I think you were scanning the manual for Larry. ----- Original Message ----- From: Dale Leavens To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, December 29, 2008 8:05 PM Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] Circ saws.
Hi Dan, The double control is a significant safety device. My present saw is the first I have had which does not have that feature, just something to bear in mind. I have never used a worm drive saw so bear that in mind when reading this. They are heavier, some require maintaining oil in a reservoir for lubrication purposes. They will keep the blade moving where an inline will clutch and slip but I have never really had a problem with that unless I am doing something wrong and it should slip. Worm drives are usually heavier, they are longer of course and that alters the balance. Apparently historically the worm drive has been more popular on the West coast because a western manufacturer early in the cycle on that coast made worm drives while Skill, on the east coast made in-line drives. I really like my little Porter Cable MAG saw. Is it the 435 I think? It weighs just on 10 pounds, not so important now as it once was when I was doing a lot more framing but still a nice light machine. The base and most of the parts are magnesium, there is a port which can be spun to direct the dust or you could attach a vacuum however that is more trouble than I am willing to do. It is a simple trigger with a very positive snap to operate it. Although I have had it a year and a half I haven't really used it a lot, I did cut up a bunch of oak and maple plywood though, the thin kerf blade went through three sheets of 3/4ths inch stacked so I could cut exactly identical pieces, went through like a hot knife through butter. Although I don't need to do it often, it doesn't need a wrench to change the blade, a brilliant feature in my opinion. There is a spring loaded sliding piece in the center retaining bolt, You just slide it, hold the spindle lock and twist the thing free with your fingers. No knuckle skinning slipping wrench and it never goes missing. The cowl over the motor is but all other parts seem mostly to be magnesium, there is a little steel used I notice on the rear pivot for the tilt.plastic I think I paid a hundred and twenty-five bucks you might do a little better now. It is available in right and left hand too, I bought mine in right hand as I am used to that but it turns out that sighted people actually prefer the left hand versions and without the trigger lock-out that is easily accomplished. I had scanned the manual and was preparing it for someone on the list, it is still on my other presently dead computer, I don't remember who that was now but someone else on the list must have this little saw, perhaps they could comment too. ----- Original Message ----- From: Dan Rossi To: [email protected] Sent: Monday, December 29, 2008 6:20 PM Subject: [BlindHandyMan] Circ saws. So, I got a pretty cheap circ saw for Christmas and returned it today. I am looking for another circ saw to replace it. I already have one cheap saw, so am looking to move up a notch. The more I learn about tools, the more I learn that cheap tools often are more of a headache than they are worth. So, what is the deal with the worm drive saws? Sears had one, but it weighed a ton. Is there really anything I should be looking for besides amps and is the body not made of plastic, like the one I received. Actually, the thing that bothered me about my Christmas present saw, was that there is a thumb button you have to press in before pulling the trigger. That ensures that you can only use it right handed. There are times when using the saw left handed is more convenient. -- Blue skies. Dan Rossi Carnegie Mellon University. E-Mail: [email protected] Tel: (412) 268-9081 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
