The second annual Big Boys Toys Expo delivered everything from nerf guns to remote-controlled touring cars, to pinball at Exhibition Park, but nothing appeared to capture the 5000-strong crowd like the Robowars heroes, bearing names such as Sawnado, Skeletor and Crushinator.

Battling it out in a perspex cube to save the fans from sparks and flying offcuts, Sawnado took a points victory over the drill-bearing Skeletor, much to owner Nick Martin's delight.

The Sydney robot lord explained that where there was no knockout – which can literally see a defeated robot thrown in the trash can – judges look for aggression and control over an opponent.

"Then we have this indefinable style category, including any crazy tactics that worked," he said.

Mr Martin made Sawnado in 2008 and said the only new component was his saw, purchased from Bunnings.

Sawnado was one of 40 robots competing across the weekend, about three-quarters travelling with their interstate owners (including three belonging to Mr Martin) and even some competitors from New Zealand. There were 80 head-to-head battles planned.

There were some feats of athleticism, better described as brute strength, by human kind at the expo on Saturday, as Canberrans Andrew Fraser and Troy Conley tied for first by taking just 36 seconds each to pull an 18-tonne ACT Rural Fire Service truck 25 metres.

Expo director Steve Rohan-Jones said ticketing figures indicated a similar crowd to the first day in the inaugural year.

"Given the weather problems today, we're all happy with that," he said.

Fellow expo director Charles Bishop was a little more direct. "There's plenty of inside stuff to do at the expo, [but] if you don't go to the Big Boys Toys because of the weather, it's probably not for you," he said.

The final day of the Big Boys Toys Expo is from 10am-4pm on Sunday at Exhibition Park, with Canberra's Strongest Man and Strongest Woman to be decided in the afternoon. For information and tickets go to bigboystoyscanberra.com.au.