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Well, I've been waiting for this one for a while. Finally snagged a Proxxon table saw off'n ebay. Tore it apart, aligned the blade to the slots, oiled it up and got some zero clearance inserts and an 80T fine cut blade. Total cost: $237.94.



Finally got a chance to use it today...



Here is a comparison of slices cut from the bandsaw and the Proxxon...

Haans, that really makes a smooth cut!
Can you inlay the purfling right off the saw? If so, I may have to start looking for one!

Chuck

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That is sweet. I am salivating and presenting other symptoms of TAS...

What's the kerf?

Peace,
Sanaka

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...imagine there were no hypothetical situations...

Yup, right off the saw Chuck. I did cut off the fence so that it ends right where the saw starts. Also made an ebony fence for the mitre square and glued some sandpaper to the front edge to hold the wood.
Sanaka, the kerf on the 80T blade is 1/32".

That is some pretty convincing side-by-side photo documentation there. The extra sharpness of the lines really adds something that I didn't even notice was missing before--very nice.

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Evan McCartney

Well now that u tore one apart, can you tell us how well it is built? From the pictures on line, it appears to be plastic. Is it well made? Heavy duty? The price says it ought to be!

Mike, that is a matter of what you will settle for/price. For $200, it's a good saw. Once everything is locked down, it makes an accurate cut. The housing is plastic, but the main components are metal. Now, if I were nuts enough to spend $500 on a miniature table saw, I would surely buy this:

http://www.byrnesmodelmachines.com/tablesaw.html

It's supposedly the cream of the crop.
However, I have never been one to buy the fanciest designer tools, I don't polish and pet them, I use them. After all, the adage runs "A poor workman blames his tools". As long as they do what they are supposed to do, I'm satisfied. If they don't do the job, I look for something that does. In my opinion, for $200, this saw does what I want it to. For me it will be pretty much a single use tool.

I'm wondering if the Proxxon Bench Circular Saw could do the same job.
http://www.carpediemstore.com/mlistCategoriesAndProducts.asp?midCategory=51


Steve

Steve, I've heard that one has no power. Probably would be a good idea to compare specs.

I have both of the Proxxon saws and use the larger one as a mini table saw and the smaller one for the type of inlay slicing shown here.
The little one is rather delicate which is precisely the reason I use it to strip out marquetries etc. the only blades available for this saw are the small diameter thin blades.
The carbide blades that are available for the larger Proxxon are too aggresive to cut marquetry strips without shattering them....thus the thinner blade with the thin kerf/multi-tooth is perfect for this.
I use the larger Proxxon (like Haan's) for bridge making, brace cutting, slicing heavier veneer layups preparatory to second stage glues ups, etc.
The larger saw also has a diamond blade which I've used to cut MOP and which one could use to make your own inlay strip pearl.
I've even used the larger saw (with the carbide blade!) to cut 1/8" Nickel plate stock to make bar frets.
The two are quite different, the smaller one really being a light duty model makers saw and the larger (though still really desgned for model making)
more like a bench saw, but not a substitute for a regular sized one.
However, if delicate cuts are what you need these are the best things I've found thus far.
Here is the smaller saw:

Nice purf David! I just waited for the big one as I was unsure of the little saw. Regardless, the 80T blade is a must. The carbide 24T will chew up your strips.

I hope no one thought I was knocking the Proxxon. All I have are on line photos to judge by. My ridgid OSS is plastic bodied and is an amazing tool. I was just wondering how well it was made given the price.

Not at all MIke. I have never been one to favor tool brands except maybe P.C. that was made in the US. Most all the rest are made in the Pac Rim anyway.
It was pretty obvious to me that I needed something better than the bandsaw to make the cuts I needed. At $177. + shipping and a couple of parts, I thought it was a good fit for me. I would not have spent $4-500. on a new one.
Had I unlimited funds, I would have bought the Byrnes as it is made in the US. and looks better thought out.
Here is the website I went to to adjust the saw. There are enough photos there to show the construction of the Proxxon. I don't like the way the motor mount hangs on the recessed front casing and is squared up by tightening the angle adjusting knob, but as I said, this is a single use saw for me at 90 degrees. Also, the aluminum top casting has quite a fall off on the left side but seems pretty flat where I need it to be on the right side.

http://karincorbin.blogspot.com/2009/07 ... tment.html

where did you find one for $177 ??

The bay...

Dave Nichols has one like this a Mico mark I think and he uses it to make fret boards with a thin blade. I just bought one on ebay and was wondering of all the different things I could do with it. They make a .0020 blade and a .0025. Which would be best for frets I know they are .0022. Things like cutting binding. Has anyone cut shell for binding if so which blade. This is my third tablesaw- I have a Delta contractors saw, and a Inca 259 with the mortising table. The reason I went with the small saw is because of the set up cost for the blades and stiffeners for fretting. Plus the Inca has a none standard arbor 20mm. $20 for a replacement blade is alot better than $75. Maybe the bigs one last four time as long. I got it for $229 but it came with several accessories and three blade so I think it's a good deal. Bill the Greenman

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Mistakes are mandatory-learning from them is optional. http://www.opensourceluthiersupply.com

I used the diamond blade to cut the black MOP for this rosette. I'm sure one could cut border pearl with equal ease using it.

.022 is just right for most fretwire. Don't let the tail wag the dog.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

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