On Thu, 29 Sep 2011 06:43:59 -0700, Winston
wrote:

Here, a few months ago, I wondered aloud what would
happen if I clamped my saber saw underneath a work
surface so that I could free up my hands to guide
the workpiece. This would allow me, for example to
do miter and notch cuts in steel quickly and accurately.

I tried it and found that I couldn't hold the workpiece
down against the face of the surface for some reason.

You need a workpiece holddown. Howzbout a rubber inline skate wheel
on a stick, held from above, parallel with the blade direction?


I jumped to the conclusion that I needed a larger
'orbital' blade clearance setting but even with that
set for maximum 'return clearance' the work still
vibrated uncontrollably. I wondered what could be the
cause but vectored off to do other chores instead of
engaging in any analysis.

Prolly holddown. The machine tends to vibrate and it's passed off into
the workpiece, plus the effects of the blade cutting.


This morning, a commercial on teevee revealed the cause.
Our friends at Rockwell discovered that the
blade was flopping laterally and have included an upper
guide to minimize that. Apparently it works
well enough, if very slowly, even in wood.

https://www.rockwelltools.com/US/BladeRunner_Saw-P1564.aspx?utm_source=BRTV&utm_medium=TV

Oh, GAWD, I'm glad I dumped my DISH contract! I watched one of the
little videos they had and instantly remembered.


After watching the demos, I'm convinced that this approach
won't work for me because of the swarf that will jam
in the upper blade guide, causing damage to it in short
order.

Will a dust/swarf-collecting vac help?


Still it is cool to see how they addressed the 'floppy
blade' issue.

With a holddown/guide, eh?


Now, I wonder how to make a large jigsaw that uses regular
hack saw blades to do many of the things that the Blade-
Runner is shown doing, without tearing up a blade guide
in the process.

Use a wire instead of a guide. Tension the upper end like a coping
saw or scrollsaw.


--Winston -- Loves his bandsaw but it won't cut steel and
decent blades are spendy!

Buy a new tool!
http://www.harborfreight.com/portabl...saw-47840.html
$99, on sale for $79, less a 20% coupon you might have = $64 plus $20
for a trio of bimetal blades.

--
Win first, Fight later.

--martial principle of the Samurai