Trim Saw Attachment

Bught this saw for a single siding project that was done using ladders and an aluminum plank. I installed approximately 450 sf of cedar singles on three gabbel areas on my house. Teh work area was varied from 11 to 17 ft above the ground. Since I was working using two ladders and an expandable aluminum plank, I needed to cut various shingles to match the roof gabel. It took about 600 custome cut shingles at a 30 degree angle to match the roof. Each cut was somewhat different. At $450 per square for shingles, I didn't want to make any mistakes and waste a shingle.I have numerious battery powered saws but all were large and heavy used primarily for stud lumber framing. I needed a single handed small lightweight battery powdered saw that would quickly cut 1/4" shingles safely. I bought and returned a Ryobi and DeWalt 4" saws becuase I had the batteries.I finally stumbled accross the Black & Decker mini saw attachment. Well I bought it and the requiured Matrix drill and battery. The total coast was less than $100 for all the items I needed. The saw worked better than I expectted except for one feature. When using the saw, I found I needed to use my trigger finger for the on/off trigger and my middle finger for the saw's safety switch. It didn't take me long to develope the muscle memory to first push the saftey switch with my middle finger align the saw then pull the power trigger. I was hoping that Once I attivated the saw, I could release the safety switch but unfortunately it didn't work that way for me. The whole saw system was so light and manueverable that I could stand on the ladder, draw the cut line then make the cut standing on the ladder. I felt vary safe, never loosing my balance and making accurate cuts. While that may not sound like much but I'm almost 78 years old with back and balance issues.Two interesting facts have bee of interest. First, removing the drill attachment was actually very difficult becuase it seemed to be "stuck " to the power pistol grip. It took a few friendly wacks on the drill side to "bust it loose". The saw attached easil;y. Seondly, the directions to install the blade is buried in the user manual in a small portion of a page. It doesn't state but the blade set screw is LEFT HAND thread not right hand thread.Once you discover that fact, blade installation and removeal is easy. Be sure to snug the screw up so the blade is attached soilidly to the drive plate.In summary, I'd buy the attachment again. It was the first Black & Decker tool I have bought in over 30 years. It works well and is holding to my useage.

This Trim Saw attachment is a handy addition to the Black & Decker Matrix system. Works as good as any other trim saw except in tight places. The motor drive and btty can be a hindrance if your in a tight spot, otherwise it's as good and strait as the blade that's in it and the person using it. Matrix 20v motor drives all the attachments well and the 20v btty is fairly strong for what it is. Perfect for those handy little jobs when you don't need a full sized 7.5" circular saw. Fits in the corner of the case that the basic Black & Decker Matrix system comes in too! Nice to have the attachments in a case to carry and be basically organized in the same place!

This is a great trim saw for small projects, cutting trim and such. Remind you this is not your industrial saw, and wouldn't recommend it for heavy cutting of wood. In my case, I am a craft and DYI person, and it works very well with light work, I have trimmed 1/2 inch plywood, craft board, and 1-inch board without any problems although I did have a slight problem cutting through thicker boards. Overall, this is a great saw if you're just cutting a few lightweight boards and the convenience as being part of the matrix line makes it worthwhile for small jobs.

The media could not be loaded. Surprised because of holiday mail that order arrived so soon. Shipping box way too large for item. Opened and observed Black & Decker Matrix Trim Saw Attachment in fitted clear plastic triangle case floating loose with single sheet of bubblepak hardly protecting it. Surprised no obvious damage at first glance, and surprised this modular saw looked so small, with a light weight and beautiful in a matt black hard polycarbonate body. Package included warranty, instruction booklet and 3-3/8 inch saw blade. Several pages of warnings led to a quarter page instruction how to attach blade, accompanied by two confusing illustrations. So vague as nearly useless, and lacking in detail. Took me quite a while to figure out how. I admit changing a saw blade only once before on a standard saw. However, no way I would ever figure out the how to from manufacturer's manual with so few sentences and two confusing line illustrations. To help another novice, I made photos and created a slideshow (may go too fast) - play this video full screen to see comments, including two-finger operation, and note that package says "cuts up to 1 inch lumber." You may want to hit Pause.Pull out wrench pressed into body, then on other side insert long end of wrench into center hole that fits to remove a greasy black steel bolt, about 3/4 inch long. Do this over a table since another part will drop off. You will quickly figure out which way to turn bolt. Seems it turns opposite to how I think. A thick disk falls off, size and thickness of four quarters.Remove wrapper from saw blade and place blade over bolt hole, with brand name facing out. Put back the disk and screw, turning tight. Attach saw to matrix handle, after removing any other drill head or module. Do this by depressing and holding down large white button on top of power handle while pushing in saw mount. When top button released, trim saw will lock into place.To use saw, press unlock button on power handle to get power from battery. Holding handle, raise and hold white long rectangle button on saw case while gently squeezing start button on handle. Tighter you squeeze, faster blade spins.I may update this unboxing review after using this exquisite little saw for a while. So far I feel excited and happy with this modular tool.UPDATE: 9:23 AM 12/24/2013My initial reaction came off negative due to inability to figure out how to attach blade. Manual had six pages of warnings, making me fear using saw without a carpenter buddy present. Then on page 7, regarding assembly, less than a few sentences and a confusing drawing. I will add photo at top.After a half hour I managed to get it done. Later, it dawned on me how simple and intuitive putting it together when I patiently examined the saw device in my hands. Company had so well designed this piece of machinery to really explain itself.A hex key or allen wrench stuck in side will obviously unscrew a bolt, and turning saw you could see only one accessible blade bolt. When I unscrewed it the rest of setup became clear. A thick washer disk fell away and this made space to insert saw blade. Saw blade will only mount in this one way after bolt removed and washer comes out. Washer a thick disk about size of 4 quarters. Blade slides in, washer goes back, bolt screws back. Even though bolt resisted my attempt to replace as I normally turn a screw - clockwise - it turned the only way it should turn - counterclockwise - to secure blade against risk of hazardous un-mounting during operation by spinning clockwise. I noticed that blade has curved arrows engraved around center hole clearly telling way it spins: clockwise.This tool has such meticulous design that no written instruction needed. Housing cover and upper guard and wide shoe make it comfortable to handle. Large white lock-off button prevents an accidental cut. My video remark that Manual useless still stands because I prefer to have guided written steps for any appliance. In spite of that lack, I applaud Black and Decker for making this perfect tool - compact, light in weight, super safe design, and modular.[Video production detail: AVS Video Editor 5.2 set at "High Def Youtube" to produce fast video that plays well here on Amazon with result about 3 mins, size 20,000 kb. Photos cropped and edited with text comments using freeware Photoscape.]