We just wrapped up testing eleven of the most popular reciprocating saws from brands you know and trust. Now, we’re highlighting two of the top contenders: the Makita 40V max XGT GRJ02 and the Metabo HPT 36V CR36DA. These saws are absolutely packed with Pro-grade features that would be right at home on the jobsite. But the question is this: Which saw will reign supreme in a head-to-head challenge? We’ll break it down and find out!
Curious who makes the best cordless reciprocating saw? New head-to-head results coming December 8th!
Makita VS Metabo HPT Reciprocating Saw Specifications
Here’s a quick look at the key specs to know before we jump into testing:
| Makita GRJ02 | Metabo HPT CR36DA | |
|---|---|---|
| No-Load Speed | 3000 SPM | 3000 SPM |
| Stroke Length | 1.25 in. | 1.25 in. |
| Variable Speed Settings | Yes | Yes |
| Orbital Action | Yes | Yes |
| Length | 17 in. | 18 in. |
| Bare Weight | 8.7 lbs | 8.7 lbs |
| Working Weight | 10.9 lbs (with 4.0Ah battery) | 10.8 lbs (with 4.0Ah battery) |
As you can clearly see, these saws are practically identical on paper, so this should prove to be an interesting matchup!
Makita VS Metabo HPT Reciprocating Saw: How We Tested
Clean Wood Cut
This test involves making three cuts in a pressure-treated 2×12 board. These cuts are timed, and the results are then averaged to find out how fast each saw can make the cut.
Nail-Embedded Wood Cut
Our nail-embedded wood test amps up the intensity a little bit compared to the clean wood cut. This test involves each saw making three cuts in a simulated wall comprised of Hardie board, plywood, and three 2×4 studs with nine total framing nails driven into them. While this may seem excessive, it’s meant to highlight each saw’s capabilities in a very common demo scenario.
PVC Pipe Cut
For this test, we set up a 4-inch schedule 40 PVC pipe and made a series of three cuts with each saw. This isn’t a very demanding task for a reciprocating saw, but it’s well within the scope of duty.
Cast Iron Cut
This is far and away the most challenging task for any reciprocating saw. Cast iron is extremely hard to cut, so for this test, we opted to make one cut in our 3-inch pipe and timed our results.
Testing Results
| Makita GRJ02 | Metabo HPT CR36DA | |
|---|---|---|
| Clean Wood | 8.29 sec | 8.23 sec |
| Nail Embedded Wood | 18.58 sec | 18.11 sec |
| 4-Inch PVC | 2.79 sec | 2.85 sec |
| Cast Iron | 41.24 sec | 54.54 sec |
As you can see, these two tools are pretty evenly matched, and they proved to be in an elite top-tier group compared to your other options! There are only slight differences in the first three tests, with the obvious gap showing up in the cast iron test.
Don’t let that test result tarnish your opinion, though. Test results ranged from Makita at 41.24 seconds all the way to one model that took 1 minute and 41 seconds to make the cut, and another that posted a DNF! So, 54.54 seconds is A-okay in our book!
One of the biggest factors we observed with both the Makita and Metabo HPT was their low vibration. Reciprocating saws are violent by nature, so for both of these brands to excel in this category is worthy of praise.
Makita VS Metabo HPT Reciprocating Saw Key Features
Makita GRJ02
- Brushless Motor: Better performance, longer runtime, longer service life, and no carbon brushes to change
- Selectable Orbital Action: Flip to more aggressive, faster cutting in wood
- Adjustable Speed Modes: Optimize cutting speed based on the material
- Adjustable Shoe: Helps extend the life of your blades by exposing unused teeth
- Folding Rafter Hook: Offers a convenient hanging option
- Blade Change Lever: Releases blades more easily than shaft-mounted designs
Metabo HPT CR36DA
- Brushless Motor: Better performance, longer runtime, longer service life, and no carbon brushes to change
- Selectable Orbital Action: Flip to more aggressive, faster cutting in wood
- Adjustable Speed Modes: Optimize cutting speed based on the material
- Adjustable Shoe: Helps extend the life of your blades by exposing unused teeth
- Folding Rafter Hook: Offers a convenient hanging option
- Available AC Adapter: Offers the ability to run corded for infinite runtime
Pricing and Final Thoughts
| Makita GRJ02 | Metabo HPT CR36DA | |
|---|---|---|
| Bare Tool | $324 | $199 |
| Kit | $559 | $399 |
| Warranty | 3-year | Lifetime |
After all of our hands-on testing, it’s truly difficult to pick a clear winner in this matchup. Both tools displayed great performance, and aside from the cast iron test, they’re nearly identical.
For me, I’d have to go with Metabo HPT. However, this choice is purely based on the price tag. I admire both of these tools for their overall performance and comfortable ergonomics, but given that they’re very similar, I have to side with my budget on this one.
