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I saw an elbow replacement operation on the Discovery Health channel last night. The surgeon used a really interesting power saw to do what he called “bone carpentry”. This machine has a blade that appears to be about half an inch by four inches, with teeth on one of the half inch ends, and a pivot near the other. The blade rocks around that pivot with a range of maybe a quarter of an inch. This thing could cut a slot that’s 3/4″ long by as wide as the kerf, and nearly four inches deep. It looks like it could be really handy for doing repairs on thin t&g oak floors, the stuff that’s only 5/16″ thick. Has anybody seen a saw like this for non-surgical purposes?
— J.S.
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John: Fein makes a saw just as you described. I almost bought one at the Indy woodshow Saturday. It vibrates back and forth, and you can make real nice plunge cuts in solid oak with it. Why I didnt buy it , I dont know. It was around $140.
*Thanks, Stan.I looked at Fein.com, their blade is shorter and wider than the surgical one, but looks very interesting. $140 is a great price, they list for $180, and the blades are $44 each.-- J.S.
*John and Stan, The Fein you guys are talking about goes for the $140-180 you mentioned but the one you saw the surgeon using which is just a Fein in stainless steel clothing without a label probably goes for $1,800.Mike
*I've always wondered how good a fein would cut. I have a fein detail sander wich works quite well. Don't their woodcutting blade just bolt on the sander body?
*Yep, uses the same cap screw. Works great, but wears fast when cutting oak and other harder things. Blade price is insane for what it is.
*Make your own blades. And/or sharpen them.
*Maybe get used blades from a hospital that does bone surgery. I can't imagine that they use a blade more than once. Another thought: perhaps conventional blades could be cut and drilled to fit the Fein. That way you could get carbide and anything else you might want.-- J.S.
*Michael: Interesting of you to say that about a surgeons bone saw. I was watching the "Operation" show the other night, and they were using one. I believe you are right, a Fein with a stainless steel shell.
*John: I am sure the blades are bio-hazard and can not be discarded of except through proper disposal.
*Hey Guys,We're in the era of managed care...Dispose of a perfectly good blade? Are you kidding?I mean, the dang saw's gotta be sterilized, right? So just put the blade in the ethylene oxide chamber, too.Sharpen it 'tween jobs (operations)? Well, maybe--if the cost/benefit analysis shows that it saves $$...Only half kidding, Cliffps If I'm starting to sound like AJ, oh, Lord help me!
*Googling around I found saws made by companies called Stryker, Zimmer, Hall, and Microaire.-- J.S.
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I saw an elbow replacement operation on the Discovery Health channel last night. The surgeon used a really interesting power saw to do what he called "bone carpentry". This machine has a blade that appears to be about half an inch by four inches, with teeth on one of the half inch ends, and a pivot near the other. The blade rocks around that pivot with a range of maybe a quarter of an inch. This thing could cut a slot that's 3/4" long by as wide as the kerf, and nearly four inches deep. It looks like it could be really handy for doing repairs on thin t&g oak floors, the stuff that's only 5/16" thick. Has anybody seen a saw like this for non-surgical purposes?
-- J.S.