Straight Scoop on the Rockwell Bladerunner Saw

The launch of the Blade Runner saw by Rockwell International was accompanied by a TV infomercial. That led many to expect too much, and turned away a lot of woodworkers. And that resulted in a good number of unfavorable assessments. True, there are some limitations -- it's actually not the miracle tool you might expect from the infomercial. Even acknowledging the restrictions you probably will still find it a good tool meant for home jobs.

Some Saw Sense

Even restricting our scope to the usually used power saws still leaves us with several different types to cover. Many households have an electric drill, and quite a few have a jig saw (also known as a saber saw). Looking a little like a hand mixer, these saws use a short blade towards the front which goes up and down as driven by a motor.

More powerful saws utilize rigidly attached blades. They may sit on the workbench or directly on the floor. Table saws are quite common. They have a large flat work surface (the table) and cut using a spinning round saw blade. Much like the Blade runner, they have a work surface with miter guage and fence for making straight cuts. Another common power tool, the band saw, typically sits on the floor and stands 5 feet high or taller. To keep the blade straight and aligned, these types of saws work with a blade that is a continuous loop. It's held taut by two large pulleys. For curved cuts, a scroll saw is often used. These saws look a lot like the Bladerunner. But scroll saw blades are thinner for tighter curves, and are connected at both ends for better precision.

The Blade Runner

Mounting a jig saw beneath a work surface, the Bladerunner looks and works a lot like a scroll saw. Since it's not a hand-held jig saw, you'll have both hands free. And just like a table saw the work surface (table) incorporates guides for making straight cuts. The Bladerunner additionally features a hold-down to keep your work from vibrating with the blade. This furthermore doubles as a safety guard.

You can make straight as well as angled cuts using the miter and fence quides, just like you would using a table saw. You also can make curved cuts just like on a band saw or scroll saw. You won't have as much cutting power as you would with a table saw or band saw. These normally have 1 HP or larger motors. With the blade only connected at one end you may experience some "blade wander" on thick materials.

But if you take it slow there is a lot about the Blade Runner to like. For working with a variety of materials, the Bladerunner's quick blade changing is a real time saver. Changing the blade on a table- or band-saw takes a good deal longer. You can cut wood, thin metal, plastic, and even tiles using the appropriate speed setting and blade. Although not as fast in comparison to a band or table saw, you can get much more accurate straight and curved cuts than you would with a hand-held jig saw.

With a weight of just over 18 pounds and a built-in carrying handle it's still really portable. Most folks prefer to use it on a workbench, although it does include wall-mounting brackets. The wall mounts are quick release, and so even if you do use them it's quick to move the saw to exactly where you may want it. Regardless of the mount, combining the functions of several saws into one makes it an excellent space saver. Although specialized saws will be more powerful, in the event you only have space and budget for one, the Rockwell Blade Runner might just be your best option.