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A while back, Haans posted about the new Proxxon IB/E Professional Rotary Tool that he bought to replace his Dremel and about a table saw he got on Ebay. After reading his feedback, I started looking into Proxxon tools and wanted to share a source that I found. There is a place in Hickory, NC ( jakobstools.com ) that sells and services Proxxon tools. I believe that he may be the only Proxxon service tech in the US, although he doesn't work directly for Proxxon. In addition to new tools, he also sells some reconditioned tools.

I bought a new IB/E Professional rotary tool from him for $105, a reconditioned micro router for $55, and a reconditioned BSL 115/E belt sander for $69. The reconditioned tools I got looked and worked like new. The BSL belt sander looks like it would be pretty useful for doing neck shaping. I'm not sure what else he might have available in the reconditioned line, but do know that he has a couple of the KS115 table saws for $99 and one of the larger FKS/E table saws for $249. I thought about buying the FKS table saw myself, but decided that I really don't need another small saw since I already have two of the Dremel table saws, although the Proxxon looks like a much better saw.

Just thought I would pass this on in case someone else was considering purchasing some Proxxon tools. My experience with Jacobstools.com was very positive; very friendly person with great service....and I saved a few bucks as well.

Alan

Thanks for that Alan. I only have one Proxxon tool, the mini belt sander (1/2" wide belt if I recall). Very well built tools IMO. My little sander has proven very handy for nut shaping and any number of detail sanding/shaping tasks. I'm thinking of picking up a rotary tool and maybe one of the mini tablesaws.

I bought a Proxxon rotary tool to use for inlay work to keep it permanently mounted in my router base. The thing burned up almost immediately. I bought a Dremel, it's still going strong.

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Old growth, shmold growth!

Which Proxxon rotary tool did you have? Proxxon has a 12 volt lightweight rotary tool, and I'm not sure that it would hold up as well as the IB/E Professional Rotary Tool.

I have 8 or 10 Dremel and Black and Decker rotary tools, but the Proxxon IB/E is now my main rotary tool...in fact, I just ordered a second one so that I can keep this one mounted in the Proxxon drill stand to use as a pin router for headstock inlay....thanks to Haans and others for mentioning that!

IB/E
I'm in love with mine. Very well balanced precision spindle.
I have a couple Dremels also. No comparision in my book.
Nelson

Now THERE is something you don't often see said about dremels!

The Proxxon I bought cost about a hundred bucks, which I thought was expensive for a rotary tool, so I figured it would last longer.
I compared it to my Dremel. The bearings seemed sturdier than my Dremel, and the shaft didn't seem to have as much play as the Dremel, but the motor housing seemed a bit smaller than the Dremel.
It didn't last long.
Maybe I bought the crappy small one, or happened upon a lemon, any factory can produce one, but that makes me wonder, if indeed I bought the small one, how much does one have to spend on a rotary tool to get one that lasts as long as a Dremel?

I picked up the Proxy router for $25 at a flea market. While a nice router the base provides poor visibility and is therefor not great for most work.

Not impressed.

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http://www.jakobstools.com/115V%20-%20C.html

This is the link to Jakobs Tools that Alan mentioned in the first post above.

The model IB/E is the professional model.

Nelson

Thanks Nelson. I should have included a link. I notice that the listed price is a little more than I paid for the IB/E ($105). I'm sure that if you send him an email (link under Contact Us at the top of the web page), he would sell it for the lower price.

Has anyone used the MICROMOT Tool Clamp? Im setting up my shop and was wondering if this would be good for cutting out the backs and tops. I want to get a 14" band saw but that may not be doable for now.

Thanks
Joel


Just figured that it would be a total of $179 with the saw and clamp etc... but I could get a 10" craftsman band saw for the same money ( its on sale at my local sears) http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1260 ... ckType=G14

or possibly a used 14' Grizzly band saw for $225

What to do what to do?

I have a BSL 220/E mini belt sander that's been sitting here for over a year that makes a terrible grinding sound when I turn it on. It needs repaired certainly. I was just about to trash it so I'm glad you posted. I'll have to give your man a call. The sander worked great as an electric file that I used mostly for rounding over the solder joints on the top and back of my metal body resos. And it was coming in handy for a few other things. But I'm surprised that it hasn't held up longer then it did. It has made me a little leary about buying their other products as a result.
I have a few old Dremels still running well and going strong, a couple that I bought on sale for $35. Simple 2 speed and I have no complaint about Dremels as long as you use them for a purpose they are suited for they do great. I read a few years back that they had changed their design and that there was some runout problems as a reult from the older design. I don't know if that has since been corrected or not.
I'm still wanting to get a Foredom tool as a step up from the dremel for inlay even though I have a new pencil grinder. Foredom would be much more quiet and I could set up an inlay room in the extra bed room.

For cutting out backs and sides, I would go with the band saw. The 10" Craftsman saw will work for backs and sides, but given the little price difference you mentioned, I think I would opt for the 14" Grizzly. I have a 14" Grizzly and 18" Jet band saw im my garage for the bigger work, but also have the 10" Craftsman in the room where I build and find that I use it most....because it's handy and I'm too lazy to to to the garage to use the larger saws if I don't have to.