A Handy Hobby Saw

I generally choose rock-solid conventional tools. But not long ago I got interested in Rockwell's blade runner electric power saw. It's not really the complete substitute for heavy-duty power equipment, but it is a flexible little saw that is just the thing for plenty of household tasks. It's basically a jig saw installed below a cutting table. Guides help to make it very easy to saw straight lines as well as angles. It truly does a great job in making clean curved cuts for hobby tasks. Here the work table will give you both of your hands open to shift your lumber as the saw does the cutting. The Rockwell bladerunner saw may also be useful regarding home improvement, though not wit lumber over 1 inch or perhaps 2 thick. With the correct blade you can also cut ceramic tile, preventing leasing or even purchasing a pricey ceramic tile cutter. It can also cut thin metal, once again that is while using the correct blade and also speed setting. Getting the various cutting blades is rarely a issue. The blade runner utilizes typical jigsaw cutting blades, and good-quality cutting blades tend to be just a couple of bucks each.

The Bladerunner

A television infomercial was a part of Rockwell's unveiling of its Bladerunner electric saw. A touch excessive on the hype, that encouraged the general public to expect too much, and also deterred quite a few craftsmen. Thus, a good number of bad assessments resulted. This power saw does indeed have a couple of disadvantages. Nevertheless, it's really a very good power tool designed for household work.

About Power Saws

Nearly a half dozen kinds of power saws are generally utilized. Many folks are acquainted with a hand-held jig saw; they are nearly as common as hand drills. These saws employ a short blade at the front which quickly goes up and down.

More powerful sorts of saws attach on top of a workbench or directly upon the floor. In addition, they feature more rigidly attached blades. The most commonly encountered, a table saw, is known for a large work table. Similar to the Bladerunner, table saws employ a miter gauge or a fence to get straight cuts. However table saws employ a rotating sturdy round blade. A band saw is yet another widely used woodworking tool. They ordinarily sit on the floor and are usually the height of a person. Here 2 large pulleys secure the blade which is a continuous loop. That design will keep the blade taut and aligned. A scroll saw features a small and relatively flexible blade, much like the Bladerunner. However the scroll saw blade is thinner to make tighter curves, and is also fastened at both the top as well as bottom for the purpose of more accurate cutting.

Rockwell Bladerunner

The Blade Runner can be described as table-mounted jig saw. Similar to a scroll saw, the electric motor is fastened beneath the work surface. But similar to a table saw, it's work surface (table) incorporates guides for making straight cuts. Best of all, as opposed to a jig saw a Bladerunner frees both hands for controlling your material. Unlike a scroll saw, the Bladerunner incorporates a safety shield which will also can help hold your work piece down.

The miter and fence quides will let you carry out straight cuts like you would using a table saw. Like a band saw and scroll saw, it's also possible to make curved cuts having both of your hands free to manage your work. Band saws along with table saws routinely have 1 horsepower or even stronger electric motors, this means you will not have anywhere near as much cutting power using a Bladerunner. Also, you may get noticable "blade wander" with thicker materials since the jig saw blade is only fastened at just one end.

Going more slowly than you would using other saws will help quite a bit. Plus you will find there's great deal to like with regards to the Rockwell Bladerunner. First among those is the super-quick blade switching. That makes it an excellent option for handling a variety of materials. It requires a lot more time to switch blades on a band or table saw. With the right blade plus speed setting the Blade Runner can cut plastic, wood, tiles, and even thin metal. You'll get smoother straight as well as curved cuts than you will by using a hand saw, however you must go slower than you would using a table or band saw.

Yet it is still portable having a carrying handle as well as a weight of well below 20 lbs. Although this power saw involves wall mounting brackets, a lot of people choose to keep it on a work bench. They're not permanent mounts, but instead speedy release so that the saw remains very portable. Irregardless of exactly where you place it, acting as several saws will make it a good space saver. The Rockwell Bladerunner's flexibility will make it an ideal choice for household jobs.

Circle Cutter and Picture Frame Accessories

There's a couple of accessories you can add, for about $30 each.  You may know how expensive custom picture frames can be.  With the picture frame cutter jig, it's quick and easy to make your own frames from 6" to 26" in size.  There's a built-in ruler for setting the dimensions, plus a little do-dad that helps match an existing matt or glass.  This tool is likely to pay for itself in just a few frames, especially if you use decorative molding from a big-box home improvement store.

The other accessory lets you cut smooth and accurate circles.  You can set the exact diameter you want using the built-in ruler.  You could use a hole saw, but you'd have to have a drill press to use it safely.  They only come in a few standard sizes and you need a different blade for each size.   This accessory would pay for itself if you need more than a few different sizes.  It can handle 3" to 18" diameter circles, whereas hole cutters only go from about 1/2" up to 4 or 5".