I’ve got a couple downsizing tools that are not typically mentioned. Or at least they have not been discussed in blogs I’ve read. A skill saw and reciprocating saw.
Mine happen to be battery operated. I keep a multipurpose blade on the skill saw. As reciprocating saw blades are easy to change out I have one for wood and another for metal. I’d suggest buying good metal blades which decreases the time and effort needed to saw something up before the battery runs out. I might take the reciprocating saw on the road for cutting tree limbs, camp fire logs or whatever. The saw is wonderful for general purpose.
I’ve cut up a metal swing, flat screen television, furniture and more with these saws. There is not one safe thing in the house that will not fit in a our large trash can!
Around our house we always remember trash day is Tuesday, making sure to top the can off for the trash man. As our service will only take one large can, I keep a spare to fill up when I get a wild hair to cut-up stuff. Then transfer that to the normal can for the next week. Works for me.
Found a few things around the house that don’t make it to the trash can without a second usage. The bottom of a plastic cat litter container or a coffee container make great paint pails.
We don’t have our truck yet so hauling loads to the dump is impossible. Once we have the truck there will be a couple larger items such as couches, which are junk now, to haul to the local large trash dump off site. Lucky for us the city runs a large item waste drop off point located a mile from home. They charge by the piece or truck load. Till then – I’m cutting it up for the trash man!
Karen and I just got back from a 2,300 mile trip from Missouri to Tennessee to Michigan and back. Visited family, new full time RVers and a RV dealership. So lots to report on later.
Our Future in an RV 
For the RV, I am trying to find a group of tools that use the same battery packs for the RV. Limb saw/small chain saw, circular, jig saw, drill, dremo. I had not though of a saws all type tool but I will add it to my list. Thanks!
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I’ve got a weed eater with attachments that include a pool saw that reaches to maybe 10′. As we continue to downsize I’m worried I might get rid of something we would want on the road. Trimming branches up to about 14′ could easily be something I’d need to do in order not to tear the roof on a fifth wheel.
I’ve got a gas leaf blower that I’m wondering if I should keep it for the road as well. Blowing the slides off or the rug or whatever. So far, I’ve just seen one other full timer with a battery powered blower. Those do not put out much air, but maybe enough for small jobs.
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Before hauling anything to the dump see if your local area has an active freecycle.org page and put the items you want to haul to the dump on it… one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. It might even save you a couple of trips to the dump!
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I’ll keep that in mind in order to at least send less to a landfill. We do have a metro group so I’ll post it there for a couple of days before getting rid of it.
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Wow, does this bring back memories, Mark! You’ve taken it to a whole new level, for sure. I would’ve loved to see a YouTube video of you cutting up the flat screen. Tim Allen would be proud. 😊
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I used to take stuff apart all the time as a child. First hobby I’ll assume. The flat screen has no glass other than some very thin, small, longer tubes that run in the back of screen. Most everything was plastic in the frame other than some thin metal here and there.
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We have both tools, DeWalts and take the same battery. We tried using the recip saw for cutting wood, batter wore out quickly. We now have a small electric chain saw for when we need to saw wood.
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When we sold our home and downsized it took two 20 yard dumpsters to get rid of 24 years of our junk.
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I’ve been wondering if I should keep the gas chain saw, larger axe or my hand axe. A small electric chain saw sounds easier. How often do you find places that allow you to cut up dead wood or whatever?
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I got a set of 20V power tools(circ saw, recip saw, drill, impact driver, jig saw) specifically to take on the road along with spare HD power packs, So far they have been used to take down two 25′ tall, 12″ thick trees and turn them into usable firewood, make short work of various trash eligible items that needed to fit into the 96 gal trash can and build a deck. Love them. Spare sharp blades does make the job go faster and saves batteries. More compact that my older corded tools.
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I could see how 20 volts would be more usable than the 14 volt stuff I’ve got now. Thanks for the comment Brian.
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