Blades Reviews

We're a G.C. specializing in timberframe construction. We've found the Prazi to work very well both in trimming timbers and in cutting 4&6 inch panels. Invariably we get customers who want a window added or moved and we used to use a Sawzall. The Prazi paid for itself the first day we used it.
We use it on a Milwaukee 8-1/4 inch worm drive saw and although a bit on the heavy side, the thing is a beast. Change-over is a bit exaggerated in the ad. In actuality it takes about 2 minutes.

I bought a Prazi Beamcutter to trim and notch the tops of 8x8 installed posts that were required for a foundation on a room addition that I'm building. I just needed a saw the would cut the posts square. Also, I knew that I couldn't make a square cut on these posts with a chain saw or with a Sawzall and a long blade. Moreover, I needed something that would work but didn't cost a fortune. With that, I bought a Prazi PR-7000 for my Skillsaw Mag-77HD. It's not perfect, but it does the trick. Mounted on the Skillsaw, the Beamcutter feels a bit awkward, especially when used at a 90-degree angle. Don't think that you can just walk up to a verticle 8x8 post, mark a line, and expect to cut it off square just buy holding the saw steady. You will need to use some sort of fence to rest and guide the saw on in order to get the square cut. I use one of those nifty aluminum clamp-on fences which works very well.

My only real complaint is, like Evan Neale put it in his review, "the bar bounces around a lot when you begin to cut into a beam so you get sloppy cuts starting out". The bar actually vibrates quickly from side to side thus making the start of the cut a little wide, but he vibration quickly goes away once the bar and chain enters the kerf. Overall, the cuts are fairly clean and very satisfactory for my job.

I find the Prazi Beamcutter to be a good value.

We were doing some very heavy timber beam end detailing (8" x 13" solid mahogany). We used this tool to rough them in and finished up with pattern bits on the routers. We could find no other tool that could come close to doing what this one did. It paid for itself on the first beam in labor savings. We put it to some hard use and its still working fine.

This saw description makes you think you can do things that it is not up to doing. We returned ours. Only good for balsa wood or any very light weight material. I cannot rate it because I was disappointed in its performance.

I actually use this thing ALL the time. It's super light-weight and handy for all sorts of SMALL projects. So why only 2 stars?

First, the manufacturer claims that you can scroll cut 1-inch and cut up to 2-inch wood. They have got to be kidding. About the most I would recommend would be 3/8" wood. 1/8" to 1/4" is more its comfort zone. The batteries wouldn't even last through cutting a single 2-by-4 (which is only 1-1/2" on a side) assuming you had the patience. Yes, I have a big recip saw.

Cutting anything large you will run into its first serious flaw. If you break a blade off, most likely, you cannot remove the broken-off part. Trust me, I took the entire thing apart, cut, pounded, and filed before I realized this. Thus, my first one went in the trash after about 3 uses. Lesson: You have to be especially sensitive to blade dimensions. For example, the DeWalt blades (ironically = Black and Decker) are a few thousandth's thicker and won't ever come out if you break them off. This leaves you with trying to find blades on the small side.

Starting with my second one of these tools, I have been especially careful about blades, but I have not found a good manufacturer of undersized shank blades. As a result, I go through blades like crazy.

The next major flaw with this tool is that the gearbox is a simple worm gear with a peg in it. Sawdust and especially drywall dust will mix in with the grease in the gear and jam it up. Then it's take-apart time, again.

Another weakness is that the safety is much more difficult to press than the trigger. It's also in an awkward position which causes a lot of fatigue and sore hands. I remove the trigger on mine which is significantly more dangerous, but significantly less difficult to use.

Finally, like all the VersaPak tools, the batteries do have memory and only last a few years.

As a result, after using several of these for several years, I give it 2 stars. It is an incredibly handy tool, but unfortunately, no one makes a quality "micro-SawZall" which is what this really is. The saving point for this otherwise poor product is that it comes with 2 batteries which are worth about twenty bucks, so the real cost of this tool is also about twenty bucks which is a little more consistent with its durability.

Black & Decker VersaPak - vp650 Multipurpose Saw! I own and enjoy most of the B&D VersaPak tools. I use them in my laboratory to do light duty hobby activities. I purchased the B&D VersaPak vp650 Multipurpose saw to have a power tool for light duty actions. Since receiving my vp650 a few days ago, I have used it to cut cardboard, fiberboard and plexiglass. It has accomplished these tasks as expected. A point of notation. I would suggest using Black & Decker or Dewalt blades. I found others in my supply to thick. They would have likely been stuck in the unit. I give this unit an average rating in comparison to other B&D VersaPak tools.

While sawing a 2x4 stud a knot in wood came out and lodged shearing and twisting motor shaft into. This saw may be ok for small work such as picture frames etc. but would not recommend for heavier work.

I am a woodworker by hobby, and a part time weekend warrior light contractor. I bought this saw actually used at auction, but it had apparently very little use. As I do with all of my tools, I immediately gave the saw a good inspection with a square and by making test cuts. It was out of square, but the simple adjustments for the fence made correcting that issue easy. With the original blade, the saw makes nice cuts in hardwood without issue. I like the combination of smaller blade and sliding function, and I feel that is more accurate than the wobble i've seen from larger blades.

I think this is a good saw for the money. Downers are the non-standard trigger lock that makes you think consciously about turning the saw on, but once you've had it a while, its a non issue. One other thing is the miter adjustments are cumbersome at first to get used to as well.. The combo wing-nut and flipper are, however effective and easy to use once you get the hang of it.

A good saw.

I bought the saw because of the price of all the "Big Saws" out there. I have to say for the money I have not been disappointed.
I did take off the lower blade guard right away so as to make the blade visable for fine cutting. I have no trouble operating the saw left or right handed, it has plenty of power to cut 2x material, and the crosscut will cut a 1x12 no problem. I have operated many saws in 20 yrs of construction, and I believe this to be good value for the money. While it is not a 5-600$ saw, it sure gives them a run for the money. I have used it to install crown and trim, and cut shelving, all with no problems, although I would suggest a better Freud blade for this kind of work as the stock one is more of a cross cutter not for fine trim. It beats the slop on the blade that you can get on the bigger saws by keeping the blade to 8.5 inches, the only one better that I know of in this class in a 7.5 inch makita that has a 6,000 rpm motor that cuts like a razor, but then you are back up there in price again, so the choice is yours. I do like the lightweight but very stable base to the saw also, it makes it real nice on jobsites. I do not take lightly buying tools, they are an investment and if taken care of will make you money many times more than their price, and I believe this saw will do the same.

Perhaps my experience is an anomoly, but I had major trouble running this off a 20 amp, 120 volt circuit. I had to replace two shut off switches, and today the motor died.... I was happy with the other details, though the 30" fence is frustratingly small. My other complaint is that the phone reps, although initially responsive, blamed me for the failure of the saw. I've never had any other problems like this, and babied the thing... I'm replacing this with the unisaw...

I did not purchase this saw from Amazon. I bought it from Rockler for a price that was too incredible to pass up - especially when you add in the free mobile base and stool they gave me. The saw also had an upgraded fence. It went together easily. No gobs of grease to remove like Grizzly products. Lots of power to spare. HEAVY machine and solid, well finished castings. Much better deal than contractor saws.

I gave this four stars for two reasons: It did not come with a saw blade and the right table board was not included on my saw. If not for that, I would give it 5 stars.

Do yourself a favor and buy this saw.

I recently purchsed this saw to help in my ongoing quest to control dust in my home / garage workshop. I use one side of my garage to park my car in and back it out for larger projects. This saw is what I have been looking for, all the weight, power, and mobility advantages of a contractor saw with the stability and dust control of a cabinet saw. I have a complete woodshop now, and most of my tools are mobile so I can easily expand into the parking space when necessary. Getting a cabinet saw that runs on standard house current fits all of my mobility needs. I sold my Jet Contractor saw to buy this saw, both are great saws, but this one is a step up! Most of my shop activity is making furniture using hardwoods and exotics. As with some of the other reviewers, my saw came with the micro adjustable fence and a free mobile base. I made my own extension table from wood and laminate that looks more like it was designed for the saw than the one Jet makes. No saw blade included? Most cabinet saws do not include the blade, as the specific use for the saw is not usually as clearly known as with contractor style saws. I also got this saw for a GREAT price! I can only see one improvement to make - but not an urgent one, I plan to replace both belts with link belts for an even better ride. If your needs resemble mine, this saw has all the power and performance that you will ever need in most home shops. I give it 100% of 5 stars!

After using the Super Saw for 7 months I have mostly negative observations. The few positive observations simply do not outweigh the myriad negative, thus the two star rating.

First the negative:

1.)The fence is not flat, does not stay aligned, and has a large amount of deflection with even moderate pressure. The deflection problem was noticeable even just after each adjustment. Four adjustments were required in a month and were not noticeably prolonged when the bolts holding the adjustment were tightened very tight. Lastly, I used several precision rules to check the fence for flatness. Enough variation was evident to make me worry. I ended up purchasing the Vega fence and have been quite happy since. I suggest anyone considering this saw do the same.

2.)Dust collection does not work as advertised. After a great deal of searching on the net and several calls to Jet I finally took the plunge and enlarged the holes in the base of the cabinet. Dust collection is better but not great. Considering I have a 1 � horse power dust collector 8 feet from the saw, I expected much better results.

3.)Saw table and wings are not flat. Granted, they are not out by much: .005 to .007 at the maximum. But considering what I paid for the saw I expected tolerances to be somewhat higher.

4.)Timing belt broke within the first 3 months. This is the belt controlling blade height. I was surprised at how hard the belt is to get to and was not happy with the quality of parts. I can see this being a problem in the future.

5.)Accessories are hard to come by. In particular, the distance of the miter gauge slots from the saw blade makes 3rd party accessories unusable. For example, I have yet to find a tenoning jig that will fit this saw. Also, my choice of fence was limited by the location of the fence bolts and by the configuration of the saw. My preference was the Incra fence, but the manufacture advised me that it would not fit even thought is advertised as fitting almost any saw.

6.)The blade guard and kickback paws need some work and are hard to remove. In addition, no third party options (that I know of) exist.

7.)Lastly, Jet service is sporadic. Depending on who you are connected with, you may or may not get good information.

On the positive side:

1.)Motor runs well and does every job I have asked of it. Including, cutting 2 � inch hardwoods like maple and oak. Just make sure you have a sharp blade.
2.)When you do get a good Jet rep on the phone service is quick.

3.)Saw is quiet and smooth.

I think you can see, considering all the negatives I don't think this saw is a good buy. At some point in the future, when the problems are fixed, it will be worth a look. Until then, stay clear and don't be fooled by a feature list that does not deliver.

I really like the design of the saw but the quality control and customer service leaves a lot to be desired. The sliding table box was missing the hardware kit, the little bag of nuts & bolts to attach it. I called Jet 3 weeks ago and they promised to send a replacement, but today they say the parts are back-ordered and it will be *another* 4 weeks. And the fence locking handle broke right off under normal hand pressure! Not only are fence handles back-ordered for at least 4 weeks, but the ones that are due in are all spoken for already. Apparently they've been breaking a lot of them and I'm not expecting the replacement to be any more durable. It's going to be at least 2 months from the time I bought the saw until it's actually usable! This seems like a great design and that's why I've given it 3 stars but I'm really disappointed in Jet's low quality and poor service.

Really 4 1/2 stars.

The all cast-iron construction gives quiet and smooth operation that has to be heard to be believed. Smoooooooth. The motor's power is very good for 120v. The table is dead flat, but the fence is not, not even close. Laid the fence on the table for use as a straight edge as instructed in the manual; wobbles like a hobbyhorse. Contacted Jet, they sent a new one that is just as bad. But at least it locks down better than the old one. However, if you push firmly on the rear of the fence, it moves and stays there.

The cast iron wings have a sharp 90 degree edge on the front, they ought to match the nice bevel on the main table. And a very minor problem: the miter assembly hold-down bolt threads were defective, Jet sent a new one.

The blade guard is well designed except for the anti-kick-back-pawls, they are sharp enough to cut you and the spring is built for STRONG, certain to mar any wood it contacts. Overall, though, the saw makes most work easy and fast. And at this price I'm willing to put up with the fence, it's good enough for now. And if absolute precision is ever needed from the fence, then there are several replacements available.

If you own a Supersaw, or are just considering one, join the Yahoo Supersaw Group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Supersaw

I'm giving it 3 stars, though maybe it deserves more AS LONG AS you're not going beyond ceramic cutting. A similar plasplugs saw described the product as being able to cut stone, and i was under the impression that the compact saw could do the same. I received it yesterday, started cutting today, and I went through about 7 small 1/4 inch thick stone tiles. POP! There goes the motor. I'm replacing it with a regular, more professional tile saw that can definitely go through stone reliably. I'm not bashing the saw, necessarily, just really placing emphasis on the CERAMIC cutting abilities of this saw, and that's the limit.

Can you finish a high-quality, small job with the Plasplugs Comapct tile saw? Yes, if you are patient and careful to not abuse it.

Will you see a professional tile worker use one? No.

Limitations:

1) Water reservoir is small, heats up and dries out quickly.

2) Does not cut quickly - if you are paying someone to use it by the hour you'd be best off investing more money in a pro machine.

3) I did not experience any failures/breakdowns in making 400+ cuts in 4" limestone tiles, but this machine was not designed to last a lifetime. Don't plan on passing it to your grandchildren.

4) Real Tool Guys will make fun of your "Easy-Bake" tile saw.

I purchased a similar model at Home Depot for more money than the one offered by Amazon. We intended to tile 3 bathrooms: counters and two large showers, and a kitchen with four counters and backsplashes. We also used it to help tile our daughter's kitchen. We probably cut 400+ tiles before the motor started making strange noises. Before that the fence guide hold-down broke, making straight cuts more difficult but not impossible. With one shower to go, we will probably buy a new one. It's worth the price compared to renting and being able to go at your own pace.

This is a nice jig for just about any miter saw. It's made of materials that have been proven durable over time. It's fully adjustable, both for width of crown from wall and for hight from ceiling to bottom of crown. The width adjustment is a plastic crown stop with 2 solidly anchoring screws attached through slots in the bottom of the jig. The hight adjustment is steel extension tabs that slide up from the back fence. This is a fine set-up for dual compound saws, BUT, the motor on a standard compound (or non-compound) mitersaw will contact the back fence when you use the jig on the right side of the blade. This is not a problem if you can make all of your miter/coping cuts on the left side of the blade. The upside down method of cutting crown can get confusing if you're mitering in both directions anyway.

If you would prefer to use the full capacity of your saw though,,, buy the crown stops that the manufacturer of your saw offers. The manufacturer of your saw probably offers crown stops that let you use the full capacity of your saw. The Bench Dog takes away 3/4 inch wide and 3/4 inch high, just like a homemade version would. On a 10 inch miter saw this can be a problem when cutting wide crown molding. Although, you can make a home made version that leaves the capacity at original specification.

ONE LAST THOUGHT, FASTEN THIS DOWN TO YOUR SAW!!!!! Keep your fingers a little while longer and make your cuts more accurate. Leaving this jig loose could lead to cumulative error. Sawdust can get under it, the angle could be affected by the way you have the material supported, etc. The fence is probably the best place to attach, just put a couple of short screws right through the back of the fence and into the jig. Then if the material is a little off of the jig on one side or the other, you'll be able to see it. And with the jig fastened down, the chance of the jig sliding around and losing your mark is eliminated. This is a nicely crafted jig and will give you very dependable service if you treat it well.

I'm sure there are plenty of carpentry experts who can cut crown molding in their sleep or construct a jig out of scrap wood in their shop. But for the beginner, like myself, this is a helpful jig that simplifies cutting crown molding. It has helpful diagrams on the jig to remind you how to position it on the miter saw. Yes, as noted in other reviews, when making a left cut, the saw will not cut the molding entirely, but I simply grabbed my coping saw to finish the 1/4 inch that remained. All in all, I think it was well worth the $25 I spent.

I just finished 30 door crowns using cove molding. I really didn't know these jigs existed. So, after finishing all these cuts manually, I bought this jig. Wish I had it a month ago. Much more consistant cutting - the wood stays in place.

The picture shown for the part is not accurate. The part you sent me has a round hole for mounting in the center. The picture shows one that is 'saturn' shaped, like the one that is on my edger. So, I have purchased a part that I cannot use.

TO: Reviewer:S. Carmona (Manhattan Beach CA) and OTHERS...

I could be wrong but I suspect I have the same EDGE HOG edger as you guys. Just put the washer ON, then the BLADE, then the washer, and TIGHTEN.

I know that the blade would have a tendency to SLIP, but only if it encounters INCREDIBLE RESISTANCE - in which case you would WANT it to slip. I originally thought this was the wrong blade, but after thinking about it, I realized that it actually is a good design.

If you hit something that might bind up the blade, the motor will NOT burn up, but some slippage might occur. If that happens with me, I just remember to tighten the blade when I am done. Actually I tighten it before use ANYWAY - it is usually NOT LOOSE at all though.

It is an amazing edger, with CLEAN EDGES on sidewalks, etc.
For me the blades are working GREAT with the same edger you all have. I am not trying to be snotty or anything, just saying that even though it looks like the wrong blade when you first look at it, it funtions "safely" and does a great job.

They always tend to wear down, that is my only complaint, but that is minor. They are worth it.

Again, you might think by looking at it that there is NO WAY it would work since the hole is not the same, and you might think it would NOT SPIN or CUT (EDGE) anything, but it does work great.

If you have any questions, I would be glad to answer them (here). If you suspect we have different edgers (I think not), I can post some photos of installing the blade on mine. Again, I am just trying to be helpful - not trying to start a "war". :-)

Good Luck,
Greg

They may have had problems in the past but Amazon is delivering the replacement blade the photo shows. It is hardened steel!! I ordered the blade as a backup when I purchased my edger. I used the Black and Decker edger my father owned on the numerous lawns I cut as a kid. The edger lasted over 25 years and was given away to friends when Mom and Dad moved into a condo. It still had the origional blade on it.
I've got a hint for those other reviewers who seem to go through blades. All those sparks you are seeing demonstrate that you are not properly aligned. Take your time, don't rush, you'll get a quality job and you'll save your blades.

flimsy, useless for anything bigger than small,soft stems.
not worth the money.

I'm really glad I tried out this pruner. It is the best I've had so far and I have 60+ roses to prune. I haven't had it long enough to rate it's durability but I do know it cuts smooth and clean. And it cuts through some hefty canes. Be sure to remember it has rachet action and let go and reapply pressure for your cut. Excellent pruner for the price.

MY WIFE HAS TROUBLE WITH HER HANDS. ITS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO CUT BRANCHES WHEN WE DO OUR GARDENING. I GOT THE RACHET CUT AT A FOOD & PRODUCTS SHOW AND ITS FABULOUS. SHE CAN NOW CUT ANY SIZE BRANCH WITH THIS PRODUCT. SHE STILL HAVE TROUBLE USING OTHER KINDS OF CUTTERS.

I've Had this saw for about two years. I need to get something else. The thing that bothers me most about this saw is that theres alot of blade wobble. It drives me crazy. At the begining and end of every cut the board is narrower. I guess you get what you pay for.

I bought this saw and a Delta bench grinder from Amazon.com. They are decent tools for the money, but I found that they are not compatible with...well, anything. Can't be expanded, and don't work with any Delta accessories.

The tablesaw does the job, but I can see where corners were cut. For example, the blade opening is crudely machined and does not accept Delta inserts. The miter gauge has a *lot* of slop, and products that correct the fit (such as Fasttrak) cannot be used because the guide blade (aluminum) is thinner than standard--1/4" instead of 3/8".

Delta doesn't mention these low-end models on their website, and as far as I can tell, they are exclusive to Amazon.com. Usually such products are given a generic or house label--but then Amazon.com wouldn't sell nearly as many, compared with trading on the Delta name.

When considering this table saw, you do need to think about its price.....it's affordable, as far as saws go. Remember: it's a light-duty saw, for the weekend woodworker like myself. The set-up was quick and easy. This isn't a "monster" saw that will bring you 25 years of 50 cuts-a-day, never-miss plywood-ripping action, but it's a good little saw that'll let you do some home projects. I recommend it.