Cordless Hand-Held Bandsaw

Cordless Hand-Held Bandsaw WOODLOT EQUIPMENT Miscellaneous 29-2-37 I got a call recently from Scott McIntosh, Wixom, Mich., who wanted to tell me about the world's first cordless bandsaw, which he invented and patented. Scott's the ultimate do-it-yourselfer so he also decided to manufacture and market his new battery-powered saw. That means he's now in competition with the "big boy" tool companies. Scott says response from users has been fantastic and he asked if he could send us one of his new saws so we could test it out. After it arrived, I took it over to my friend, Paul Tierney, a carpenter-turned-artisan who does a lot of metalwork. Paul's a FARM SHOW-type guy who can build just about anything. I knew he'd give the new saw a good workout. (You can see some of Paul's work at www.susanthesteelchicken.com.) The cordless saw is light enough to hold in one hand. It's primary market is probably pipe fitters and others in the trades who work up on scaffolds and have to continually climb up and down to cut pipe. But McIntosh points out that it will cut all kinds of metal and anything else you would normally cut with a hacksaw, reciprocating saw, or a stationary bandsaw. The saw's 1/2-in. bandsaw blade will cut any pipe or material up to 2 1/2 in. thick. It weighs 8 lbs. and is just 15 in. long. It's driven by a 21,000 rpm Johnson electric motor that gets power from an 18-volt battery. Comes with a 1-hr. quick charger. The blade can be changed in seconds. After several days cutting metal rod, straps and other assorted pieces, here's what Paul had to say about the saw, which sells for $349. "It's well-built, small and lightweight. I used another portable bandsaw - not cordless - a few years ago that weighed about twice as much and didn't work nearly as well as this one. I normally use a 4-in. grinder to cut through this type of material but this was much quieter and doesn't throw sparks like a grinder wheel. The battery has good life and it comes with a great case. I was very impressed with how fast and easy it cuts. I can see that it would be especially handy for pipe fitters and anyone else with a lot of pipe to cut. Makes clean, square cuts." The only complaint Paul had about the saw is that he didn't like the on-off safety switch. But he admits he doesn't really like any safety switches on tools. We asked McIntosh about it and he said uses the same switch on his bandsaw as what's used on Dewalt power tools. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Scott McIntosh, Stout Tool Corp., 29233 Haas Rd., Suite A, Wixom, Mich. 48393 (ph 877 337-8688 or 248-767-0780; email: scottmcintosh @stouttool.com; website: www.stouttool .com).

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