Toe-Kick Saw

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Butj

68 posts

Master Geek

#214805 29-May-2017 16:32

Can anyone loan/rent/hire be a toe-kick saw? Used for cutting floors or tiles hard up to the floor plate or kick board. Everything online seems to be 120V out of the US and no local units available either for hire or purchase.

neb

11294 posts

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#1791256 29-May-2017 17:33

Does it have to be electric? You can get (non-electric) flush cut saws at most hardware places...

Fred99

13684 posts

Uber Geek

#1791285 29-May-2017 18:18

For a really nasty alternative, you can get woodcutting tungsten tipped 125mm blades to fit an angle grinder.

I have one - but after trying it out for a few minutes to do some tricky cutting work, I decided that the chance of losing fingers or worse was too much - and found other methods. It won't cut perfectly flush because of the nut on the shaft.

For small jobs - can't beat a multitool - but you need good quality blades.

Aredwood

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#1791426 29-May-2017 22:31

If a multi tool won't do the job, and you definitely need a toe kick saw. Assuming it has a brush type motor, it will work fine running via a step down transformer (assuming the transformer can handle the load). As AC brush type motors (also called universal motors) don't care about the 50Hz / 60Hz frequency difference.

And if you don't have access to or want to buy a grunty stepdown transformer. Get one of these motor speed controllers from Aliexpress, it is actually just a high current leading edge type light dimmer. But will still work for speed control on brush type AC motors. Connect the speed controller to a filament light, then measure the output voltage with an analogue volt meter. (digital one won't give correct reading for the purpose you want). Set to 120V, then connect to toe kick saw. Usual disclaimers for working with mains voltages and Chinese electronics apply, plus trying to avoid the temptation of dialling up the voltage if you want more power from the saw.

I use one of the same controllers to add speed control to a vacuum cleaner that doesn't have speed control. And it also works well as a light dimmer for filament lamps as you would expect. Just don't try connecting it to an induction motor.

Fred99

13684 posts

Uber Geek

#1791512 30-May-2017 08:55

https://www.bunnings.co.nz/bosch-dremel-saw-max-f013sm20ne_p00301460

I forgot about these.

If I recall - if you look at the shape of the guard, it's made so that an accessory flush-cut blade can be mounted on the outside of the guard - the centre of the blade where it fits over the mandrel is recessed (so the bolt on the mandrel doesn't protrude over the face of the blade.

IIRC the flush-cut blade was "multi-purpose" notched diamond cutter - not a toothed saw blade. Probably less dangerous that way, downside I expect would be that it may be a bit slow and churn out a bit of smoke if cutting hardwood - but should do the trick.

You'll still have the problem that a kick board is usually about 3" / 75mm or so above the floor - so there's no room to get the saw under the kick board.

MikeAqua

7785 posts

Uber Geek

#1791537 30-May-2017 09:33

Fred99:

For small jobs - can't beat a multitool - but you need good quality blades.

This ^^^ multi-tools are surprisingly effective with decent blades. I used one to cut a rimu floorboard about 4 feet along the grain.

Mike

Butj

68 posts

Master Geek

#1791609 30-May-2017 11:13

Thanks for the feedback. I think the Dremmel will do the trick with flush cut blade. However those toe-kick saws look a very useful tool and I am surprised they are not available here.

toekicksawdanger

1 post

Wannabe Geek

#1849042 20-Aug-2017 06:02

Anyone considering using a toe-kick saw be warned that these are extremely dangerous tools that have a kickback that can seriously injure you. I know, because I rented one from a store and it severed my tendon across the leg, required emergency surgery, and I nearly died from this.