Product Description
The BladeRunner is a portable, multi-purpose precision cutter that utilizes any T-Shank jigsaw blades. The variable speed motor control and simple blade changing mechanism allows you to cut wood, metal, plastic, aluminum, and ceramic tile. There really is no limit to the projects that the BladeRunner can tackle. Weighing in at only 18 pounds, this unit can be easily taken anywhere. The unit can be operated on any bench top surface or mounted to the convenient wall mount bracket. The dust port attaches to any shop vacuum for less cleanup and hassle. It includes a wall mount bracket, miter gauge/rip fence, five T-Shank jigsaw blades, and instruction manual.
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #7061 in Home Improvement
- Size: 1
- Brand: Rockwell
- Model: RK7321
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: .0" h x.0" w x.0" l,.0 pounds
Features
- Includes wall mount, 5 t-shank jigsaw blades, and mitergauge/rip fence
- Durable, low-friction stainless steel table top
- Portable and easy to take anywhere since it weighs only 18 lbs
- Perfect for inside cuts, miter cuts, scroll cuts, metal & tile cuts, circle cuts, and rip cuts
- 5.5 Amp input power
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
273 of 279 people found the following review helpful.
The right tool for the job
By Done Tried It
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.
276 of 285 people found the following review helpful.
Don't need to be a replicant to use it.
By evolution
Installed on 24 inch OC studs. Some of the images are presented on Bladerunner page.
*****
Extremely light. Love the carry handle and little effort needed to handle weight. Lots of people complain about plastic parts and this one has plenty. No problem for me. This is 21st century and plastics are de riguer and quite sturdy.
******
Bladerunner seems smaller in person, but quite adequate nonetheless.
*****
I read a review about using better quality blades than came with it and I agree. Stuck the wood blade in for first try and it did not cut as expected. Put a better quality blade in it from my jigsaw collection and it cut like a hot knife through butter. Yep, use better blades. Only tried wood so far, but believe it will do fine with other materials as per specs.
******
About blade insertion: Seems if the blade is stuck in and you think it is secure, it may not be. When placed in reciever, there seems to be about a 1/16 more it can be pushed in(like its going against a spring force) and that is where it is totally secure. I put one blade in(without pushing the extra 1/16-before I knew I had to), pulled up on it to see if secure(it seemed to be), and when I started cutting, it came out. I tested the procedure over and over and when I didn't push that little extra, I could pull out the blade every time by hand. So, now I'm careful to make sure, with the added grunt pull.
*******
I have to wear ear protection when using. It makes too much noise for me not to.
******
When cutting, it does not shake and vibrate at all. Very satisfied with how secure it is in the wall mount. If you are not using the right blade, wrong speed, too much feed, etc., I suppose the machine will let you know with some shaking.
*******
The instructions said to mount the bottom wall mount bracket at 3 and 1/2 feet from floor and I found this to be way too high for my 6 foot height(I did not install it there and redo to optimum height for me-I tested some heights before hand and found 35 inches was good for me).
*****
The power cord outlet from machine is at the same height as the bottom wall mount bracket. It shoots out smack dab in middle of it and rubs against it. Doubt if the little vibration the machine has would cause wear through. However, some designer did not catch this little mistake. The cord immediately takes a bend right out of the strain relief because of this. To rectify, I would have to cut the left and right stanctions about an inch, so as to lower machine beyond the point described above. Maybe I could add about 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch of material into the stanction reciever holes in wall mount bracket(to rise above bracket), but this would leave only a little of stanction in hole. I could beef it up by adding pipe brackets on stanction or drill holes in stanctions and sink some screws. With my mounting I can do that.
*******
The instructions say the upper rollers are adjusted at factory so as not to bend blade when put in position. Well mine bend the blade slightly. Instructions say adjustment can be made to center, but I tried and tried and could not get the movement needed. It is slight and don't think roller wear or cut is effected enough to worry about, but I will try to find a way around it.
******
All in all good tool and I think it will perform as advertised.
303 of 320 people found the following review helpful.
Great Tool with limits
By Islander
If you've seen the commercial on TV it shows a tool that does it all, but its only half true. It can't cut any wood over 1 inch thick because the blade wanders. The T square keep getting hung up in the track and the hold down device is not designed to hold round stock. Its a good machine but not a great one..
Even when cutting pine the blade tries to follow the grain..The blade needs support at the top. I had very high hopes for it. Having a very small shop I thought it would be great. I wouldn't say it's junk but it's not as good as the commercials say...
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