Rockwell RK7321 BladeRunner

Product Description

,DEWALT DCS380L1 20-Volt MAX Li-Ion 3.0 Ah Reciprocating Saw Kit ,Bare-Tool Milwaukee 2645-20 18-Volt M18 Jig Saw ,Milwaukee 2420-21 12-Volt Hackzall Saw Kit , DEWALT DW788 1.3 Amp 20-Inch Variable-Speed Scroll Saw , Hitachi C10FCH2 10-Inch Miter Saw Product Description Create a clean cut through wood, metal, plastic, aluminum, or ceramic tile with the Rockwell BladeRunner. Thanks to its quick release wall mount, the BladeRunner is easy to take along on job sites or house projects. The BladeRunner is compatible with any T-shank jigsaw blade--simply change the blade when working with a new material. A low-friction stainless steel tabletop and dust port make both cutting and cleanup easy. Ideal for a multiple variety of cuts, the BladeRunner is truly a versatile cutting machine. Its cutting capacities are: up to 1-1/2 inches (wood), up to 1-1/4 inches (PVC), up to 3/8-inch (aluminum), up to 1/8 inch (steel), and up to 3-8 inch (ceramic tile).

BladeRunner with Wall MountAt a Glance:

• Variable speed motorcontrol and 5.5-ampinput power for cutting versatility
• Mount on walls or any benchtop surface
• Durable, low-friction stainless steel tabletop
• Quick and easy T-Shank blade change
• Dust port attaches to any shop vacuum

Lightweight, compact design ideal for mounting on walls or benchtop surfaces.Make precise cuts through wood, metal, plastic, aluminum, and ceramic tile.Quick-Mounting and Portable DesignWith the BladeRunner, there's no need for bulky workbenches or multiple tools. Simply mount the cutter to the wall with the included wall mount, or on any benchtop surface. The 5.5-amp power provides reliable performance without unnecessary bulk. At 13.2 pounds, the BladeRunner is easy to take to and from the job-site.

Stainless steel tabletop.Versatile Cuts and Instant Blade ChangesThis multi-purpose precision cutting machine utilizes any T-shank jigsaw blade, so making a variety of cuts is as simple as a quick blade change. Within moments, you can go from creating scroll cuts in wood to circle cuts in tile. Thanks to its variable speed motor control and a simple blade-changing mechanism, you can quickly switch between different cuts in different materials.With the available accessories, you can make perfect circle cuts (RW9261) or cut picture frames (RW9262) with precision and ease.

Durable Construction with Dust Port for Less CleanupFeaturing a low-friction, stainless steel tabletop, the BladeRunner's durable design is built to last. For added convenience, its dust port attaches to any shop vacuum to keep your workspace cleaner and improve visibility.

What's in the BoxBladeRunner, 5 T-shank jigsaw blades, miter gauge/rip fence, wall mount, screws, drywall anchors, and user manual.

This review is from: Rockwell RK7321 BladeRunner with Wall Mount (Tools & Home Improvement)
Confession: From reading the reviews of this thing, I fully expected to get it, try it and send it back because it seemed from previous buyers that it was a piece of junk. However, I was pleasantly surprised by many of it's features and abilities. Since it came with free shipping, I figured I had little to lose.

Let me start by saying that the best tool there is, is the right one for the job. Depending on your needs, this may or may not be the tool for you. I needed this for four things.

1. Cut square aluminum profiles and have them be plumb and square: Check!
2. Cut 16 gauge X 6" sheet metal straight across and also be able to slot 1/4" slots for the brackets I am making: Check(with a slight modification)!
3. Cut plastic/PVC straight and accurately: Check!
4. Cut wood, mostly 1"x2"s for making jigs, etc.: Check!

Also, since my budget is limited as is my workspace, running across this on the infomercial happened at the right time and place for me. I was considering getting a chop saw with metal blade (around $250) and a metal band saw blade for my band saw (around $50 + about $12 shipping) because I am making items that I can sell for around $180 each, I figured one sale and this is paid for so I gave it a go.

The good, bad and ugly:

First the BAD: Because so many reviews were bad. This is not perfect. It could use a little tweaking but I have found workarounds for any issues that I had with it. I would give it 5 stars if not for these tiny inconveniences.
Let's talk about the miter gauge/fence combo. It could be way better. That being said, I have purchased a $500 band saw and the miter gauge could've been better. In all actuality, this fence/miter is better and more precise than most I have purchased with other tools. It locks down tight and there is virtually no play at all in the miter gauge. The main problem I have (had) with it, is the gap between the bottom of the fence and the table is large enough that a 16 gauge sheet metal will slip under it, making it hard to slide straight. The solution is easy enough. You can clamp a piece of 1"x2" using 2" spring clams to the fence, closing that gap. Or, like I did, you can use a fence you have laying around and clamp that to the BR's fence. Problem solved.

Once I did that, I was able to accurately and precisely cut a straight line through a 6" piece of 16 gauge sheet metal pretty easily and quickly and yes, I am using the metal blade that came with the unit. While I considered buying some Bosch 4" T-Shank blades (mainly due to the complaints I heard about the blades that come with the unit), I decided to wait to see if I would even keep this instead of spend another $15 on blades. I will buy the blades when these become dull but the ones that come with the unit are fine. Again, the best tool is the right one for the job.

Another problem when I first received the unit was that the miter gauge wouldn't slide very easily in it's track. I lubed it up with a little WD-40 and slid it inside the track back and forth a few times and it ran much smoother. It's not the smoothest sliding thing in the world still but it works for my needs. Since the table is stainless steel and I am cutting a lot of metal/aluminum, I am producing a lot of metal chips and dust. I figure a good cleaning with a little WD and shop rag after each use couldn't hurt anyway, so this was not a major issue.

I may occasionally want to use this to cut other things, as I have future plans for other items to make that would require cutting 2" round steel tubes. I don't know how well this will work for that but I don't see it being a problem. The distance between the arm and the table is up to 3 1/2", so it should work fine.

Now the GOOD: I hate to beat a dead horse here but let me say again, the best tool for the job is the one that works for what you need to get done. This tool is by far the most accurate at cutting straight without too much trouble (and inventing/constructing fences, sleds, etc.) that I have ever owned. With my band saw (Craftsman), I had to build a cross cut sled and custom fence to get the results I wanted. Of course a chop saw would work great but again, since I needed to cut all kinds of material, buying a chop saw and 2 or 3 different blades would have been cost prohibitive, not to mention much more of a pain to change blades. I could have purchased a table saw but would have had the same issue with cost and also blades.

This pretty much does all that it says on the infomercial. It's not going to be the end all-do all for a lot of heavy construction or jobs that require large pieces of wood, etc.

In closing all I can say is, if you need a compact tool that is quick and easy to use and don't plan on building a house with it, you should take a chance. Worst case scenario, if it's not the right tool for the job you're doing, send it back and get a refund. Since you get free shipping from Amazon, you have nothing to lose but maybe a little time. If it works out for you, as it did for me, you will save a ton of time and space in your garage and most importantly, money!

Now for the UGLY: Probably the ugliest thing about this is my face, trying to do measurement calculations to get everything right. But seriously, just based on the fact that I am getting a ton of metal bits inside the mechanism that runs the blade, which are probably getting hot and may some day freeze this thing up, I am not sure how long this will last. It does come with a 2 year warranty and I have heard Rockwell's customer service isn't that great (another reason for bad reviews and that's why I am glad Amazon sells it), but if this thing lasts me a year or even 6 months, I will make many times my investment. Also, I am going to tinker around and see if there is a good way to use an air compressor or something to blow out all those metal particles, etc. I should be able to come up with something.