Bauer sabre saws

The reports, as CPSC published them

1. Emergency room

   Made Nov 2, 2023 · , sent to the company Nov 7, 2023 · , published by CPSC Nov 22, 2023

   The product, in the report: 10 Amp Variable Speed Reciprocating Saw

   The 10Amp Bauer 1975E-B Reciprocating Saw is extremely dangerous, and based on my most recent personal experience I believe that the position of the large, protruding, auto-lock button right next to the trigger has the potential to be a deadly design flaw.

   No other brands of [REDACTED]’s that I had seen put a lock button next to the trigger that can easily be pressed accidentally and unknowingly with only the palm of your hand. In fact, not even all of the models of Harbor Freight reciprocating saws are designed this way. After further research, I only found the [REDACTED] to have a similar large button and placement. Many saws do not even have this auto-lock button, and the ones that do have one, have it as a small button (half the size or smaller than the button Bauer model 1975E-B) placed above the trigger—completely out of the way of the natural hand placement for holding the saw. has the potential to be a deadly design flaw.

   No other brands of [REDACTED]’s that I had seen put a lock button next to the trigger that can easily be pressed accidentally and unknowingly with only the palm of your hand. In fact, not even all of the models of Harbor Freight reciprocating saws are designed this way. After further research, I only found the [REDACTED] to have a similar large button and placement. Many saws do not even have this auto-lock button, and the ones that do have one, have it as a small button (half the size or smaller than the button Bauer model 1975E-B) placed above the trigger—completely out of the way of the natural hand placement for holding the saw.

   Despite working with power tools from a young age, I have never had any injury that required a visit to the hospital —even through decades of working with various power tools. That changed on the afternoon of October 6, 2023, because I had a terrifying experience that I hope no one else will ever have to face that was caused by this dangerous auto-lock feature.

   I was using the 10Amp Bauer reciprocating saw and while I pulled it away from what I was cutting, the saw ricocheted off the wall panel and went through my arm—while the blade was running—because that dangerously placed, unsafe auto-lock button had automatically locked in the “on position” without me realizing it.

   The running blade went through my right forearm. Despite the shock of what was happening to me, I had to quickly pull the trigger on the saw to get it to turn off—while simultaneously trying to pull it out of my arm.

   Blood was gushing out, so I used my left hand to put pressure on it to try to keep myself from bleeding out. At that time, I did not even realize that I was bleeding from a second wound (I had one on the top and one on the bottom of my forearm). I became very weak. 9-1-1 was called, an ambulance came, and they took me to the ER.

   Since the accident, I have incurred numerous medical bills for the hospital visit, doctors appointments, and special therapies required to get the normal functioning on my fingers and full strength back in my arm. I have not been able use my right arm or hand to resume working on any of my building projects.

   It is extremely frustrating to deal with all of this unexpected loss. This injury is depleting my finances, time, health, progress, and well being. The therapist I need is an out of pocket expense, and located about an hour away. This has been taking extra time away from my schedule every week and is adding extra travel costs. All of these extra expenses are coming out of our savings fund that was designated for a shop to provide a better future for my family. This accident has caused disruptions in every area of my life.

   In addition, this has halted all my progress to help build our family business. I am now having to wait to fully recover use or my arm, or hire contractors to help me build, which would be more added expenses.

   Instead, I have had to shift my focus to try to heal not only from the wounds and emotional trauma, and doing what I can to regain full grip and mobility on all my fingers.

   Before this accident, I enjoyed excellent health, wellness and fitness, but now I do not know if I will be able to regain full use of my right index finger and strength to my arm, or how long it will be until I can be restored to the vitality that I had before I endured this injury. I am the sole provider in my household for building projects that require extra skills and strength, and now we have been forced to just have to wait on my recovery for any project to continue.

   It is horrifying to think that this accident could have easily been so much worse— the reciprocating saw could have ricocheted into my wrist, my neck, my face, cut off a limb, or cut a hole into my chest. Several of these possibilities could have led to cutting main arteries thus causing them to be fatal.

   The “auto-lock button” on this Bauer saw is big, obstructing natural use of the handle to reach the trigger, and the protruding shape that has it sit outside of the plane of the surface of the handle makes it to where it can be easily pressed unintentionally because of it’s location and large size. It is not acceptable to keep such a dangerous “feature” on a power tool with so much possibility to cause harm and irreversible damage.

   If Harbor Freight and the Bauer brand care about the safety of its consumers, it would pull this dangerous product off the shelf immediately, recall it, and either redesign it to be safe, or discontinue it altogether.

   As long as this poorly designed reciprocating saw is still out there, consumers are not safe—regardless of their level of experience.

   I want to see a speedy inspection of this dangerous safety hazard, and Harbor Freight’s plans to pull this product off the shelf to make sure that this (or something much worse) does not happen to someone else. I am committed to the safety of fellow consumers and thus reporting this accident to not only to Harbor Freight but also [REDACTED], the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and any other consumer product safety organizations we can find.

   This dangerous threat I am reporting is not an isolated incident. Upon recent research on your website, I found that several people over the last three years had already reported issues on the dangers of the button/trigger locking in the on position. Here are some highlights from the Bauer Reciprocating Saw product page (currently found at this web address https://www.harborfreight.com/power-tools/power-saws/reciprocating-saws/10-amp-variable-speed-reciprocating-saw-56250.html) under Consumer Reviews:

   [REDACTED]

   Model

   1975E-B, 10 Amp Variable Speed Reciprocating Saw

   UPC

   792363562508

   Serial number

   37464-2302

   Bought from

   Harbor Freight

   Bought

   Apr 12, 2023

   Where

   United States: Home/Apartment/Condominium

   Who was involved

   Unspecified

   The reporter’s relation to them

   Self

   As this report names them

   Brand Bauer, made or sold by Harbor Freight Tools

   How badly, in CPSC’s words

   Injury, Emergency Department Treatment Received

CPSC’s disclaimer

Sources