Is the Worx Nitro WX501 Reciprocating Noticed the very best DIY purchase?
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When you’re a DIYer, you may discover a number of the finest reciprocating saws fairly intimidating, attributable to their excessive energy or sophisticated options. But then again, you’ll generally discover that essentially the most fundamental fashions lack the facility or high quality to excel at chopping or plunge slicing all kinds of supplies together with wooden, metallic and plasterboard.
The Worx Nitro WX501 is a compact, cordless mannequin that’s pitched someplace in-between the 2 extremes. It’s definitely highly effective, with a 20V motor driving its blade at as much as 3,000 strokes per minute – nevertheless it’s additionally approachable, with a minimal type issue and easy controls.
It sounds good on paper, however how does the Worx Nitro WX501 carry out when confronted with wooden or metallic? I arrange a sequence of DIY checks to seek out out.
The place to purchase the Worx Nitro WX501
Worx
Nitro WX501 Cordless Brushless Compact Reciprocating Noticed
The Nitro WX501 Cordless Brushless Compact Reciprocating Noticed comes with a 2.0Ah battery, charger, two noticed blades and a tough carry case, so you may have all the things it is advisable begin slicing.
Key specs
- Cordless software household: Worx PowerShare
- Meant makes use of embody: plunge-cutting; slicing workpieces together with metallic bars and wood beams
- Battery capability: 2.0Ah
- Voltage: 20V
- Blade velocity: 0 – 3,000/min
- Stroke size: 26mm
- Weight: 1.8kg
Alongside the software itself, you get a 2.0Ah lithium-ion battery to energy it, and a Worx WA3880 battery charger, each of which will also be used with appropriate ‘naked instruments’ from the Worx Powershare vary. The entire elements include a good-quality laborious case for storage and transportation (offered you select the retailer rigorously – some promote the identical software with a gentle storage bag).
Final however not least, two reciprocating noticed blades are bundled in with the software. One in all these is designed for slicing metallic; the opposite is meant for wooden. You can too purchase different sorts of reciprocating noticed blades, together with these Masonry Reciprocating Noticed Blades from Screwfix that may noticed by brick and concrete – although I might advocate utilizing these with a contractor-grade reciprocating noticed.
How I examined
I reviewed the Worx Nitro WX501 Cordless Brushless Compact Reciprocating Noticed by testing it throughout an acceptable vary of duties, together with slicing clear by wooden or metallic, and plunge-cutting holes in MDF.
1. Reducing timber
I used to be blown away by the facility of the WX501 after I used it to chop numerous items of wooden. Working at as much as 3,000 strokes per minute, the blade made its manner by hardwood and softwood battens in a matter of seconds, producing pretty clear cuts that wanted solely a bit tidying up utilizing a sander. (With that mentioned, you need to at all times lower wooden fractionally over the required size when utilizing a reciprocating noticed, with the intention to alter the end with out making the piece too quick).
It took subsequent to no guide effort to chop wooden with this noticed, so I might concentrate on directing the noticed blade precisely, whereas the burden and slicing motion of the software did the laborious work. In addition to slicing wooden to measurement for woodworking initiatives, I discovered that this software was very helpful for slicing scrap wooden into items to make firewood or kindling.
2. Reducing metallic
With its metal-cutting noticed blade connected, the WX501 did a great job of slicing by metallic tubing. It accomplished this process rapidly, though not as quickly because it was in a position to lower by wooden, and the utmost slicing capability is decrease (10mm for metal or 15mm for aluminium, versus 80mm for wooden).
When slicing any workpiece with the WX501, I might advocate bracing the pivoting shoe on the entrance of the noticed in opposition to the workpiece, as this makes it simpler to maintain all the things secure and produce an correct lower. Safe clamping is essential, and you might have to weight your workbench whether it is mild, because the motion of the noticed may be very highly effective.
3. Plunge-cutting
Throughout my testing, plunge-cutting holes into MDF board proved to be the WX501’s most spectacular functionality. The noticed was in a position to lower by the fabric with absolute ease and glorious management, even after I actually examined it by slicing gently curved shapes.
I used to be in a position to tweak the slicing depth barely by adjusting the noticed’s movable shoe, which might be a useful functionality while you’re slicing right into a stud wall, for instance. As this noticed is comparatively mild, in comparison with different reciprocating saws, it was simpler to regulate when plunge-cutting from beneath.
Ease of use
One of many promoting factors to this reciprocating noticed is its compact format, and this does make it simple to carry with one hand across the grip, and the opposite supporting the software from beneath. Nonetheless, it’s nonetheless fairly heavy, and there’s not a lot on your non-trigger hand to grip whereas supporting the software from beneath. While you’ve been utilizing it for a longer-duration process, your forearms will find out about it.
The noticed is activated with a variable velocity set off. Urgent this frivolously provides a sluggish, managed slicing motion, and I discovered that it was extremely responsive after I wished to press more durable for a better slicing velocity. That is the one solution to management the slicing velocity – there aren’t any selectable gears of the type you generally discover on instruments just like the finest cordless drills. You need to use the lock button subsequent to the set off to forestall it from being pressed down inadvertently and activating the noticed.
Altering the noticed blade may be very easy – you simply flip the blade launch lever, push the blade into the blade clamp slot and permit the discharge lever to return to its unique place, now holding the blade in place.
Battery efficiency
I used to be fairly impressed with this noticed’s runtime. On a single cost of the two.0Ah battery, it was in a position to full just a few hours’ value of testing throughout numerous slicing duties, as described above. Nonetheless, I did have to recharge it with a view to full the method, and I consider that DIYers embarking on heftier duties corresponding to demolition work would profit from shopping for a spare battery (obtainable from Worx) to swap in at any time when the unique battery wants recharging.
The charger couldn’t be a lot easier. It’s light-weight and gives simply the fitting stage of suggestions through its standing lights, which inform you when the battery is charging, absolutely charged, damaged or on the mistaken temperature for charging (the latter two had been by no means wanted throughout my testing). I used to be happy to seek out that it might cost the two.0Ah battery inside round one hour.
Who should purchase it?
I see the WX501 as a software primarily for DIYers, fairly than for skilled tradespeople. It’s very useful for quite a lot of dwelling enchancment duties, from rough-cutting timber and chopping bathe rails all the way down to measurement, to plunge slicing holes within the wall for electrical sockets (offered you understand how to keep away from slicing into wires!) I’d discover it troublesome to think about the DIYer who wouldn’t discover loads of makes use of for a reciprocating noticed – and this one is among the many finest in its class.
You may additionally discover it helpful for outside duties corresponding to slicing up wooden for firewood, or slicing pruned tree branches into smaller items in order that these can match into the backyard waste bin. (I take advantage of correct secateurs for the pruning itself, as these can produce cleaner cuts which can be more healthy for the tree.)
In case you have loads of structural work forward of you (e.g. slicing by brick), then this noticed may nearly do the job, however you’d most likely be higher off selecting a contractor-grade reciprocating noticed for duties of this kind – maybe with corded energy.
Last verdict
It is a excellent software for the lighter-duty work that’s usually tackled with a reciprocating noticed. If what you want is a noticed that can conveniently lower wooden and metallic, or plunge-cut into comparatively gentle supplies (most likely not brick or stone), then the WX501 is an outstanding possibility.
I used to be extremely impressed with this noticed’s slicing efficiency throughout quite a lot of checks. It was glorious at plunge-cutting, nice at slicing wooden, and adequate at slicing metallic to go well with most DIY situations. Maybe better of all, its slicing capabilities are delivered in a compact, uncomplicated format that can assist many DIY customers become familiar with utilizing a reciprocating noticed.
