Shopsmith Forums

Just happened to see an infomercial on this unit this morning. I am not impressed nor do I want one, but would love to hear the collective voices of wisdom and experience or thought.

https://www.amazon.com/Rotorazer-Saw-Ch ... ds=zip+saw

I don't see me wanting to go buy it... I have a number of other tools for such jobs. I suspect many of us have "special" tools we have bought either new or used that we really never use... Sometimes we (or at least I do) own a "special" tool for many years without using it but will then start using it for some certain job, then put it back on the shelf for more years of non use.
I rarely look closely at my woodshop cost since it is 90% hobby but just guessing I suspect that what few actual hobby projects I have completed may well have an indirect cost of around $1,000 each...
Shop pleasure is of course priceless.
My farm/mechanics shop has saved and made me a great deal of money over the years... The woodshop, not so much.


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Won't be on my Christmas wish list.

I have the Rockwell 5 amp 4-1/2" cut (similar to their Versacut), however I bought it for a very specific cut using a specific blade in thick ceramic tile. It cumbersome as an everyday usage tool, versus lots of other tools. I've since found a use for it cutting notches and cutouts for outlets in ply and OSB, though a jig saw was fine. I paid $90.
I think the depth of cut on the one you link to is drastically to shallow for most construction needs unless it will use a clamped guide and is strictly for breaking down ply.

Be well,
Ben

I am not sure that you could use this to break down ply unless you stick to 3/8 or less for thickness.

thunderbirdbat wrote:I am not sure that you could use this to break down ply unless you stick to 3/8 or less for thickness.

Very true.

What caused me to look it up was an informercial. In it, someone had a piece plywood about 2 feet wide by about 6 feet long and was jamming that piece of wood into a Shopsmith bandsaw. Horrible!

For such cuts, I have a Fein multimaster or something like that. I have several blades and I love that it will simply plunge and cut exactly where I want it to cut. Of course, the Fein cost much more, but the cut can be square depending on the blade used. It is noisy, but I originally purchased it to scrap paint off the exterior of windows. It will certainly break glass quickly. But, since then I have cut out the bottom of the cabinet under the sink and it was a beautiful cut. Blades are not cheap at about $14 each, but they are well worth the cost and it sure makes works quick and easy.

Thanks for posting your thoughts.

I've seen that commercial. Laughed and chuckled - Oh Boy! another "shiney object" that will likely appeal to tool junkies.

I have one of the big model of the Rockwell Sonicrafter which is a lower cost first cousin of your Fein Multimaster.
So far I have not used it much in the woodshop on projects but I find it really useful in remodeling work when doing such things as wiring (cutting in boxes) or plumbing (access openings) and stuff like trimming off door trim etc. to clear flooring or carpet.
Dremel also makes one that is lower cost yet and the consensus of several wood forums seems to rate them as quality matching price.
Kind of surprisingly a fair number of woodworkers mentioned buying one sold by Harbor Freight and were happy with them...
Blade attaching mounts seem to have become pretty standard allowing you to use about anybody's blades / attachments on about anybody's tool brand.


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