A saw comprising: a base assembly (6, 100); a base pivotally mounted on the base assembly (6,100); two parallel guide rods which are rigidly attached to the base and which extend across the base assembly (6,100), one guide rod being located above the other guide rod; a cutting unit slideably mounted on the two guide rods which is capable of being slid along the length of the guide rods over the base assembly (6, 100); wherein the pivotal movement of the base on the base assembly results in the guide rods and cutting unit moving towards or away from the base assembly; characterised in that the two guide rods are manufactured from a single guide rod which is bent to form a U shape having two straight parallel sides joined together by a perpendicular connecting section, the two straight parallel sides forming the two guide rods, with the two free ends of the two straight parallel sides being rigidly attached to the base; wherein the length of the two straight parallel sides are the same; wherein the connecting section forms an end stop which engages the cutting unit when the cutting unit is slid along the guide rods away from the base to limit the amount of sliding movement of the cutting unit away from the base; wherein the cutting unit comprises a motor mount, the motor mount having at least two brackets (502; 508), a first bracket for holding a slide bearing, one of the two straight parallel sides passing through the slide bearing, and a second bracket through which the other straight parallel side passes, the cutting unit being able to slide along the two straight parallel sides by the brackets (502;508) and slide bearings sliding along the two straight parallel sides; wherein the connecting section engages the side of one of the brackets (502;508) when acting as an end stop. a base assembly (6, 100); a base pivotally mounted on the base assembly (6,100); two parallel guide rods which are rigidly attached to the base and which extend across the base assembly (6,100), one guide rod being located above the other guide rod; a cutting unit slideably mounted on the two guide rods which is capable of being slid along the length of the guide rods over the base assembly (6, 100); wherein the pivotal movement of the base on the base assembly results in the guide rods and cutting unit moving towards or away from the base assembly; characterised in that the two guide rods are manufactured from a single guide rod which is bent to form a U shape having two straight parallel sides joined together by a perpendicular connecting section, the two straight parallel sides forming the two guide rods, with the two free ends of the two straight parallel sides being rigidly attached to the base; wherein the length of the two straight parallel sides are the same; wherein the connecting section forms an end stop which engages the cutting unit when the cutting unit is slid along the guide rods away from the base to limit the amount of sliding movement of the cutting unit away from the base; wherein the cutting unit comprises a motor mount, the motor mount having at least two brackets (502; 508), a first bracket for holding a slide bearing, one of the two straight parallel sides passing through the slide bearing, and a second bracket through which the other straight parallel side passes, the cutting unit being able to slide along the two straight parallel sides by the brackets (502;508) and slide bearings sliding along the two straight parallel sides; wherein the connecting section engages the side of one of the brackets (502;508) when acting as an end stop.