Compact reciprocating saw needed

Every three or four months I must make a series of cuts in a very confined space.
I'm performing this task manually with a reciprocating blade handle (see attached
image). It's a slow and torturous job!

If I had a compact reciprocating saw this infrequent task would be an easy 15
minute job. Significant power and durability are not required.

An electric auto body saw would be the perfect tool. Unfortunately, the chuck is
not designed for the tang of a reciprocating saw blade. I have a decent workshop.
Maybe I could build an adapter for a reciprocating saw chuck.

Here is an inexpensive auto body saw from Harbor Freight Tools:

https://www.harborfreight.com/quickv.../index/id/1675

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

Look into an air body saw.

 

What material are you cutting?

 

Describe your task in better detail and what material you are trying to cut and why. Would help the community come up with ideas to help you out some more.

 

The shortest recip saw I know about is the Milwaukee M 12 Hackzall at 11" tall.
An inexpensive corded jig saw might be a bit shorter if that would work.

 

Would a small sander with a plunge cut blade work?

 

Thanks for replying XSleeper, Tolyn Ironhand, czizzi, GregH, and Hal_S.

The stuff I'm cutting is an odd mixture of relatively soft materials. Old wood, plastic,
and occasionally nonferrous metals like brass or aluminum.

When I'm stuck doing this type of job, I think about removing some of the objects
blocking my work. If I did that, a one hour job would take an entire day!

The Harbor Freight electric auto body saw is only $34.99. Obviously, I don't know
how it's constructed. Tinkering with the design might destroy the thing, but if I could
build an adapter chuck it would be the perfect tool for cutting in a very confined space.

 

Unless you have to cut very deep each time, a cordless oscillating saw seems like it might be ideal since the blades can be moved to many angles. Since we still aren't really clear on how much access (upper body, arm and head, hand and line of sight?) you have or exactly what it is you are cutting (pipes, studs, planks, plywood?). It's amazing once you have a tool all the things you can find to do with it. I just used my oscillating saw to cut some plastic panel rivets on my truck to remove the radiator grill. The book method would have involved removing the bumper.

 

I agree with GunGuy with the exception of getting a cordless.

I have a cordless one (Ridged) and it will not last long enough when doing heavy cutting. I recommend a corded one and quality brand (IE: not Harbor Freight) model. I have a HF one and it is just OK. I compared it to my friends (Porter Cable I believe) and his had double the power.

 

I have corded HF oscillating multi tool and for occasional use I'm well satisfied with it. Especially happy with the low price. I agree it likely doesn't preform as well as one costing double or more but if it's not used regularly and the budget is tight .......