My husband bought a Mastercraft Spin Saw and added the an Angle Grinder attachment and then used it to file down some edges on aluminum. We could not get the attachment off because it had melted to the spin saw. Has anyone else had this same problem and what would you recommend we do? Herma
The spin saw would have had to be running awfully hot for the attachment to melt to the tool like that. You say it was used to file down some edges on aluminum. How much is "some"?
While I was unable to find any information regarding recalls, it very well might be that your spin saw overheated due to a manufacturer's defect. Mastercraft products do have excellent warranties, so your best bet would be to return the tool to Canadian Tire. My hunch is that they will offer you a replacement. Don't quote me on that, but any dealings I have had with Canadian Tire have always been very positive. I have had more than one well-used tool replaced near the end of the three year warranty period without any hassle.
Incidentally, I haven't experienced any problems with my spin saw, though I have only used it on a couple of occasions.
I had exactly the same problem & Canadian tire replaced it for me. The problem that I am having - and continue to have - is that the flexible wire shaft that connects the spin saw to the grinder/sander attachment is kinking & unravelling. If you don't notice this in time, it jams and causes the grinder to head to turn, melting itself onto the spin saw. This is happening regardless of the spin saw speed setting, the type of metal being grinded & the amount of pressure applied when grinding.
I had exactly the same problem & Canadian tire replaced it for me. The problem that I am having - and continue to have - is that the flexible wire shaft that connects the spin saw to the grinder/sander attachment is kinking & unravelling. If you don't notice this in time, it jams and causes the grinder head to turn, melting itself onto the spin saw. This is happening regardless of the spin saw speed setting, the type of metal being grinded & the amount of pressure applied when grinding.
How much do you use the grinder/sander attachment? I have only used it a couple of times for very small jobs. I guess it was only meant for light duty jobs, not for major projects like the annoying Canadian Tire couple in those commercials would have you believe.
I guess this tool was meant for the occasional hobbyist, not the weekend handyman.
reply to Thumb & Hammer - I haven't used it very much at all. For instance, removing about 2' of tile grout & trimming up the aluminum rail on the bottom of a sliding patio door. The spin saw motor is powerful & it is good for cutting holes in gyprock with that attachment but as far as the grinder part, it simply doesn/t stand up. Considering that this unit costs $160.00 - $180.00 Cnd, I would expect better quality.
I guess a couple of old adages apply here. "Jack of all trades, master of none" and "KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid).
An all-in-one tool might seem like a good idea, but the same money could buy a RotoZip and a 4 and a half inch grinder. I haven't used the router attachment yet, but a router is such a versatile tool that a "real" one should be in every workshop anyway.
My experience with Mastercraft tools has always been good. I am truly disappointed to learn that the spin saw does not live up to expectations. When mine melts down (and apparently there is a pretty good chance that will happen), I think I'll invest in separate tools.
Incidentally, I never was very impressed with the flexible attachment that converts the spin saw to a grinder, but for a different reason. The part is rather small, and I am worried that it could easily become misplaced, rendering the grinder attachment useless. Another point: in the time it takes to convert the spin saw to a grinder, I could run into my workroom and grab a dedicated tool anyway.
Just to add fuel to the fire, I attempted to use the edge guide with the router attachment and, with almost no effort, managed to over-torque one of the small bolts that hold it in place causing the head to snap off. Well, maybe "snap" isn't the right word. The metal bolt was so soft that the head simply twisted off with the extra quarter turn. Usually with this sort of thing you can feel the resistance and it is easy to judge when to stop turning. I felt no resistance at all. I'm not sure at this point whether to attempt to return it to the store (and try to explain what happened to a cashier who may be clueless when it comes to tools) or cut my losses and simply use the spin saw as a cut out tool. Very frustrating indeed and further supports my opinion that dedicated tools may be better than all-in-one combos.
