Bogus Saw Reviews for Dummy Carpenters

Bosch worksite table saw

Some, although unfortunately not all, of our DotD candidate posts include what the author seems to think are references to back up their statements. Whenever possible, we follow these references to their source to determine whether the original is full of crap or the freelancer in question simply can't reword useful information and make sense. Every once in a while, though... and today's one of those "once in a while" occasions. So let's meet freelancer James K. Blake and his EzineArticles.com post, "A Cut Above: The Bosch 4100 Worksite Table Saw With Gravity Rise Stand."

We find it interesting  that 1) this isn't the first time Blake's been featured here writing fake reviews of Bosch tools (he also "reviews" Makita, DeWalt, Hitachi, Chicago, Milwaukee...) and 2) one Mary F. also wrote a fake review of the same saw for Wizzley.com. Apparently it was a hot product on Amazon back in 2012...

Even more interesting is the alleged "source" of Blake's post: it's a chunk of spun content, also written in April, 2012, on some crapalicious site called CritiqueMag.com. Yeah, sure: maybe James, Mary, and S. Cromshaw are all the same person? Whatever... Here's some of the crap that Blake (or whatever his/her name actually is) tried to tell us about the Bosch 4100 Table Saw with Gravity Rise Stand:

"There are times when your project takes... to a job or construction site that may not be the most ideal. You may find yourself on rough, non-level terrain..." – To "non-level terrain"? Does this putz have any idea what he's talking about? "The lightweight table saw comes in at just 39lbs [sic], making it easy to get in and out of your work truck, and the integrated carrying handles mean it is a breeze to transport..." – Uhhh, James, it weighs 60 pounds, not 39! "This portable saw rolls around on 8 inch, treaded pneumatic wheels..." – Ummm, no, the wheels are plastic; the same as a push lawnmower. "With a large capacity, 29x21.5 inch cutting table surface, larger material is easily handled and assured of being cut with maximum accuracy" – Someone who had actually used the saw might point out that it has a sliding extension that allows up to 25-inch rip capacity: a very important selling point. Any thoughts, James?

• "There is the optional range of a -2 to 47-degree bevel angle, or dado cuts up to 13/16 of an inch..." – We're still trying to figure out what that "optional range" business means.
• "Compatible blades are possible under a 5/8-inch arbor..." – WTF does "under a 5/8-inch arbor" mean, anyway? And do you know of table saws with a different arbor size, James?

It's crystal clear from Blake's omissions, mistakes, and misstatements that James K. not only had never used one of these saws, he likely had never seen one. He didn't even touch on what our staff carpenter – who has one in his shop – said about the saw:

1. It's a pain in the ass to change blades because of the way the antikickback pawls and riving knife are set up.
2. It's clumsy as hell to roll around, but he guesses that beats carrying it. 
3. Putting together the stand is... tricky.
4. It's a heckuva lot better saw than the old Craftsman he gave a family member.

Blake's ignorance of the saw (this putz wrote more than 200 tool "reviews") is all we needed to give him a Dumbass of the Day award.

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