Masonry Magazine July 2004 Page. 27
Although this type of tool hasn't been the first choice for U.S. masons in the past, handsaws are very popular with European masons.
In the world of construction, the main selling point for most tools is their quickness and power. You really can't pass a tool advertisement or new product release without hearing about RPM, horsepower, amp, volts, torque and more. The more power you have and the faster you can get on with the job the better, right? Then it should be especially hard to imagine the new up-and-comer in the world of saws not having a single switch, toggle, battery or power plug.
This exception to the rule is produced by Danish Tool Productions, better known to Masonry readers as Danish Tool Shop, which was founded in Denmark in 1989. The family of Niels Mostrup, Owner of Danish Tool Productions, started out in the circular blade business, but after receiving numerous requests from different people and groups, including the British army, for a stronger straight blade, they began making tungsten carbide tipped blades.
"We started out with one reciprocating saw blade, and then we've added more blades for different applications or for different types of masonry," says Mostrup.
"They said we should expect to sell maybe 5,000 blades per year," he recalls. "We have five million people here in Denmark, and we sell between 30,000 and 35,000 reciprocating saw blades in Denmark alone just for cutting in masonry. That's not too bad."
The creation of the first Danish Tool handsaw was a natural next step for the company. Although this type of tool hasn't been the first choice for U.S. masons in the past, handsaws are very popular with European masons.
"Here in the northern part of Europe, the reciprocating saw is fairly common, but when you get further south in Europe, they're more into the handsaws," explains Mostrup.
"Now it seems the ones who are most interested in the handsaws are Americans," he continues. "In the past year, we have been very surprised about how people chose to buy the handsaws rather than the reciprocating saw blades."
A Saw for Every Occasion
Like many other types of tools, there's a different handsaw for different types of masonry.
PRECISION SAWING & POLISHING MACHINERY
Model 444 Grinding & Polishing Machine
* 30 HP motor
* 24" wide variable speed belt.
* Grinds, hones and polishes block faces and ends (up to 16")
* Shown with two floating honing & buffing heads and three rigid diamond heads
* Other sizes available
P.O. Box 3754
Knoxville, TN 37927
800-489-0601
Fax: 865-525-2320
Model 511-B Stationary Diamond Saw with Belt Conveyor
* 30 HP motor
* Heavy duty variable speed hydraulic tilting arbor (0-90°)
* Head turned 90° to saw rail
* 36" blade guard
* 20" power raise and lower
* 28" wide variable speed conveyor
SAWING SYSTEMS
INCORPORATED
www.sawingsystems.com
email: sales@sawingsystems.com
The Voice of the Mason Contractor
CIRCLE 316 ON READER SERVICE CARD
July 2004
Masonry 25