Sliding mitre saw (Macallister) 2 black wires, one of them is cut ?? - Will it still work?

Danny_G

We have got a Macallister Sliding mitre saw, and have noticed it has 2 black wires, a thick wire (coming from the mains) and a thin wire... but the thin wire is cut,  (like it has been cut with scissors)
We just want to use the 'Saw feature' to cut basic simple cross cuts
Will it still work fine with this thin Wire cut??
What would this thin wire for, on the saw? - a feature of the saw perhaps?
Here is a pic of the saw.



Rather than turning it on to get a shock, thought would ask people who have experience with sliding saws.
Have you had a sliding mitre saw with 2 wires? a thick black one, and a thin one? 
What is the thin one for, usually? (for saws with 2 wires)   and will it prevent the saw from working?

GDB2222

Rather a fuzzy photo, so I cannot see the wire, but from your description  it doesn’t sound at all safe to use. Can you upload a better picture?

The thin wire could be for a laser, I suppose. Does this have one?

ianto11

Does the thin wire go anywhere near this part , maybe it just dislodged 

Le_Kirk

I would concur, it seems, from your description to be the feed to the laser light.  Follow the wire; does it go from its own switch to the laser?

Danny_G

Thanks. Will look when get a chance.. 

But If the thin wire if (wire which is cut) is actually for a laser? . .then would this cut wire stop the saw from working for JUST the saw cutting mechenism?.?  .
Or it would still chop / blade will still rotate, just WITHOUT the laser working?

Le_Kirk

Yes, I believe it would.  You would be foolhardy to try it without having investigated where the black goes to and comes from!

grumbler

Le_Kirk said:

You would be foolhardy to try it without having investigated where the black goes to and comes from!

I disagree.

It'll either work or not. If it does, it can be used with the cut wire adequately insulated.

EssexExile

Repair the thin wire?

GDB2222

Even though cut, the wire will still be live. It could be low voltage or mains. Are you feeling lucky?

grumbler

GDB2222 said:

Even though cut, the wire will still be live. It could be low voltage or mains. Are you feeling lucky?

What does this have to do with luck?

Don't touch the wire, don't let it touch other conductive things, don't let the wires touch each other.

It's very easy. If the saw works, then either repair the wire or insulate it properly.

To repair, I would solder it and use heatshrink (smaller diameter for single wires, then bigger diameter for both.

Danny_G

grumbler said:

GDB2222 said:

Even though cut, the wire will still be live. It could be low voltage or mains. Are you feeling lucky?

What does this have to do with luck?

Don't touch the wire, don't let it touch other conductive things, don't let the wires touch each other.

It's very easy. If the saw works, then either repair the wire or insulate it properly.

To repair, I would solder it and use heatshrink (smaller diameter for single wires, then bigger diameter for both.

Thanks, I wanted to find a way to safely insulate it. grumbler this is the advice I was looking for.

Thank you for everybodies help too.

Grumbler do you think this is the wire for the laser?

where is the best place to get good budget heatshrink from? 

Would  a plastic straw work?