circular saw question

[oldtinsmith]

Many (and I do mean MANY !) years ago, I watched a carpenter building a boat dock and used a compressed air powered circular saw. I have never seen another air powered circular saw since. Has anybody else ever seen one and are they still being manufactured today?

Doug

 

[Jon_E]

Ingersoll-Rand made them in at least two sizes - 8-1/4" and 12". I found a couple on eBay. Kind of interesting, had never seen one before. The 12" model would be great for timber framers, I think.

I'd imagine that they could easily be used in wet locations, which would be an advantage for working on or near water.

 

[oldtinsmith]

Jon E, thanks for your quick reply!

Doug

 

[nehog]

I believe they were available as military surplus once upon a time, too.

 

[rsieracki]

i saw a air powerd skil saw on ebay once.. as in an actual skil brand worm saw

 

[KEH]

Went to the Amish country in PA some years ago. There was a wood shop making touristy stuff using air powered saws, etc. I traced the air line outside to where they has a gasoline powered air compressor. Somebody must make air powered motors for that trade.

KEH

 

[matt_i]

There are probably not many due to the inefficiency. It would probably take a 10hp compressor motor to keep up with a 1/2hp electric saw motor...

 

[TractorJeff]

While matt_i is probably right as far as popularity, in the boat dock business. It would make perfect sense as one mistake could ruin a persons day!

 

[premierplayer]

Amish pole builders here use all pneumatic tooling.
Gasoline compressor, giant storage tank.

googled a few up, not cheep, even rebuilt

http://store.e-airtool.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=87_149

 

[72Anthony]

Wow...that 12-inch saw requires 93 cfm...quite a bit more than 10 HP!!

I wonder if the use of GFCI's and cordless tools has reduced the need these saws?

 

[LB-1911]

Many (and I do mean MANY !) years ago, I watched a carpenter building a boat dock and used a compressed air powered circular saw. I have never seen another air powered circular saw since. Has anybody else ever seen one and are they still being manufactured today?

Doug

How about a chainsaw
http://www.csunitec.com/saws/air-chain-saws.html

 

[premierplayer]

^ very cool

they use something like that on an extension pole on the tree trucks?

 

[rlitman]

^ very cool

they use something like that on an extension pole on the tree trucks?

The ones I've seen are hydraulic, but yeah, similar.