saw comparison - Crafted by Grain | Timeless Handcrafted Woodworking Creations

In our home shop, the KAKURI Coping Saw Coping Frame and 5 Replacement Blades Set arrived like a small invitation to slow down and cut with intention. The frame feels straightforward in the hand—light enough for long sessions, but steady when we’re tracing tight curves in wood board. We appreciated having multiple blades on deck; swapping from a fine-tooth option for cleaner scrollwork to a tougher blade for plastic (and even the occasional thin metal piece) kept the pace moving without improvising. Tensioning the blade took a minute to dial in, yet once set, the saw tracked predictably and made inside cuts less fussy than our jigsaw. It’s not flashy, but it’s practical—exactly what we want on a crowded bench.

We picked up the Milwaukee 2420-20 M12 12-Volt Lithium-Ion HACKZALL (tool-only) with one question in mind: could a compact reciprocating saw actually earn a permanent spot in our kit? Right away, it feels built for the awkward cuts—tight corners, quick trim work, and those “just get it done” moments when dragging out a full-size saw seems ridiculous. The one-handed design makes it easy to guide, but we also notice the trade-off: it’s not pretending to be a demolition beast. On the right blade, it moves confidently through wood and light metal, though patience matters on thicker stock. In this review, we’ll break down where it shines, where it strains, and whether it fits how we work.