Rockwell RK3440K VersaCut Circular Saw 4.0 Amp

I purchased my Rockwell VersaCut RK3440K at a local "brick and mortar store" exactly one week before it was in stock here at Amazon. I could have pre-ordered it at Amazon and waited, but I needed it for several long and tall furniture grade cabinets I was building for the walls of my utility room and garage.

I had been wanting a small light corded saw of this size ever since watching a carpenter use a small battery powered one as he replaced trim on my home some years back. I knew a battery model would not be economical in my limited and sporadic use as a homeowner - due to replacing batteries after long periods of disuse. The one the carpenter had was nice, but not as nice as my new VersaCut - and I'm sure he paid much more for his. The VersaCut is also much more powerful than the one the carpenter had, and its ten foot cord also gives good ease of reach and movement.

Performance in a cut using the supplied carbide tipped combination blade is very good using the VersaCut. The blade is also a sturdy one and not some wimpy thing that flexes. I had been using my DeWalt 7 1/4" saw with a professional combination cabinet grade blade on oak, pine, and cedar in the construction of my cabinets. The stock I was using was 1/4" thick to 1" thick with 2x2s for rear shelf support. What I immediately noticed using the VersaCut was reduced edge splintering and that it produced a much finer cut. The other immediate benefit was I no longer need hearing protection, as the VersaCut is exceptionally quiet running - even in cuts. Since I was working in a confined area (long narrow utility room with freezers, and a washer and dryer, taking up much of the room), the VersaCut also made just making my cuts extremely easier than using the bulkier and much heavier Dewalt - one hand is all you ever need using the VersaCut, with the other out of the way or holding your work. A bucking blade, binding and kicking back, also isn't happening with the VersaCut - and it offers more than enough power in the cut for the 3 3/8-inch blade. Binding just doesn't seem to happen at all using the small 3 3/8-inch VersaCut blade - and the spring loaded base instantly springs out to cover the blade, and locks there with your fingers off the double trigger mechanism. Cutting oak hardwood seemed to go just as fast with the VersaCut as using my 7 1/4" Dewalt.

The VersaCut only cuts to a depth of just over 1" (1 1/16-inch), but cutting the 2x2" stock was as simple as rotating the stock in one hand as I operated the VersaCut with the other. I had expected that first cut to be uneven, but it was perfectly square when I finished, and every cut I made using the VersaCut was perfectly square. That's to say, the base doesn't wobble any as the tool plunges into the cut - and there is no blade angle adjustment. The blade is just maintained in a 90 degree position to the base.

As for further accuracy, an adjustable rip fence bar with marked graduations in metric and English standards is also supplied. I used it and found the graduations to be accurate with the base and blade cut. However, the laser and the "V" (blade path indication on the base) were slightly off from the actual blade cut - about a sixteenth of an inch on my VersaCut. Still, that slight offset was no problem as I simply corrected for it in the free hand cuts I made with my right hand. Due to the base housing construction, you really can't see the blade well as it starts into the work, so you may need to make a few experimental cuts to get used to compensating for any offset - or you might want to make your own reference mark at the "V". There is a small opening on the left side, so you can see the leading blade edge through it while cutting, but most are going to find that small opening difficult at best to keep track of the blade's cutting path through materials.

Pushing the tool into the work is not overly difficult, but I found the spring tension could be softer, and I have wished at times I could just lock the base into the retracted position during some cuts, but I realize this is a part of the blade safety feature provided on the VersaCut.

The depth of cut setting is a little aggravating, but simply made - you just flip the tab, move it to the setting you want and flip it back to lock it again. The problem is it will move some, from where you had it positioned, as you flip the tab back to the lock position.

Back to the laser, a portion of the top cover to it simply pushes forward and flips upward to reveal two small 1.5 volt (LR44) watch type alkaline batteries powering it. The cover stays in place well, and the laser is really quite bright when you press the small button at the back of the laser housing to turn it on. A second press of the button turns it off. Note: The Energizer 357 silver oxide batteries, sold here at Amazon, might be the better replacement battery as they have a higher power reserve and a 5-10 year shelf life.

Blade removal and installation is also simple. Two "C" type hex shaft locks are supplied, one a spare, and you simply insert one on the right side of the tool with one end over the base. One of these shaft locks is stored on the tool cable, near the handle, along with the hex key needed for the blade clamping screw. A clockwise twist releases the screw, and a counter-clockwise one tightens the blade.

***Safety and using blades made by other manufacturers with the VersaCut***
The roughly 3 3/8-inch Rockwell VersaCut blades have a 15 millimeter arbor to match the VersaCut arbor - the same as the arbors for Makita 3 3/8-inch blades. Rockwell rates the no-load speed of the VersaCut at 3500 RPM - which is well over 1500 RPM faster than Makita's line of small saw blades that are rated for a maximum of 2240 RPM in this category. The Rockwell carbide tipped blade is rated the lowest at a maximum of 7,000 RPM, with the 44 tooth HSS blade coming rated higher at a maximum of 15,000 RPM, and the diamond blade rated at a 20,000 RPM maximum. Blade thickness at the arbor averages 1.2 millimeters with all three Rockwell blades, with the Rockwell HSS blade appearing slightly thinner at the arbor, and with some slight variance of this width at the cutting edge on both it and the Rockwell carbide tipped combination blade. The Rockwell diamond blade is an easily noticed full 2 millimeters at the cutting edge. Since the Makita blades are so similar, this gives rise to the thought some users may try using the 3 3/8-inch diameter Makita blades on the VersaCut. In this application, a blade swap could be a very bad idea concerning user safety - even if they will fit the confines of the VersaCut. Since the Makita 3 3/8-inch blades are only rated for a maximum of 2240 RPM, trying to use a Makita blade on the VersaCut might just be a downright dangerous idea if they do actually fit in the VersaCut housing. If found to fit, larger diameter blades could even upset cut chip and particle movement to cause destructive jamming of the blade and motor. On the other hand, the Rockwell VersaCut blades should be no problem for use on the slower RPM running Makita saws. If you do find an aftermarket blade safely fits the VersaCut, be sure its maximum RPM rating exceeds the Rockwell VersaCut's 3500 RPM no-load speed. I'll just stick to Rockwell VersaCut blades on my VersaCut.




http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024206387632
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024243054295
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024256387627
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024279720958
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024313054288
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024313054288
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024366387616
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024366387616
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024396387613
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024419720944
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024449720941
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024459720940
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024466387606
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024493054270
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024506387602
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024536387599
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024566387596
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024633054256
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024633054256
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024649720921
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024673054252
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024706387582
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024756387577
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024756387577
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024773054242
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024779720908
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024816387571
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024846387568
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024863054233
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024906387562
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024906387562
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024933054226
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024956387557
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270024993054220
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270025016387551
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270025033054216
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270025073054212
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270025126387540
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270025173054202
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270025193054200
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270025219720864
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270025253054194
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270025299720856
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270025326387520
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270025356387517
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270025369720849
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270025399720846
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270025429720843
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270025483054171
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270025523054167
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270025549720831
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270025566387496
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270025566387496
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270025629720823
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270025659720820
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270025706387482
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270025736387479
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270025763054143
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270025793054140
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270025816387471
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270025849720801
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270025889720797
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270025926387460
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270025956387457
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270025979720788
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270026006387452
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270026043054115
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270026083054111
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270026113054108
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270026139720772
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270026163054103
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270026196387433
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270026273054092
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270026309720755
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270026346387418
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270026346387418
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270026406387412
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270026449720741
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270026469720739
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270026513054068
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270026549720731
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270026549720731
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270026589720727
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270026619720724
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270026646387388
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270026686387384
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270026743054045
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270026763054043
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270026779720708
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270026779720708
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270026906387362
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270026933054026
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270026959720690
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270026979720688
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270027013054018
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270027033054016
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270027056387347
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270027086387344
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270027139720672
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270027166387336
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270027203053999
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270027249720661
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270027273053992
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270027299720656
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270027333053986
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270027349720651
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270027376387315
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270027426387310
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270027453053974
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270027503053969
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270027556387297
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270027609720625
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270027633053956
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270027633053956
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270027706387282
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270027753053944
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270027803053939
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270027883053931
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270027903053929
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270027943053925
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270027989720587
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270028029720583
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270028059720580
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270028093053910
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270028129720573
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270028159720570
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270028193053900
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270028229720563
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270028273053892
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270028293053890
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270028333053886
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270028389720547
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270028423053877
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270028463053873
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270028483053871
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270028503053869
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270028503053869
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270028566387196
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270028623053857
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270028659720520
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270028689720517
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270028723053847
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270028743053845
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270028743053845
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270028793053840
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270028829720503
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270028829720503
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270028946387158
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270028969720489
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=270029009720485