Metabo PowerMaxx ASE – 10.8V Cordless Recip Mini Saw
Independent Review by Peter Brett
Sometimes you just know that you and the new tool you have just started using are going to be best mates. You might not be able to work out exactly why at that moment, but the more you use it, the more useful it becomes, and then it tends to become a part of your toolkit. This was exactly my experience of the Metabo
PowerMaxx ASE mini recip saw. From the off, I liked it, but I was quickly able to work out why it was such a useful tool – and that is the quality of good design. Good design means that it is firstly, incredibly versatile and secondly amazingly easy to use. There are other similar tools on the market, and I
have used some of them, but I have always felt that they had some limitations. The Metabo does not feel like that to me. Yes, you are probably not going to use it to trim off floor joists, it was not designed for that – but at a push, you probably could do just that with this little Metabo. But to cut to the chase – let us have a closer look. The configuration is similar to a few other similar
saws on the market, but the Metabo is straighter in design with the motor housing forming a bump in front of the main handle so it acts like a natural way of holding. Immediately it feels comfortable and balanced in the hand for one-handed use. The trigger sits neatly underneath the main
handle, ready for left or right- handed operators. For two-handed operation, there is a front handle
just behind the SDS blade release system. Although quite substantially thick, it is comfortable to hold. Metabo has placed the black rubberized overmould very carefully for maximum effect and comfort. There is grippy shaped rubber on top and bottom of both handles, but the shape and ribbing will tell you that it has been designed for maximum effect rather than simply added. Metabo was the first major power tool
manufacturer to develop and use 4 Ah battery cells, and in order to ensure that purchasers of earlier
10 ToolBUSINESS+HIRE
forms of Metabo 10.8 batteries will not lose out, the PowerMaxx ASE will accommodate battery cells from 1.5Ah to 4Ah. With the 4Ah cells you will get the huge benefits of much longer running times on a single charge. The very compact battery pack fits straight onto
the end of the main handle with a single red release and lock clip. Controls are conventional - the trigger is used to
speed from 0 to 3100 strokes per minute the harder you press it. There is a red push-through trigger lock button that operates from both sides, so left or right handed operation is easy. A series of three red LEDs by the trigger provides an indication to the user of the state of battery charge. A small red button on the left side of the machine
is used to slide the shoe forwards and back. This operates very easily and locks positively in six positions so that the length of blade exposed for cutting can be controlled. There are several advantages to this, including being able to control which area of the blade is being used so that one part of the blade is not over or underused. Also, when plunge cutting into plasterboard, for example, the user can control the depth of cut, so should avoid damage to cables or pipes that may be hidden behind. There is a truly ingenious SDS system for blade
changing that gives this Metabo saw a real advantage. Not only will the blade jaws accommodate the standard “one hole and a lug” recip saw blades, but they will also take the standard “two lug” jigsaw blade fixing. At a stroke, the user now has a huge choice of blade options that will enable this little saw to cut almost anything that these blades will cut. Standard recip saw blades tend to be longer and
so have a greater depth of cut, but jigsaw blades, particularly those designed for cutting wood, have very aggressive teeth for fast cutting. Trade users will be happy! Blade changing is as easy as can be designed. You
simply twist the plastic collar on the end of the blade plunger anti-clockwise to open the SDS jaws, insert the blade, make sure that it is seated correctly, and allow the collar to spring back. Finally, a bright little white LED light is placed
above the shoe that directly illuminates the work area.
Clearly this saw will do some general builders
very nicely because it is a very useful small cut-off saw, particularly in restricted spaces. However, it is much more likely to be used by heating and ventilating engineers, plumbers, kitchen installers and shopfitters. These trades need the versatility to cut a variety of materials, often in odd places where electrical wires or plumbing are present. The ability to control depth and aggressiveness of cut would be important in such situations. The Metabo PowerMaxx ASE became a best
buddy during a few days when I was doing a small refit in my workshop. I had to rehang some shelves, modify some workbench tops and build in a couple of other features like a small dust extraction system connected to my mobile vacuum cleaner. So I had to make plunge cuts into ply and MDF and laminate worktop, neatly cut off plastic pipes to fit adaptors and trim off, and in one case, cut off, some old metal shelf brackets. Thanks to a healthy stock of both recip saw blades and jigsaw blades provided, I was able to choose exactly what I needed for the best results. I was impressed by how quickly and easily most cuts were achieved. Although at lower speeds the PowerMaxx ASE is fairly quiet, it is advisable to wear ear protection for full revs operation. However, I found the weight of the saw just the right balance between having a good amount of inertia in the cut and the flexibility to cut around curves or different shapes. I can definitely say is that this little saw is in the “Highly Recommended” category.
Reply No. 209
www.toolbusiness.co.uk
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