I need an electric saw to cut fence rails etc.nothing too grand and only for
occasional use would a B&D Scorpion or Westfalia one be preferable to a POW
110 from Toolstation or any suggestions Thanks E

On Fri, 24 Feb 2006 09:12:43 -0000, "leveled" wrote:

I need an electric saw to cut fence rails etc.nothing too grand and only for
occasional use would a B&D Scorpion or Westfalia one be preferable to a POW
110 from Toolstation or any suggestions Thanks E



Don't on any account buy a B&D Scorpion. They are utter ****e. I
bought one originally from B&Q - jammed so returned and replaced.
Replacement cooked - returned and refunded + £15 from B&Q. Plus they
have proprietary blades.


For this kind of application, I would go for a saw of the DeWalt 303
or Metabo PSE1200 shape rather than the POW110 or Bosch PFZ600 shape
that you mention.

The latter ones tend to be a bit top heavy with the shape and position
of the motor and are awkward to use. Having the motor central or
relatively low slung makes the tool much easier to guide.

If you weren't looking to spend that much (these are £150 and up),
then the Titan (Screwfix 94036) is a design of that type at around
£30.

--

..andy

Andy Hall wrote:

Don't on any account buy a B&D Scorpion. They are utter ****e. I

Not only that they cut very slowly, and vibrate your hands to bits!

(although if you want one, pay the postage and you can have mine!)

If you weren't looking to spend that much (these are £150 and up),
then the Titan (Screwfix 94036) is a design of that type at around
£30.

These seem quite solid as well:

http://www.axminster.co.uk/name/reci...-Saw-21374.htm



--
Cheers,

John.

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On Sat, 25 Feb 2006 02:08:45 +0000, John Rumm
wrote:

Andy Hall wrote:

Don't on any account buy a B&D Scorpion. They are utter ****e. I

Not only that they cut very slowly, and vibrate your hands to bits!

(although if you want one, pay the postage and you can have mine!)

If you weren't looking to spend that much (these are £150 and up),
then the Titan (Screwfix 94036) is a design of that type at around
£30.

These seem quite solid as well:

http://www.axminster.co.uk/name/reci...-Saw-21374.htm



I would have said so too. However, I happened to be in their shop
last autumn and somebody was returning one where the mechanism had
jammed....... Reminded me of the Scorpion affair, although might
have been a one-off.

This is one where I would almost be tempted to suggest buying a cheap
product. I can't think of an application involving a reciprocating
saw where precision or long periods of use come into the equation, and
I can't think of regular use applications either.

So my main concern then would be the cost of returning the thing when
it breaks being vastly more than the purchase price, and having to
procure another.



--

..andy

Andy Hall wrote:

I would have said so too. However, I happened to be in their shop
last autumn and somebody was returning one where the mechanism had
jammed....... Reminded me of the Scorpion affair, although might
have been a one-off.

So far mine has survived - but as you say it does not get extensive use.
It was handy for cutting through old tile batten in situ as I took the
roof down. An trimming flitch plates to length was probably the longest
susstained use I have given it (10 - 15 min cut each time).

This is one where I would almost be tempted to suggest buying a cheap
product. I can't think of an application involving a reciprocating
saw where precision or long periods of use come into the equation, and

Vibration is one issue - if you routinely need to use one for more than
30 mins a day it might be worth spending more.

I can't think of regular use applications either.

Window fitters and demolition people seem to be the main long term users.


--
Cheers,

John.

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\================================================= ================/

Andy Hall wrote:

This is one where I would almost be tempted to suggest buying a cheap
product.

FAINTS

:-)

--
Dave
The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257

On Sun, 26 Feb 2006 10:59:10 GMT, "The Medway Handyman"
wrote:

Andy Hall wrote:

This is one where I would almost be tempted to suggest buying a cheap
product.

FAINTS

:-)


I did say *almost*. :-)




--

..andy

On Sun, 26 Feb 2006 10:59:10 GMT, "The Medway Handyman"
wrote:

Andy Hall wrote:

This is one where I would almost be tempted to suggest buying a cheap
product.

FAINTS

:-)


I did say almost :-)


However, the scenario does fit my normal decision criteria, so I'm not
being inconsistent.


Q1. Is the work to be done or application one where a better tool
will produce a better result or where I am concerned about the result?
This is my number 1 criterion by far.

A1. Usually yes, which is why I will tend to go for a better tool.
In this case, probably not. Sawing logs or fence posts is not a
precision application and a multisaw is not a precision tool.

Q2. Will it do the job? In other words, is it powerful enough and
won't break for the duration of the job?

A2. This is a questionmark because the power specs. on cheap power
tools are virtually meaningless as a result of poor motor efficiency.
The Scorpion failed miserably on this criterion.

Q3. Will I be using the tool on a lot of occasions?

A3. With a multisaw, probably not because I have more specific tools
covering most jobs that will produce a better result, thus leaving the
number of applications for this one quite limited.

Q4. If I am going to use it a lot, is there a difference in
ergonomics and comfort with a better tool.

A4. In this case probably yes. However, if my use is short and
occasional, that is probably tolerable. I don't confuse this point
with one that says that because use is occasional and short that cheap
is OK if criterion 1 of a difference in outcome isn't met.

Q5. What are the service/warranty conditions?

A5. If I buy a £30 multisaw, I'm probably going to get a one year
warranty, if I'm lucky 2 or three. Really, that is irrelevant
because it will cost more in time and fuel to exercise that than the
thing is worth. So I would bin it. OTOH, if I had bought a mid
range tool, the investment is such that I wouldn't want to do that.
This is probably the worst scenario. At the higher end, I can get
proper service and construction is likely to be such that it's a
non-issue anyway. The Scorpion was the mid range - cost a fair
amount. However, B&Q addressed the problem by covering my costs of
returning the product.


In almost all cases, a better tool does produce a better outcome, I do
use it a fair amount and the ergonomics and servicability make it a
more sound investment for me to go for a good quality tool.

This one's an exception.


So you need smelling salts at all?


--

..andy