Homeowner Forum / Construction / June 2005

I hope tool-less blade changing works better than keyless chucks.
A backwards blade works well for cutting thin aluminum.

I have an old Craftsman portable table saw that I use for rough cutting
stock. It is not a very good saw but I hate to get rid of it because of how
I got it. Many years back when I was young and foolish I needed to have the
exterior trim done on a house. The framers had left and the siders didn't
want to do trim (boom time). I knew a couple of kids who I used on occasion
for labor who were willing, so I gave them the job. Well they run out and
buy the Craftsman saw, bring it back, set it up, and start cutting. But the
stock is jumping off the table, there is a lot of swearing, followed by
"This F'ing piece of sh.t! I told you we needed the good saw!". The guy then
proceeds to take the saw and throw it into the dumpster. They scream off and
come back with a Makita. Floor model. It works fine. They finish, get paid,
and leave.
The next day I fished the Craftsman out of the dumpster to see what was
wrong with it. Yep. They put the blade in backwards.