
If you’re still trying to puzzle out a holiday gift for the hard-to-shop-for man on your list, a new tool could be just the thing that keeps on giving all year long. Jai is one of the handiest guys around, so I knew right away that anything from Rockwell Tools would be on the top of his holiday list. When we had the chance to try a tool out for MomStart, he decided that a BladeRunner X2 Portable Tabletop Saw would be just the thing for his many furniture projects. Over the last few years, Jai has built several pieces of furniture from scratch, including our entertainment center, end table, and shelving; so he decided to use his new saw to create an extra shelf for our living room!

The BladeRunner X2 is impressive for a number of reasons. Not only was it the ideal thing for Jai’s furniture crafting project, but it’s so lightweight and easy to move that it makes it feasible for a home like ours, which doesn’t have a garage and is limited in workshop space.
Making a Shelf With The BladeRunner X2
By Jai
We have a corner in our living room that I’ve always wanted to make shelves for but just didn’t have the time, materials, and tools in one place to get started. When I found out that I was going to try out a Rockwell BladeRunner X2, I knew that this was the first project I wanted to tackle. I’ve made a few of the pieces of furniture we have in our living room and I wanted to match the basic style so I used some 1×10″ and 1×12″ scraps which were left over from an earlier cabinet project.
I wanted to make the shelves rounded, rather than just straight and diagonal, to have a softer look and to offer a little more room. The width of the boards wasn’t quite enough to make a full quarter circle so Beeb and I used a makeshift compass to get the ideal curve that would fit the corner, but still use the full width of the boards. It just takes some trial and error adjusting the length of the string (dental floss in this case) and the placement of the tack.
Once we traced, cut, and sanded the first board, I used it as the template to trace the second board.
I wanted to make the shelf two boards thick and rounded underneath to match the other shelf so I offset the lower board back a little and glued them together making just enough room to wrap a 1/4″ round strip of trim in the space between them. I used small sections of the quarter round trim to find the right spacing.
I’m glad the curve of the arc ended up being a little shallow because it took some effort to wrap the rounded trim without breaking it. My first attempt snapped so I had to wet the trim to soften it for the second attempt to work. If you have a router, it would certainly be easier to use that to make the same rounded edge effect.
I used some other pieces of trim as the supports for the shelf. I used the Bladerunner X2 to make a diagonal cut along the front, just for looks, and sanded them.
After applying the stain (Watco Danish Oil Dark Walnut) and several coats of varnish (Varithane clear, gloss, water-based polyurethane) the shelf was complete.”

Hear more from Jai on what makes this saw awesome in his video review:
15% Off Coupon Code
Through December 31st, 2014, MomStart readers can save 15% off the entire store at RockwellTools.com! Just enter coupon code MOMSTART15 at checkout.
“Give One, Get one” Sweepstakes: Tools For People That Rock!
Rockwell Tools is hosting a huge “Give One, Get one” sweepstakes through January 31st, 2015. One winner will receive two ultimate sets of tools – one for themselves, and one for a friend or family member! 10 runners up will receive a two Sonicrafter F50s for themselves and a loved one. What are you waiting for? Click here to enter now!
Get more on Rockwell tools by following them on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube and Instagram!
Enter To Win:
One MomStart reader will win a Rockwell Tools BladeRunner X2 Portable Tabletop Saw!
To Enter:
Giveaway is open to residents of the continental US, 18+ and ends on December 31st, 2014 at 11:00 PM PST. Winner will be drawn on January 5th, 2015. Please see Rafflecopter widget for full eligibility details and click here to read our giveaway rules.
I would have my son on law make me a computer desk.
I would give my son in law the 16V MaxLithium Cordless Combo Kit
I would give the 16V MaxLithium Cordless Drill & Driver to my husband
I would give my dad the 16V MaxLithium Cordless Combo Kit.
I like their brushless drill and driver.
I would use this to make shelving in the bathroom.
I would also love to have the 16V MaxLithium Cordless Drill & Driver for myself.
I would love to make a small step stool for my kids for the bathroom so they can reach the sink.
I would like the 20V MaxLithium Brushless Drill & Driver.
My son would use it to build a cabinet for his wife’s reptiles.
I’m loving the cordless drill!!!
I’d love to build a bookshelf!
Getting our bathroom done!!!! I have been waiting for a sink for 7 years for it to be complete! We have to have a special sized cabinet made to fit in the space before we get the sink. This would be awesome!
Another item would be JawHorse Portable Workstation.
I would make a new headboard for my bedroom. Something on the stylish side.
A second project would be an attempt to fix the bed frame my mother bought for my grandson … that he promptly broke!
I like the 16V MaxLithium Cordless Impact Driver. It would be a great gift! Thanks for the chance to win!
I like the 16V MaxLithium Cordless Drill & Driver.
I really need to make some shelves for all these Lego sets the kids have. That would be my number 1 DIY project.
my diy project is to get a play house build for the grandkids in my back yard
my husband would love this:20V MaxLithium
Brushless Drill & Driver
The Sonicrafter F30 3.5 Amp Oscillating Multi-Tool w/ Hyperlock looks very versatile, good for many uses.
I would like to make an old fashioned picnic table for the back deck.
I would also love to have the 16V MaxLithium Cordless Drill & Driver.
I’d l;ike to get my son the cordless combo kid
a project we need to do is hang cabinets in the laundry room
I’d love to be able to get my husband a JawStand Portable Work Stand.
The JawHorse is top notch in my book. I would make picture frames for my wife’s kindergarten class.
the lumber storage rack would be useful
I think I would tackle creating a bookshelf
The JawHorse Portable Workstation looks really useful. I llike how you can work on a project and keep a hand free to use toold. My husand would love a workstation like this.
I would totally love to have the 5″ CDS Random Orbital Sander.
As for a DIY project, I would like to make some picture frames.
I would like to have the BenchJaws
Hands-Free Bench Vise.
We have been wanting to gut our master bath and remodel it.
I would make Christmas tree ornaments
I would like to get my husband Rockwell’s RK4246K Random Orbital Sander 2.8-Amp
Cyclonic Dust/Air Separator and Carry Case
i would love to gift my husband the 4-1/2″ Compact Circular Saw. His broke a little while back and he has been asking for one of these.
I am not the one that is good with the saw but my husband is. I would like for him to finally be able to finish putting up the shelves in the dining room area.
I would love a Sonicrafter F30 3.5 Amp Oscillating Multi-Tool w/ Hyperlock!
I would make some wooden wall decorations.
I would love to give my husband the Sonicrafter F30 3.5 Amp Oscillating Multi-Tool w/ Hyperlock.
I would love to redo my bathroom. I need shelves and new cabinets.
I would give this tool to my step dad who would make kitchen cabinets!
Another item I would love to have is the Sonicrafter F30 3.5 Amp Oscillating Multi-Tool w/ Hyperlock
I would love the jawhorse
I would love to make some wood letters
I would like to have the Sonicrafter F30 3.5 Amp Oscillating Multi-Tool w/ Hyperlock to give to my husband.
I would make some shelves to put on my wall.
The 20V MaxLithium Brushless Drill & Driver would be so useful!
I would love to build a platform for my bed!
I would love to have a JawHorse Portable Workstation from Rockwell
I would love to have the 16V MaxLithium Cordless Impact Driver for my husband
I’d love to give my husband the 20V MaxLithium
Brushless Drill & Driver as well!
My husband has been wanting to make a dog house, so he’d definitely use this saw to do that!
I like the Rockwell 16V MaxLithium Cordless Combo Kit
I would like to build some shelves in my dining room closet to better organize my serving pieces and small appliances I store in the closet
I would love to get the Rockwell Sonicrafter F50 4.0 Amp Oscillating Multi Tool.
I would build a wood pile cover.
I’d love to give the 16V MaxLithium Cordless Drill & Driver to my husband.
I’d like to use it to make shelves to put in the garage by the washing machine and dryer.
I would love the Sonicrafter-F50 as well. I saw it on TV and I have seen more expensive similiar tools; but this Sonicrafter-F50 does the job at a fraction of the price! I would build a bookcase and a new computer desk!
Oh I would also make a new chair. I saw a design with smaller bendable wood that curves really nice. Sort of like an IKEA type chair but this design is longer and is much stronger. That IKEA stuff looks chinsey sometimes
20V MaxLithium Brushless Drill & Driver would be great to use when putting furniture together.
I would use it in making birdhouses for my yard.
I would love to get the JawHorse Portable Workstation for my husband. that would free up some of my time becasue he would not have to keep calling me to hold things!!! thanks
I think I would try to make some storage shelves for the basement. I need to start some coupon shopping and would like to have stock pile place. thanks
JawHorse Portable Workstation to my husband
I would like the 16V MaxLithium Cordless Impact Driver
I would take a shot at making some shelves.
My husband would love me to get him the Sonicrafter X2 with Universal Fit System & Hyperlock as a gift.
I would love to make a cabinet for my craft supplies if I won this thanks for y=the chance to win.
Oooh…the 16V MaxLithium Cordless Combo (drill/driver) would be an amazing gift…for me or for my husband!
I would restore my beautiful antique dining table that was damaged in our last move! It breaks my heart to see it all lopsided and sad. 🙁
I would also love to have the 16V MaxLithium Cordless Combo Kit to gift to my husband.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
I would love to use this to help my husband make new doors for out kitchen cabinets.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
I would have a bookshelf made for my sewing/craft/junk room. I am a quilter and have tons of books, I would make some bookshelves or ask my husband to do it!
i would love the 5″ CDS Random Orbital Sander
i would make a coffee table
I like the JawHorse Sheetmaster Portable Workstation.
I would build bookcases.
I think we would find the Versacut 4.0 Amp Mini-Circular Saw very useful. I would love to have one.
I would also like the 20v MaxLithium Brushless Drill & Driver. Thanks for the giveaway!
I would like to have shelves built for my kids rooms. They need to get some organization in their rooms! Thanks for the giveaway!
I also like the versacut mini circular saw.
I like the 16V MaxLithium Cordless Combo Kit.
I’d have my husband make some toy boxes for our daughters.
I like the Sonicrafter F50 4.0 Amp Oscillating Multi-Tool w/ Hyperlock!
I would try to make a stand for my TV
the 16V MaxLithium Cordless Drill & Driver is on my wish list
Id love to give my husband the 16v maxlithium cordless drill combo set.
Id like to attempt to make my new grandson a toy box.
I would love to have the JawHorse Portable Workstation for bicycle repairs and projects around the house.
If I won, I would use this saw to build an outdoor enclosure (a “catio”) for my kitty so that she can enjoy some time outside. I would also love to build a platform for my bed.
id love the 5″ CDS Random Orbital Sander
i would love to make some bookshelves
I would like to get the Rockwell 16V MaxLithium Cordless Combo Kit for my fiance.
I think we would tackle a new deck or porch on the house if I win this saw.