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If you are a DIYer, you can find some of them The best reciprocating saw Because of their extreme strength or complex features, quite scary. Yet on the other hand, you’ll sometimes find that the most basic models lack the power or quality to cut or plunge all kinds of materials, including wood, metal, and plasterboard.
The Worx Nitro WX501 is a compact, cordless model that sits somewhere between the two extremes. It’s certainly powerful, with a 20V motor driving its blades at up to 3,000 strokes per minute – but it’s also approachable with a minimal form factor and simple controls.
It looks good on paper, but how does the Worx Nitro WX501 perform when faced with wood or metal? I set up a series of DIY tests to find out.
Where to buy Worx Nitro WX501
Works
Nitro WX501 Cordless Brushless Compact Reciprocating Saw
The Nitro WX501 Cordless Brushless Compact Reciprocating Saw comes with a 2.0Ah battery, charger, two saw blades and a hard carry case, so you’ll have everything you need to start cutting.
Key specifications
- Cordless Tool Family: Worx PowerShare
- Intended uses include: plunge-cutting; Cutting workpieces including metal bars and wooden beams
- Battery Capacity: 2.0 Ah
- Voltage: 20 V
- Blade Speed: 0 – 3,000/min
- Stroke Length: 26 mm
- Weight: 1.8 kg
Along with the tool, you get a 2.0Ah lithium-ion battery to power it, and a Worx WA3880 battery charger, both of which can also be used with compatible ‘bare tools’. Worx PowerShare series. All components come with a good-quality hard case for storage and transportation (if you choose the retailer carefully – some sell the same tool with a soft storage bag).
Last but not least, two reciprocating saw blades are bundled with the tool. One of these is designed to cut metal; Others are intended for wood. You can also buy other types of reciprocating saw blades, including this one Masonry reciprocating saw blade from Screwfix That can be seen through brick and concrete – although I would recommend using it with a contractor-grade reciprocating saw.
How I Tested
I reviewed the Worx Nitro WX501 Cordless Brushless Compact Reciprocating Saw by testing it in a fair range of ways, including clean cutting through wood or metal and plunge-cutting holes in MDF.
1. Chopping wood
I was blown away by the WX501’s power when I used it to cut various pieces of wood. Running at up to 3,000 strokes per minute, the blade went through hardwood and softwood battens in seconds, producing clean cuts that required only minor adjustments. Sander. (Also, you should cut the wood fractionally to the required length when using a reciprocating saw, so you can adjust the finish without making the part too short).
Aside from the manual effort involved in cutting wood with this saw, I was able to focus on accurately directing the saw, while the weight of the tool and the cutting action did the hard work. In addition to cutting wood to size for woodworking projects, I’ve found this tool to be very useful for cutting scrap wood into pieces for firewood or kindling.
2. Cutting metal
Attached to a metal-cutting saw blade, the WX501 did a good job cutting through metal tubing. It got the job done quickly, although not as quickly as it was able to cut through wood, and the maximum cutting capacity is lower (10mm for steel or 15mm for aluminium, 80mm for wood).
When cutting any workpiece with the WX501, I would recommend attaching the pivoting shoe to the front of the saw against the workpiece, as this makes it easier to hold everything still and produce an accurate cut. Secure clamping is very important, and if your workbench is light you may need to weigh it down, as the sawing action is quite powerful.
3. Plunge-cutting
During my testing, plunge-cutting holes in MDF boards proved to be the WX501’s most impressive ability. This saw was able to cut through the material with absolute ease and excellent control, when I really tested it by cutting gently curved shapes.
I was able to tweak the cutting depth slightly by adjusting the saw’s movable shoe, which would be a handy ability when you’re cutting through a stud wall, for example. As this saw is relatively light compared to other reciprocating saws, it was easy to control when cutting down the plunge.
Ease of use
One of the selling points of this reciprocating saw is its compact format, and this makes it easy to hold with one hand around the grip and the other supporting the tool from below. However, it’s still pretty heavy, and there’s not much for your non-trigger hand to hold while supporting the tool from below. When you use it for long-term work, your forearms will know about it.
The saw is activated with a variable speed trigger. Pressing this lightly provides a slow, controlled cutting action, and I found that it was extremely responsive when I wanted to press harder for more cutting speed. This is the only way to control the cutting speed – there are no selectable gears like you sometimes find on tools. The best cordless drill. You can use the lock button on the side of the trigger to prevent it from being accidentally pressed and the saw activated.
Changing a saw blade is very easy – you simply turn the blade release lever, push the blade into the blade clamp slot and let the release lever return to its original position, now holding the blade in place.
Battery performance
I was very impressed with the runtime of this saw. On a single charge of the 2.0Ah battery, it was able to complete a few hours worth of testing in various cutting tasks, as described above. However, I needed to recharge it to complete the process, and I believe that DIYers embarking on heavy tasks such as demolition work will benefit from the purchase. A spare battery (available from Worx) To swap out whenever the original battery needs recharging.
Chargers couldn’t be simpler. It’s lightweight and provides just the right level of feedback via its status lights, which let you know when the battery is charging, fully charged, broken, or at the wrong temperature for charging (the latter two were never needed during my testing). I was happy to find that it can charge a 2.0Ah battery in about an hour.
Who should buy?
I see the WX501 primarily as a tool for DIYers, not professional tradespeople. It’s handy for a variety of home improvement tasks, from sawing wood and cutting shower rails to size to cutting holes in walls. Electrical sockets (If you know how to avoid cutting wires!) I’d be hard-pressed to imagine a DIYer who wouldn’t find plenty of uses for a reciprocating saw—and this one is one of the best in its class.
You may also find it useful for outdoor tasks such as chopping firewood for firewood, or cutting felled tree branches into small pieces so they can fit in the garden waste bin. (I only use appropriate secateurs for pruning, as these can produce cleaner cuts that are healthier for the tree.)
If you have a lot of structural work ahead of you (eg.
final judgment
This is a very good tool for lighter-duty work that is usually handled with reciprocating saws. If all you want is to comfortably cut wood and metal, or plunge into relatively soft materials (probably not brick or stone), the WX501 is a great option.
I was very impressed with the cutting performance of this saw in various tests. It was great at plunge cutting, great at cutting wood and good enough at cutting metal to suit most DIY scenarios. Perhaps best of all, its cutting capabilities are delivered in a compact, unobtrusive format that will help many DIY users get to grips with using a reciprocating saw.
