It’s gone from the garage to the job site now Carpenter Saw It hurts to haul a heavy cabinet saw in your car when it barely leaves room for anything else, doesn’t it? That’s what the portable table saw market is for but not every portable table saw are created equal. A lot of them either give up power for size or stability for weight.
The Rockwell BladeRunner X2 tries to do something about this by giving you a full sized rip capacity in a compact body that can fit in back of your truck. Sounds too good to be true. Is it realy a tool for finishing jobs off, or will it just cut some quick stuff and act like a toy?
Here are some other things you may like. So is it worth it? What do you want to get out of a roughly 30 pound tool?
Is it meant to replace your home stationary saw? Nope. But how good is it on the job site?
How did Rockwell made their trade-offs? Are they a good fit for you? That’s what we look at in this review: build quality, cutting ability, the applications where this saw excel (or doesn’t).
By the time you’re done reading, you’ll have an idea as to whether you should add this little guy to your tool box.
Rockwell BladeRunner X2 Portable Table Saw Review
Portability and Compact Design
But above all else it’s portable. At about two-by-two-feet closed up, the BladeRunner X2 isn’t heavy and fits in back of a sedan.
Or, if you prefer, it can be carried in one hand. This is important. Because it shifts nature of the job.
Rather than drive offsite somewhere to rent a space, or make several round-trips back and forth from the shop to wherever you’re working, you just bring the saw to the wood. The folding legs on the stand pop open rapidly enough to provide solid base so you don’t have to rig something up at every stop. Again, it is not an especially rigid design, but it is a good design decision based off mobility, which is a requirement for this type of tool.
Motor Power and Fence Capacity
The four amp induction motor are standard for this price range. It spin up quickly and runs at speed on a reasonable load. You will not be ripping four foot wide sheets of hardwood without some slowdown, but it handle six foot boards of softwood or plywood with ease.
Max tilt is one bevel to forty five degrees, sufficient for most framing and molding work. Fence is metal, locks nicely, but quite short. Holds 18 inch wide boards, covering most common lumber sizes.
If you are working with larger panels, you will need to use the extension wing or an external roller stand, which adds a step to your workflow.
Dust Collection and Safety Features
The dust collection works quite well for such a small saw. It has a port that attaches directly to a regular shop vacuum.
Because of shroud design, it catches a bunch of the dust before it exits. That’s a major win if you’re working inside or just prefer a tidier work area. There will be some fine dust floating around, but your lungs will thank you while your shop vac stays fuller for longer.
A riving knife and blade guard are included and installation couldn’t be easier. Rockwell didn’t cut corners on the basics, which builds trust when you are running the blade at high speed. So a big thumbs up to Rockwell for not skimping on the basics here.
Assembly and Table Surface Quality
It’s not hard to put together, but it does take a few minutes with careful thought and attention. And instructions are easy to follow, and tool requirements are modest. There is some time spent dialing in the blade and ensuring everything is square and aligned on the fence.
That’s par for an entry level saw, though, and should of been taken seriously. Nothing destroys your confidence or wastes material like getting an angle cut when you didn’t want one. But once dialed in, the saw tracks well.
The table is a smooth aluminum surface and material slide well across it. It isn’t as flat as a cast iron table, but it is sufficient for most DIY and light pro work. For light pro stuff and all DIY projects it is fine.
Limitations and Verdict
Not every tool are for everyone. The BladeRunner X2 isn’t a perfect saw and has some shortcomings. • When cutting on an uneven surface, the base will sort of wobble around.
Vibrations from the motor housing makes it a bit shaky when making heavy cuts. But these are fairly minor issues compared to its convenience. It’s not meant to replace a precision wood working tool; it’s meant to be a tool that does a decent job with good mobility.
Don’t expect micron level accuracy if you’re using this. Stick with the shop for that. But if you want to cut some lumber up on the job site and not break your back then this is the saw for you.
It fills the gap between a full sized cabinet style saw and a jobsite circular saw. And that balance is just what some folks are looking for.