Shopsmith On TV In A Bad Way

algale · Post by **algale** » Sun Sep 07, 2014 5:16 am

Late night/early morning infomercial for the "rotorazer" has a segment showing how it is supposedly superior to old fashioned saws like circular saws, jig saws and band saws. Lo and behold the band saw shown is a Shopsmith band saw mounted on a Mark V. The demonstrator is shown struggling to cut a piece of plywood on the band saw.

Edit: You can watch an abbreviated video of the infomercial here. http://www.buyrotorazer.com/howitworks.html Click the video that says "Rotorazer Saw" on a particle board background. There's a brief shot of the guy struggling with the Shopsmith band saw in the first 10 seconds or so.

ChrisNeilan · Post by **ChrisNeilan** » Sun Sep 07, 2014 10:57 am

Doesn't play on my iPad...

WmZiggy · Post by **WmZiggy** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 9:10 am

I don't think SS has to worry. Yes, for younger less experienced woodworkers the concept of 'one tool does all' might sell. But, for experienced dust makers we all know it's hype. Anyone with a brain can see that one tool doesn't do it all and there are jobs for hand tools and jobs for stationary ones

As an aside here, my wife bought me the Rotorazer for my birthday in August. She got their Platinum version, which I believe has a heavier cast blade housing and jig. I haven't tested it out yet, but it's well made of heavy construction. This was my wife's way of saying to me "You know those cracked ceramic floor tiles in the kitchen...please replace them." I've told her through the years that it will require a diamond blade and specialty tool. I guess she call my stall.

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 12:56 pm

algale wrote:Late night/early morning infomercial for the "rotorazer" has a segment showing how it is supposedly superior to old fashioned saws like circular saws, jig saws and band saws. Lo and behold the band saw shown is a Shopsmith band saw mounted on a Mark V. The demonstrator is shown struggling to cut a piece of plywood on the band saw.

Edit: You can watch an abbreviated video of the infomercial here. http://www.buyrotorazer.com/howitworks.html Click the video that says "Rotorazer Saw" on a particle board background. There's a brief shot of the guy struggling with the Shopsmith band saw in the first 10 seconds or so.

That is a problem with a band saw trying to cut a curve in a full sheet of Ply but it is not a problem unique to the Shopsmith Bandsaw. Any Band saw would have the same problem. A sabre saw is the answer or an aux table for the band saw.

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 2:37 pm

Ed in Tampa wrote:That is a problem with a band saw trying to cut a curve in a full sheet of Ply but it is not a problem unique to the Shopsmith Bandsaw. Any Band saw would have the same problem. A sabre saw is the answer or an aux table for the band saw.

When watching the video, I couldn't believe the examples of hand saw and bandsaw. I completely agree with Ed. Wrong tools for the job!

To continue with the poor examples- you could actually come closer to cutting out an arc in ply or particle board with an axe or hand chisel than a cross cut hand saw or a bandsaw.

lightnin · Post by **lightnin** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 8:25 pm

WmZiggy wrote:my wife bought me the Rotorazer for my birthday in August.

If your Shopsmith shows up on CL we'll know the advertisement was true.