Black & Decker 3.4 amp Navigator Powered Hand Sawith Jig Saw

Pros: comfortable, keyless blade clamp makes switching blades a snap
Cons: serious lack of power, lack of precision blades

Having recently bought our first house - and since that house needs a bit of, well, attention - there are any number of minor tasks for which I need a saw. One of my in-laws gave me the Navigator when we moved in, and raved about its versatility - ...

Pros: Great motorized replacement for a hand saw or hack saw
Cons: Most jobs are not suited to a motorized hand saw or hack saw

The Navigator is kind of like a cross between a jig saw and a reciprocating saw. In fact, you can get accessory blades and rotate their mount so you can use the unit like either of those tools. But it isn't a perfect combination of a jig saw and a ...

Pros: Handy powered handsaw & hacksaw. Many useful applications. Belongs in any serious tool collection.
Cons: No carrying case.

Hours of purchasing this saw, I cut out some notches in 2X4's for some work tables I was building, which it performed quickly, smoothly & precisely. Then I switched to the Hacksaw blade to attack a couple of nasty 3 inch deck screws I'd managed to get...

Pros: None
Cons: Performance was very poor at best.

The ergonomics were poor. The trigger must be squeezed constantly unlike many jigsaws with a constant on switch. The trigger locks were in awkward locations and almost always required two hands to start the saw. The guide shoe is plastic and is too flexible to guarantee a perpendicular cut. It's a poor compromise between a pruning saw and a true jig saw. The rate of cut was also extremely slow in standard 2 x 10 construction. Don't waste your money.

Pros: The Black & Decker Navigator Hand Saw/Jig Saw provides two electric saws in one package.
Cons: The blades are too difficult to insert into the handle.

I wanted this item so much because of the possible versatility - electric hand saw and jig saw in one product. I do a lot of carpentry and am running out of room to store power tools. This tool was a Christmas gift to myself, but I have yet to figure out how to use it. I can't get the blades in. Following the instructions don't help. This tool has turned out to be a great disappointment.

Pros: Light, easy to use, cheap, reliable, good quality blades.
Cons: Not powerful enough for heavy use, blade fitting becomes loose when saw is worn.

The most useful power tool I own, it's ease of use means that I constantly choose it over my more heavy duty saws.

Blades swap in seconds, great for working in confined spaces, and for using one handed. Best for chopping through small to med sized timber and PVC pipes in tight spaces.

My first lasted for 4 years, on my second one now, and it's great. People underrate these saws because they are not trade tools, but the are so handy that even builders keep using mine and coming to like it....