PBM reports on the recent official launch of the Quadsaw — a truly innovative power tool attachment that allows users to drill square and rectangular holes.
Almost all construction projects require square holes and any tradesperson will confess that there are those regular jobs on site which just take too long and the results are never quite as perfect as one would like. Cutting socket boxes is certainly in this category, and they are often created with rulers, pencils and handsaws — it is a time-consuming process and the results can be inaccurate.
Back in 2009, Michael Sebhatu saw the problems first-hand when he was working as a kitchen fitter in and around the London area whilst completing his Masters degree in Product Design. With a background in engineering, Michael was certain there could be a better way. He said: “I was actually on a very expensive converted barn property, where the electrician was using a pad saw to cut through the plaster.
“It was a method that was at odds with the quality of the workmanship on the project as a whole and, watching him just hack away at it, my first thought was why not use a tool that cuts square? It was then that I set about designing one and that’s how the idea for the Quadsaw was born.
“Of course, when you’re working full time, it’s not easy to devote whatever spare hours you might have, and eventually it became clear that if I was going to develop a workable solution I would need to exclusively dedicate myself to the Quadsaw, and that’s what I’ve done. Once I had a prototype, and could prove that it was a viable product, we could attract investment and move to manufacturing.”
What Michael would ultimately design would be an attachment to a drill with a 13mm chuck which, using patented technology, converts a power tool’s circular motion into a linear one, enabling it to cut in four planes at once. The device is supplied with a set of six blades, meaning that users can easily switch between cutting single (75 x 75mm) and double (75 x 15mm) socket boxes and — because it cuts to a prescribed depth — the chances of inadvertently cutting concealed wires or pipes are greatly reduced.
The blades are made from high-grade German steel and whilst they are designed to cut into plasterboard only, the team is working on designing blades for wood, bricks, ceramics and for boards such as Fermacell and Rigidur.
One key advantage is the quality of the finish. As there is no need to hide the mess that may have been made with a saw, a clean and accurate cut means users can fit light switches and sockets that sit flush with the wall — there’s no more making good and greatly reduced snagging.
“It’s about getting the kind of result that the job as a whole deserves,” enthuses Michael, “but it’s also about time. That’s why the blades can be very quickly changed simply by pressing a button and releasing the blade — it literally takes seconds. At every stage of the design we’ve ensured that user friendliness is paramount and, because you’re not producing ragged holes, it also limits dust.
“It’s a tool that’s been developed by someone with specific experience of the problem that it solves — and that’s why it will find its way into the toolbox of a whole range of tradespeople.”
The first prototype was developed in 2016 and the Quadsaw is the first product from Genius IP, “a London-based start-up with a focus on breakthrough technology and innovation” co-founded by Michael with entrepreneur and former commercial lawyer, Ean Brown. Speaking of the product’s official launch last year, Ean noted: “Over the past two years we field-tested and improved the product as well as set up our UK manufacturing facility.
“In my career as a lawyer and commercial operator I’ve seen a lot of products go to market so when I saw the final Quadsaw in action I knew it would be a winner. The amount of time and effort that this tool will save is phenomenal.”
Enhancements developed from the prototype include:
- Greater longevity – drill up hundreds of holes with each set of blades
- More robust – successfully tested in commercial environments
- Compatibility with a wider variety of drills
- Incorporated feedback from trade users.
Also featuring a built-in spirit level, feedback from the trade has already been positive with a number of testimonials and videos on the company’s website www.quadsaw.com.
For example, experienced Maidenhead-based electrician Mike Perkins was given a Quadsaw for the day on his latest project. He had an ambitious aim to cut 60 holes by the end of the day but ended up with 82 perfect single and double box holes by tea time.
Mike said: “Using the Quadsaw makes the job of cutting square and rectangular holes easier than ever before. It’s precise, limits dust, has fantastic build quality and is going to save me and many other electricians a lot of money. The Quadsaw should be at the top of any workman’s tool wish-list.”
For further information about becoming a stockist of the Quadsaw, visit www.quadsaw.com.
