Mini Table Saw recommendations

[davyboy]

39 minutes ago, tom q vaxy said:

anyone have success cutting thick (.060" & .080") styrene strips with any of the suggested saws (except the basically unobtainium Byrnes saw)

 

thanks

Have you tried sticking it to a backing piece of thin (1/8" or so plywood) I can't speak for styrene but I successfully cut 0,015" copper and brass sheet doing that on my Proxxon KS 230 saw using their thin fine toothed # 28020 50mm blade. Just take it slowly so you don't melt the styrene plastic.

 

Dave 

[Gregory]

3 hours ago, tom q vaxy said:

anyone have success cutting thick (.060" & .080") styrene strips with any of the suggested saws (except the basically unobtainium Byrnes saw)

 

thanks

I’m at a loss by what you mean by “thick” .

 

What are the dimensions of the stock, and what do you want to end up with?

[rcweir]

One characteristic of a mini table saw which I don't see much discussed is setup time.    Most of my trips to my Byrnes saw are to cut one or two pieces, and then head back to the bench to continue work.    I'm perfectly fine with lengthy planning and setup for a large volume of similar cuts, or for something special.  But the very common one- or two-cut rip or cross-cut (or both) jobs take an inordinate amount of time to prepare on that saw.

 

Today, for example,  all I wanted to do was crosscut a 1/16" piece of walnut.   After disassembling and removing the Byrnes' rip fence (always a nuisance because the fit is so tight and a worry because of the loose bolts), then reconfiguring the miter gauge (another opportunity for loose bolts), I realized that I was going to have to swap out the saw blade.  At that point I gave up, walked over to the big saw, slid its crosscut sled into place and made my cut: 60 seconds start to finish.  But the Byrnes was really the better tool for the job.

 

So,  my main question is whether a Proxxon mini saw is quick to setup and reconfigure?   Can you switch from rip to crosscut and back again in a few seconds?    Are there loose fittings all over the place when changes are made?  How long does it take to swap blades?   Price is not my main concern:  efficient flexibility of the tool is.

 

Thanks,

Bob

[Gregory]

1 hour ago, rcweir said:

So,  my main question is whether a Proxxon mini saw is quick to setup and reconfigure?   

In my opinion it's very easy to set up.  Just takes seconds to adjust the fence.  Takes a few minutes to change blades- 10-15 max.

I've never had a big project like  strip cutting that it didn't do well.  

You will want to source some blades besides the Proxxon.

Now, I'm talking about the FET.. 

 

I don't see the smaller KS 115 being a good choice for ship modeling.

[JohnB40]

I have been very satisfied with my MicroLux Table saw which I purchased about 10 years ago. Mine was made in Japan,I don't know if they still are. It takes a bit of time to set the fence but once done stays put and keeps within tolerance for as many cuts as needed. I did buy a finer blade that the one supplied.

[manning16]

Hello all..responding to an older thread..I have a Byrnes saw back in NY..Didn't want to lose it in a hurricane in FL.. I have two older Dremel table saws  here in FL..  They are model 580-2.  in good shape. I'm spoiled but the Byrnes saw, but it was mentioned that the Dremels can be upgraded. What would those  upgrades? I mill my own wood. Thanks in advance.

[grsjax]

 

17 hours ago, manning16 said:

mentioned that the Dremels can be upgraded

Check out the above thread.

Edited Sunday at 06:32 PM by grsjax

[kgstakes]

For set ups on my Proxxon or for that matter, any mini tablesaw, invest in some set up blocks.  I was fortunate enough to have received my father in laws gauge block set.  I use it when ever I need to set up the rip fence.  They are very accurate and even before I had them I used calipers to set up the rip fence.

 

Now for cross cuts, I pretty much use a crosscut sled.  I also have a 1/4 x 1/2 piece of basswood and a clamp (the ones for paper - black one) to clamp the "stop block" in place and then I can make as many cross cuts as I need.  

 

Set up time for either procedure is no longer than 5 min. if that.  And to talk off the rip fence on the Proxxon, just loosen the two knobs and slide it off.  Just as easy to reinstall the fence.

[mtaylor]

On 3/22/2025 at 5:40 PM, JohnB40 said:

I have been very satisfied with my MicroLux Table saw which I purchased about 10 years ago. Mine was made in Japan,I don't know if they still are. It takes a bit of time to set the fence but once done stays put and keeps within tolerance for as many cuts as needed. I did buy a finer blade that the one supplied.

I basically have that saw and have had it for close to 2 decades.  Not sure of where it was made though.   I have assorted blades with different tooth counts depending on the different thickness of the wood. My reference for tooth count is here:  https://modelshipworld.com/topic/23843-byrnes-saw-reference-also-good-for-other-desktop-hobby-saws/.   I do make my own insert plates per that document.

 

 

 

[JohnB40]

Thank you for the information Mark.