anybody make small power tools

stancalow | Posted in General Discussion on February 26, 2003 05:02am

Greetings:

Does anybody make a good quality small miter saw or table saw for cutting small parts? I have to make many various-sized picture frames, small boxes, and desk items over the next several months. It requires cutting a lot of miters on small stock, for which I hate (and sometimes fear) firing up the 10″ inch miter or table saw. Handsawing, while spiritually satisfying, consumes too much of my little time. While in the local Harbor Feight store today, I noticed they sell a tiny (2″ blade!) miter saw for $30 and a 4″ table saw for $50. I had not seen that before. I am wondering if somebody makes something like that with more precision and reliability that would be useful for the person making small items.

Thanks

Stan

Replies

RW | Feb 26, 2003 05:21am | #1
For lack of widespread interest, you may not have large scale success with finding good quality miniature tablesaws. If you need the power to it, the miter saw is probably your best bet as you already have it. Nevertheless, I can see you trying to set a stop 2" from the blade and make cuts all day long. A smaller version of a slider might be worthwhile, now and later, as it would allow for wider crosscuts down the road. If the volume you're doing isn't too expansive, have you seen the Nobex saws?

View ImageIt looks in design like this one (Jorgensen, can't find a Nobex photo right off the bat). They're around two bills. Quick for hand power, good on accuracy.

" To the noble mind / Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind" - Wm Shakespeare, Hamlet, III,i,100
UncleDunc | Feb 26, 2003 05:27am | #2
I get catalogs periodically from Micro Mark with lots of small hand and power tools. Here's their web site. http://www.micromark.com/
chrisindiana | Feb 26, 2003 06:42am | #3
Stan,

Have you tried using a smaller fine tooth saw blade & a 0 clearence insert on your 10" table saw.

Chris
bill_1010 | Feb 26, 2003 07:02pm | #4
might look at the Bosch 1640 Fine cut power saw. It possible seems to be what youre after. I think amazon (and probably most other retailers) sell it for around $130 US

http://www.boschtools.com/Tools+and+Accessories/Tools/prod_detail.htm?item_no=1640VSK
joker | Feb 26, 2003 09:47pm | #5
HEGNER makes a mini combo machine. It looks like the bigger European combo machines, only really tiny.
Elcoholic | Feb 26, 2003 11:22pm | #6
Try searching the FWW Index. I remember an artical about minatures where the guy had a hyper-precise sliding TS that was originally used in the printing trade.

John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking

Life is tough. It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne
BenA | Feb 27, 2003 03:43am | #7
Makita makes a 18 volt and a 24 volt 8-1-2 in. miter box thats compounds and slides.

They use to make an electric version of the same tool . Excellent piece of machinery it wasn't sold cheap, you defenitly got what you paided for. I don't know if they still make it any more, but it worth looking into.Call you local industrial distributer to see if its still available.
stancalow | Feb 27, 2003 04:21am | #8
Thanks everyone for the good suggestions. RW, I was used to my old wooden miter-box, and didn't think anyone made a hand-saw miter box with precision controls. Chris, I probably will get a finer blade and ZCI anyway. I am checking into the other suggestions and expect to find my answer.

Thanks again