISFELA OHAISFELA body only
6.5/10about £59.99
View offer

What to expect from these Makita-pack saws

These copies do not have Makita’s 32 mm stroke, so do not quote the DJR187’s 255 mm wood capacity. Stated strokes are 18 mm on Roadtime and 20 mm on OHAISFELA. Many listings leave stroke blank. Roadtime has a UK pruning review that praises light branches at 2 kg, and other texts with smoke on a bulky first cut. The £49.99 JOJOCY cites branches and smoke, at 3.4 from 22. luolety is 2.9 from 12, including a break after two uses. OHAISFELA and Builrand have occasional-DIY praise and no measured branch. ConBlom’s 3.3 from 75 is a poor bet for next spring. The best pick page ranks bodies for LXT owners. It does not rank them for the garden.

Power, runtime and stopping

Gautesy says 4.0 Ah or higher, or a small pack can shut down under load. NANWEI’s UK comments run from about 20 to 40 minutes to “good.” Fledukten’s second pack keeps that kit going, and those cells must not go on a Makita charger. If the saw slows halfway through a stem it was cutting, change the blade before you blame the motor. If the housing smells hot or you see smoke, stop and return it. Stop when the branch is above your head, when you need a ladder, or when the wood is a tree rather than a shrub. A supported stem, a 6 TPI blade and a pack of at least 4.0 Ah is the garden cut these bodies can argue for.

Common questions

Is a reciprocating saw enough, or do I need a chainsaw?
For shrubs and small branches you can hold from the ground, a recip saw is enough if you accept a rough cut and a short stroke. A chainsaw is the better tool once the wood is large, overhead, or likely to fall where you cannot control it. A 13 mm JR105DZ is only the small end of that range, and only if you own CXT packs.
How big a branch is reasonable before it pinches?
Stay with stems you can support beyond the cut, so the kerf cannot close. There is no honest maximum diameter to copy from a DJR187 onto a 20 mm body. If you cannot hold the offcut, or the saw is already heating, the branch is too big.
Which of these saws do UK reviewers mention for branches?
Roadtime has a pruning review that praises light branches, and other UK texts that report smoke on bulky cuts. The £49.99 JOJOCY and Fledukten mention branches or roots, with heat and a fixed shoe as the limits. luolety is also mentioned for an early break. ConBlom’s early-failure sample is the one to leave.
Will a short stroke feel slower than a 32 mm Makita?
Yes. A stated 18–22 mm stroke moves less wood per stroke than 32 mm, and several listings state no stroke. Forcing the cut is how these motors show up as hot or smoked. If thick branches are the regular job, compare a DJR.
Should I use the blades in the box?
Only to confirm the saw runs. UK comments on Gautesy and the cheaper JOJOCY say the included blades disappoint or dull quickly. For a real shrub session, fit a coarse wood blade, about 6 TPI, that you would buy again.
When is the job too big for this set?
When you need a ladder, cannot support the branch, or the timber is structural. Smoke, a failed clamp, or a saw that has already died is also the end. Paid work that needs a vibration figure belongs on a documented factory tool, or on a chainsaw.

Related pages

Makita cordless saw

Makita reciprocating saw

Best Makita reciprocating saw: top pick and best value

Makita reciprocating saw buying guide: packs first

How to use a reciprocating saw: shoe, blade and stop

Makita DJR187 versus a cheap reciprocating saw, UK

Sources

Public UK sources first, then the amazon.co.uk listings compared on this page, captured on 20 October 2026. Shop prices for a genuine DJR body are named UK shops, not an amazon.co.uk pound price.

  1. Makita UK DJR187 (retrieved 20 October 2026)
  2. Power Tool World JR105DZ (retrieved 20 October 2026)
  3. HSE vibration calculator guide (retrieved 20 October 2026)
  4. HSE L108 noise (retrieved 20 October 2026)
  5. CMT UK reciprocating saw blades (retrieved 20 October 2026)
  6. Consumer Rights Act 2015 (retrieved 20 October 2026)
  7. DVS Power Tools DJR187Z (retrieved 20 October 2026)