Dual Saw - anyone ever tried one of these whiz-bangs?
- Thread starter Packard V8
- Start date
Big-Foot
Well-known member
Had one and brought it back to Menards for a full refund..
Why?
1) there is no base / platform to rest the saw against your work
2) there is no way to guage where the cut line will be or to see where the blade is about to cut. This is primarily due to the blade shield which immediately fills up with saw dust (I only tried it on wood)..
In short, it is nothing more than an angle grinder with counter rotating saw blades and as such would be exceptionally difficult to use with any precision.
Why?
1) there is no base / platform to rest the saw against your work
2) there is no way to guage where the cut line will be or to see where the blade is about to cut. This is primarily due to the blade shield which immediately fills up with saw dust (I only tried it on wood)..
In short, it is nothing more than an angle grinder with counter rotating saw blades and as such would be exceptionally difficult to use with any precision.
bcradio
Well-known member
Negative Ghost Rider, the pattern is full. It's a total gimmick toy/tool.
mmack66
Well-known member
OP
Packard V8
Well-known member
Thanks for the responses. Sort of what I figured.
A friend has a custom rod shop and does a lot of sheetmetal fabricating. I thought it might be a step up from freehand cutting with an angle grinder.
jack vines
A friend has a custom rod shop and does a lot of sheetmetal fabricating. I thought it might be a step up from freehand cutting with an angle grinder.
jack vines
mmack66
Well-known member
Enough said.
Steinmetz
Well-known member
Billy Mays (RIP) used to pitch them on TV.
sickjuice
Well-known member
milwaukee metal saw
Big-Foot
Well-known member
Was not available when I got mine... I don't know why they would have released it without that guide. Try selling a table-saw without the table...
djjsr
Well-known member
I had a contractor install some steel siding on one of my buildings last year. He used a DualSaw to make dozens of cuts and he made it look easy. I had never seen one in action before so I asked him about it. He said that it's just about all he uses, every day. He did say it took a little while to get the right "technique" to do good cuts.
I bought one shortly afterwards when Menards had them on sale but haven't used it on metal yet. I think I better practice on some scrap before I tackle anything good.
I bought one shortly afterwards when Menards had them on sale but haven't used it on metal yet. I think I better practice on some scrap before I tackle anything good.
mmack66
Well-known member
I saw (no pun intended) one at Costco the other day.
I got one of the Craftsman ones when they first came out--it buzzes through just about anything, without sparks.
It does throw a hell of a lot of shavings.
I liked it the couple times I've used it, but I use it so infrequently that I forget I have it!
-Brad
It does throw a hell of a lot of shavings.
I liked it the couple times I've used it, but I use it so infrequently that I forget I have it!
-Brad
rockchucker
Well-known member
I think they're interesting as a mechanical novelty, but I can't think of a situation where it would be superior to a normal angle grinder or circ saw. Why would you want a kerf twice as wide? That means twice as much dust/shavings and wasted material.
Solution in search of a problem.
Solution in search of a problem.
TheGrooveking
Well-known member
I have the Ridgid unit and it does what it says it will do. It too is lacking a foot, which greatly assist at keeping the cut square and depth consistent. One thing is it does leave a wide kerf.
TheGrooveking
TheGrooveking
Major Ramifications
Well-known member
They seem like the would be good for cutting things like expanded metal.
I almost bought the Craftsman model about 7 years ago, but decided I wouldn't be able to use it enough to justify the price, and the replacement blades were expensive also.
Sears still carries one model at least:
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-2557...p-00925574000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1
I have such a hatred for Billy Mayes and Anthony Sullivan that I won't buy anything that they advertise.
I almost bought the Craftsman model about 7 years ago, but decided I wouldn't be able to use it enough to justify the price, and the replacement blades were expensive also.
Sears still carries one model at least:
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-2557...p-00925574000P?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1
I have such a hatred for Billy Mayes and Anthony Sullivan that I won't buy anything that they advertise.
shampoop
Well-known member
Kinda what I was thinking, except the kerf would probably be at least 3x as wide as there must be a space between the blades.
racingtadpole
Well-known member
They, and all the knock-off products, are now banned from use where I work. I saw the photos post incident and all I can say is they will cut human shin bone pretty easily too (before anyone asks for pics, sorry no can do, conditions of employment forbid it). I suspect the incident was as much operator as it was tool. The same incident also bought about a ban on TCT blades for angle grinders.
eborcim
Well-known member
A friend bought the HF model and we used it to shorten a Suburban frame. Some observations...
1) Throws a lot of HOT metal chips so wear safety glasses and hand/arm protection.
2) It does need the "lube crayon" to work effectively without burning up the blade
3) While it is challenging to hold with no quides, it doesn't really turn fast enough to kick, just take your time.
4) The housing gets pretty hot so wear some gloves.
1) Throws a lot of HOT metal chips so wear safety glasses and hand/arm protection.
2) It does need the "lube crayon" to work effectively without burning up the blade
3) While it is challenging to hold with no quides, it doesn't really turn fast enough to kick, just take your time.
4) The housing gets pretty hot so wear some gloves.
mmack66
Well-known member
FWIW, Costco has the DUALSAW Destroyer CS650, which is one step up from the one in the OP, for $79.99.
TwoInch
Well-known member
turns at over 4000rpm.... they, along with all counter rotating circular saws dont kick because there is a blade going both directions... effectively canceling the "kick" of a spinning blade hanging up on something.
there is no space between the blades, they are touching each other.
we have a twinsaw model (same thing) at our shop .We also have angle grinders w/diamond blades .the thing works wonders for cutting up 55 gallon plastic drums and other rough chop cutting .I like the fact that unlike the angle grinders there is little or no kick back and little effort is needed angle grinders also don't have blade guards .I bought a dual saw recently at costco for myself.
Larry company mechanic
Larry company mechanic
I find it interesting that everyone keeps comparing it to an angle grinder with and abrasive blade in it. OK lets make it fair and put two abrasive blades in it or a carbide toothed blade in an angle grinder. I have no objection to the fact that it has less kickback due to counter rotating blades but i don't think it cuts any faster then a comparable saw with comparable blade. That being said i would never spend the money on it, looks like a gimmick to me.
Mike
Mike
Strouty
Well-known member
I do have one and for demo it is great, it has no kickback, not some, not a little, none. I have cut through 1 1/2" solid square before. As others have mentioned, it is not for precision cuts. This all being said, I don't use it very often, but I have used it and will use it again.