Rockwell Blade Runner?

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:07 pm

Anybody have one? Do you like it? Is it holding up well?
http://www.rockwelltools.com/us/Bladerunner_Micro.html?gclid=CImi_MyrgK0CFQjd4AodODANSw
Was looking at one at Lowes tonight and it just looked interesting.

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JPG · Post by **JPG** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:07 pm

robinson46176 wrote:Anybody have one? Do you like it? Is it holding up well?
http://www.rockwelltools.com/us/Bladerunner_Micro.html?gclid=CImi_MyrgK0CFQjd4AodODANSw
Was looking at one at Lowes tonight and it just looked interesting.

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Post #3 is somewhat 'interesting'!:D

What were they cooking at Lowes?]http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showthr ... laderunner[/URL]

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 8:45 am

JPG40504 wrote:Post #3 is somewhat 'interesting'!:D

What were they cooking at Lowes?]http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showthr ... laderunner[/URL]

I had searched for a thread like that yesterday but didn't find it.
That was 12 months ago. I do well to remember 12 seconds ago.

That reminds me... I have a light on that reminds me that I need to go down and close the air intake on the wood furnace. It stays sat the same 98% of the time but if it needs a morning boost etc. we turn on an obvious pair of sconce lights in the main hall so we don't forget and leave the air intake open.

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foxtrapper · Post by **foxtrapper** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 11:46 am

I have clamped my jigsaw upside down in my trusty old workmate table before. Does that count?

In all sincerity, the tool looks silly to me. The proverbial solution seeing a problem to fix. The blade guide on top only catches the wobbling/flapping blade at the top of its stroke. I'd be willing to lay money on it that the blade is already well twisted by the wood as you cut curves, and probably bounces off the guides on the up stroke, bending the blade.

wa2crk · Post by **wa2crk** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 11:53 am

Looks like a toy. That's why they are advertising it at Christmas. Appeals to the less skilled consumer.
Bill V

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 12:05 pm

foxtrapper wrote:I have clamped my jigsaw upside down in my trusty old workmate table before. Does that count?

In all sincerity, the tool looks silly to me. The proverbial solution seeing a problem to fix. The blade guide on top only catches the wobbling/flapping blade at the top of its stroke. I'd be willing to lay money on it that the blade is already well twisted by the wood as you cut curves, and probably bounces off the guides on the up stroke, bending the blade.

That looks about like it. Someone mentioned in the other thread that the Shopsmith jig saw was much the same. It just looked "cute" to me (and I don't own one).

The things that struck me as cute were:
The decent feeling little fence system.
The lever controlled hold-down.
The top suction port for a vac hose.

The old SS jigsaw with a saber blade in it and the arm removed should handle anything that a bandsaw won't due to size interference.
My stand alone scroll saw with an extra heavy blade would also do many of the same jobs.
Then also there is always the hand-held jig/saber saw used both normally and as you indicated in a Work-mate etc.

They did have a slick display with a push-button to show an on-screen advert.

I guess I was just attracted by the sizzle...

I'll bet they will sell a lot of them though, especially to guys where that may constitute 80% of their shop and folks that do crafts.

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fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 12:14 pm

robinson46176 wrote:I have a light on that reminds me that I need to go down and close the air intake on the wood furnace. It stays sat the same 98% of the time but if it needs a morning boost etc. we turn on an obvious pair of sconce lights in the main hall so we don't forget and leave the air intake open.

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Okay so what happens when you can't remember what the light is for???? Sorry I know I should not ask that question, just could not resist. Fjimp

lv2wdwrk · Post by **lv2wdwrk** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 1:39 pm

BIL bought one. We could not get it to do any of the cuts he wanted.(Craft type cuts)

He took it back and bought a jigsaw and band saw.

fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 3:35 pm

I watched a demo on one in a tool store. I really didn't feel very positive about it. It seemed as though everything they tried with it I could think of at least one tool I already own that would do the same thing. Fjimp

cincinnati · Post by **cincinnati** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 4:51 pm

As a Shopsmith owner one would be better off with an old style jigsaw cheap off craigslist. I got mine for $25.

As far as the Rockwell. I think it would be a great tool for craft people. I'm thinking the lady who makes crafts on her kitchen table or the retired guy interested in making a birdhouse for gifts or his grandkids to paint etc... But if you are woodworker chances are you already have better tools to do the same job.