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Super saw

Zstampe

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Jan 4, 2019
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Appleton
I have a gas powered skill saw that I’m look for more info on and what it could be worth it says it’s called a super saw made by piston powered products I was told it was made in the 60s for only a couple months
 
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Stuart in MN

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A google search on 'piston powered products super saw' turned up several things, including a YouTube video of a TV commercial:
, and several ads in Popular Science from 1975 and 1976. It appears for at least some period of time Piston Powered Products was a subsidiary of Rotorway, which built and sold gyrocopters. If I remember correctly they were also somehow affiliated with Scorpion snowmobiles. They also had a gas powered drill.


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LXCam

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That thing must weigh a ton. I'm sure it was nobody's "favorite tool".



Never seen the saw. But I've used the gas power drill for drilling and pinning railroad ties. It'd eat your lunch if you didn't pay attention. That saw is cool, I want one.
 

JRC3

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This one is from the 60s.
There's a few vids of cleaner saws but this shows it running the best. I love that you can see the blade and what it's doing so well.

But look at this shelf queen.


That thing must weigh a ton. I'm sure it was nobody's "favorite tool".

Video says it weighs as much as an electric.
 

shanny19

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Yeah the “favorite tool” cracks me up! I can’t imagine even a TINY project where i’d have to pull start the saw for each cut.
 

johninct

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COOL!!!!!!!!!! You ain't no sissy when you use one of those compared to those wimpy plastic battery powered ones of today. Just Imagine using one of those saws in a customer's house. No need to recharge, just break out the gas can....
 

JRC3

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That thing must weigh a ton. I'm sure it was nobody's "favorite tool".
I bet it was great in rural areas in the 60s and 70s. Probably pretty useful during the boom in housing and industrial developments while adding utilities and such before sites were even sold before actual building. Yep, I bet it was someone's favorite tool in its day.

I wonder if firefighters of the day used it too.
 

Dozerhand

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Illinois
I'm going to bump this old thread in hopes that someone would have more info on this saw. I bought one at an auction and am trying to get it running. The fact that ad says the engine was made specifically for the super saw is not encouraging. I've restored spark but to me it has very low compression. Also can't figure out how to get the blade off. I know the wizards of the Garage Journal must have some words of wisdom for me.20251020_004031.jpg
 
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RTM

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Usually there is a hole in the housing to drop a nail into to hold the blade. Might left handed threads in the bolt, so be careful.
 

Dozerhand

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Thanks for the replies. The problem with the blade is that turning left the blade stays stationary and the arbor spins free. There is a very thin washer/nut between the back of the blade and the housing that appears to have two flat spots. I haven't made a wrench to fit in there yet but thought I might be missing something as surely holding that must not be necessary to change the blade.20251020_142540.jpg
 

RTM

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The problem with the blade is that turning left the blade stays stationary and the arbor spins free.
This makes no sense. Sounds like the blade is not tight? And you are trying to break a rust corrosion bond on the bolt, without the long lever of the blade as a stop. None of my circ saws came with an open ended wrench, so not familiar with that. Can you find a stamped steel wrench kinda close, and grind it open?
 

Dozerhand

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Well folks. After solving spark and fuel issues and still having a no start condition i have found what I think is significantly scarring on the cylinder. I think that probably classifys this as a wall hanger only. Hey I tried .20251020_213622.jpg
 

nadogail

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I remember reading about gas powered drills and saws 1n either 1959 or 1960.

In 1960 I was near an abandoned barge in Resurrection Bay , near Seward, Alaska and thought those would be handy if a person wanted to salvage parts from it.
 

MiteyF

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Every once in a while I get a wild hair and look for gas powered power tools on ebay/CL etc.

I want some. For no reason.
 
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