James grew up on an Ozarks farm where tools like axes and picks were still used in the daily routine and the blades of stockman's pocketknives served their original functions. Receiving his first pocketknife at age four he got it open by himself nearly a year later and spent his formative years wandering the woods with a succession of ever larger knives, a book of matches and a rifle.
A veteran of Vietnam, James also served in Alaska during a stint in the Army, receiving his first intensive culinary training by setting a record for extra KP at Ft. Richardson.
Settling in the Pacific Northwest after his discharge, James crewed on sailing yachts in local races, backpacked hundreds of miles of mountain trails in search of good trout fishing, and occasionally attended college.
His first serious job as a civilian resulted from answering a Seattle Post Intelligencer want ad requesting someone who could lift 120 pounds repeatedly and wasn't afraid of fire. James apprenticed to John Frazier -- the most knowledgeable traditional foundryman in North America at that time -- for the next six years.
Returning to the Ozarks James made his living by growing ginseng on a hand-terraced wooded hillside and selling handmade wood turnery, furniture, sculpture and architectural carvings. James harvested trees from his own land, processing logs into posts and beams and turnery billets with saws, axes, froes and planes. Since many tools he needed were no longer available, James built his own forge from a barbeque grill, a vacuum cleaner and a 55 gallon steel drum, found a chunk of railroad track for his first anvil, and taught himself blacksmithing -- creating his own knives and tools from scrap steel and sweat.
Changing economic pressures eventually forced James back to the restaurant industry in Branson, Missouri, and later to even more success as a maintenance engineer for one of Branson's largest condominium resorts. Finally escaping to Indiana, James now makes his living telling true stories as a freelance writer.
Makita Cordless Reciprocating Saw | Electric Variable Bare-Tool BJR182Z
58 sec read
The lithium-ion battery powered Bare-Tool Makita BJR182Z reciprocating saw has more cutting capacity than many corded versions of the Sawzall. With the longest available woodcutting blade — twelve inches — the Makita BJR182Z can cut to its maximum depth of ten inches. For heavier work like cutting pipe, the limit is still a hefty 5 -1/8 inches. A long stroke of 1-1/8 inches means you need longer blades to clear the work piece, so don’t skimp. Complete speed control from 0 to 2900 strokes per minute gives operators options from delicate cuts to ripping with constant power at any stroke rate.
To get that much versatility from a battery-powered saw, there are a few trade-offs. Running time under heavy load is less than half the thirty-minute charge time of the battery pack. For extended work, keep an extra battery or two handy and charging. With the battery pack installed, the Makita weighs nearly eight pounds, heavier than some corded models. For ease of use, there’s no question the Makita wins over any Sawzall that’s dragging an extension cord behind it. Improved battery life — and 2.5 times the total recharge cycles of Makita’s older battery packs — do improve the Bare-Tool’s performance, but run time is still a major limitation.
The Makita BJR182Z does occasionally throw a blade if owners aren’t careful to clean the blade mount. Sawdust jammed in the socket could prevent the blade from properly seating. Other than that, it’s a full power tool with simple one-handed blade changing, and it goes anywhere.
James grew up on an Ozarks farm where tools like axes and picks were still used in the daily routine and the blades of stockman's pocketknives served their original functions. Receiving his first pocketknife at age four he got it open by himself nearly a year later and spent his formative years wandering the woods with a succession of ever larger knives, a book of matches and a rifle.
A veteran of Vietnam, James also served in Alaska during a stint in the Army, receiving his first intensive culinary training by setting a record for extra KP at Ft. Richardson.
Settling in the Pacific Northwest after his discharge, James crewed on sailing yachts in local races, backpacked hundreds of miles of mountain trails in search of good trout fishing, and occasionally attended college.
His first serious job as a civilian resulted from answering a Seattle Post Intelligencer want ad requesting someone who could lift 120 pounds repeatedly and wasn't afraid of fire. James apprenticed to John Frazier -- the most knowledgeable traditional foundryman in North America at that time -- for the next six years.
Returning to the Ozarks James made his living by growing ginseng on a hand-terraced wooded hillside and selling handmade wood turnery, furniture, sculpture and architectural carvings. James harvested trees from his own land, processing logs into posts and beams and turnery billets with saws, axes, froes and planes. Since many tools he needed were no longer available, James built his own forge from a barbeque grill, a vacuum cleaner and a 55 gallon steel drum, found a chunk of railroad track for his first anvil, and taught himself blacksmithing -- creating his own knives and tools from scrap steel and sweat.
Changing economic pressures eventually forced James back to the restaurant industry in Branson, Missouri, and later to even more success as a maintenance engineer for one of Branson's largest condominium resorts. Finally escaping to Indiana, James now makes his living telling true stories as a freelance writer.
The lithium-ion battery powered Bare-Tool Makita BJR182Z reciprocating saw has more cutting capacity than many corded versions of the Sawzall. With the longest available woodcutting blade — twelve inches — the Makita BJR182Z can cut to its maximum depth of ten inches. For heavier work like cutting pipe, the limit is still a hefty 5 -1/8 inches. A long stroke of 1-1/8 inches means you need longer blades to clear the work piece, so don’t skimp. Complete speed control from 0 to 2900 strokes per minute gives operators options from delicate cuts to ripping with constant power at any stroke rate.
