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Independent Tool Review
by Peter Brett - February 2005
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Nicholson Four-Saws-In-One
We have all seen the wonder tools that will cut, saw, drive screws and hammer in nails for £4.99. It’s only when you try them that you find that they do none of the tasks well enough to warrant their wonder status. It was with some of the same trepidation that I looked at the new Nicholson hacksaw at the DIY and Totally Tools Show in London last month. I have done some end user research on hacksaws and discovered that many users want a hacksaw that will be all things to all jobs, but regrettably some of the features cancel each other out. For example it is great to have a hacksaw that can really wind on the tension of the blade, but not necessarily that great to have to deal with the bulk and weight of a frame that maintaining that tension requires. Similarly, having a jabsaw and blade storage facility in the frame means that a hollow tube may not have the torsional strength of a cast alloy frame.
Nicholson’s designers have made a very serious effort to design a hacksaw that is strong, versatile in use, easy to handle and a new contribution to end users’ needs. What makes this frame different is that it can be used in four ways:- As a normal hacksaw, with the blade at 45 degrees for flush cuts, as a jabsaw and as a low profile saw for tight spaces.
It starts off with the right look. Made of a well cast alloy and beautifully finished, the frame is strong and resists twisting and tightening forces. In ordinary hacksaw mode it is almost possible to forget that this is anything other than an ordinary hacksaw. The rear grip and front grip have comfortable and grippy black rubberized coverings. The front grip is a bit small for my tastes and the design of the front precludes a thumb rest, nevertheless it works.
In order to change the frame into low profile mode, the blade is loosened and the front handle folded away into the top of the frame. The blade is then connected to a pin on the top front of the frame and you have a saw that will fit comfortably into a 65mm to 70mm gap. Ideal for plumbers who need to get up close and personal with pipes against walls for example.
In low profile mode the saw frame is actually a little bit more torsion free and retains a high tension. A good feature when you can’t always get your hands in to support the cut.
Jabsaw mode is again easy to achieve. A purpose made (therefore stronger and more suited to purpose) reciprocating saw blade is stored in the top of the frame and is clipped into place via a slot in the frame and held firmly with a pin and set screw. This arrangement really is practical and holds the blade very well, and, unlike many other jabsaws I have used, it works better because the blade is bigger and therefore stiffer and less likely to bend under sawing pressure. I understand that the set screw system used to hold the low profile blade is already being revised so that tool-less blade changes can be done in future, so my criticism of that system is already forestalled.
The blade changing and tensioning system deserves a mention too. Unlike some other hacksaws that have either a screw tensioning mechanism or a lever tensioning system, this frame has both. The disadvantages of both of these systems are thus outweighed. Screw tensioning systems can require Popeye –like strength to tighten. They can also require a large wing nut or foldaway lever to tighten them and these can be cumbersome in some designs. Lever systems on the other hand can be quite "snappy" because the lever needs a tremendous force to tighten or loosen it when you need a good tension on the blade. Lever systems may also lead to blade slackness over time as there is not enough adjustment built into the lever to accommodate the seemingly inevitable movement of the frame over its working life. This Nicholson saw has an adjustment range of about 20 to 25mm and the cast alloy lever on the top of frame can be easily pushed down with the heel of the hand to tension the blade without causing danger to fingers. When you need to pull the lever up again there is a space for a forefinger or even a fat screwdriver blade to do it. Again this is a safer arrangement for fingers than many I have used.
This Nicholson saw has therefore a great deal going for it. It is genuinely innovative and will therefore suit the requirements of its target market. The frame itself is well made and finished and only a bit of convenience and comfort is sacrificed in the grip department to get extra versatility. I have a feeling that end user feedback will be positive and may even lead to a Mark 2 version following soon. Don’t let that put you off, it is still a useful product that is a real answer to some commonly encountered hacksawing problems.
Airstream Communications