Vancon Core Saw Inc. is under new Ownership!

Born and raised in Sudbury, Vance McAfee worked as a Supervisor for INCO Exploration for 32 years.

During his tenure with INCO, Vance was responsible for building camps, hiring crew members and overseeing all logistics for exploration projects across North America. It was during this time, while working at a gold camp in Quebec in the mid-80’s, that company executives decided to cut their cores on site. The challenge was that no one could find a saw that could effectively achieve the necessary cutting. Not one to be defeated, Vance stepped-up to find a solution to the problem and volunteered to custom design and build a saw that could do the work. After the completion of that first unit, he went on to build five (5) more. After retiring in 1991, he continued to build his core cutting saws.

Mining and exploration companies were by then required to cut core samples being sent off for assaying. While the success of his product grew from word of mouth, the demand for his saw continued to grow resulting in the fabrication of fifty-five (55) additional saws the following year. In 2007, when exploration activities were at an all-time high, Vancon manufactured and sold seventy-six (76) new saws. As of the end of 2018, there are over six hundred (600) saws in operation world-wide.

The very first unit built in 1986 was far from the final product available on the market today. The unit was much larger, had many more parts and was powered by a gasoline-driven motor, but it got the job done. Vance spent many years in the bush and had the knowledge necessary to continue improving his design. The remote locations of base camps for exploration projects coupled with the logistics restrictions of flying the necessary supplies in, required that the design had to be portable and lightweight. With fewer parts and additional modifications, the Vancon Core Saw evolved to become operated by electric motor. The unit is fabricated of aluminum, measures 40” long x 18” wide x 48” high and weighs in at 180 pounds.

With safety in mind, the saw comes with a completely enclosed hood over the blade and cutting area which keeps the operator out of harm’s way. A compact pump and hose feeds water to the 14” diamond wheel blade for cooling. A standard ‘shop vac’ is connected to the hood and exhausts the cuttings.

After 30 years of successful ownership, Vance McAfee has decided the time was right for retirement. I wish to congratulate Vance and his wife Sue on 30 years of Vancon Core Saw success!

As the new owner, I will continue to manufacture and supply the Vancon Core Saw with the same quality and integrity started by the McAfee’s.

Alain Baril

President