Official Luthiers Forum!

Hi
Has anyone here ever used a proxxon mini table saw.
I have access to one and am curious if any on here has ever used one. It
looks like it would be great to make binding, purfling and braces.

Andy

Here is a web page that shows you what it looks like.
http://www.toolswitch.com/prx-us-38070.php

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

Andy--I have a Sears version of this that is grossly underpowered. Cuts ice cream sticks fairly well though.
The Proxon may have plenty of power.

Harry Fleishman has a small table saw. very small, that is dedicated to fret slotting. His is very old and very heavy duty...so I am assuming for it's size it is probably way over powered. It does a great job and I wish I could find one similar to dedicate for fret slotting. If the proxxon works for you please let us know! THANKS.

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

I've been seriously considering buying one of these, partly for the uses you listed. I have a Proxxon "Professional Rotary Tool" model IB/E (similar to a Dremel tool) and it feels like a very solid quality tool.

The best price I've been able to find on the Proxxon mini table saw model FKS/E is $314.82 at www.miniaturetree.com. If any one knows of a lower price I'd appreciated hearing about it.

Home Depot sells a small table saw for about $80 or $90 that's used to cut tile. I borrowed one of these from a friend when I did a recent "honey do" tile project. Not a lot of power but if you didn't push the cut then it did quite well (on tile that is). The whole time I was cutting I was thinking how easy it would be to convert one of these into a fret slotting table saw.

You might also check eBay for Jarmac brand. I bought one with a 9 x 12" table for around $50 but they usually go for much more. However, I won't recommend it as I have not had a chance to set it up as a fret saw yet. I would advice you not to buy the small table saw / grinder combo that is for sale for around $30. The quality is really very poor.

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

Tom--Does the Proxon rotary tool vibrate at high speed like a dremel?

Nelson - The Proxxon IB/E rotary tool is very smooth and quiet at all speeds. Top end is 20,000 RPM. The shaft at the chuck is solidly mounted and has almost imperceptable free play (side to side). The largest work I've probably used mine for is with 1/8" downcut spiral bits in hard maple and there's plenty of power. I haven't used any new Dremel tools so I can't make a fair comparison. TomS38566.7766550926

I have the proxxon rotary tool, and concur with TomS. It's so quiet while running at top speed that I often find myself checking the speed, thinking I must have it set at the lowest speed.

I also have their associated router table that accepts the tool. I do NOT recommend it. The mechanism that holds the tool is very flimsy - you can flex the tool, and thus the bit position, with your hand. I bought it thinking I would use it to slot bridges, but no, it collects dust.

I've also mulled over the table saw, but read reviews saying that the blades are flimsy and will bend, and that it is very hard to rip a straight line, features that seem to contravene it's use to slot fingerboards or rip bindings. But that is pure speculation on my part.

Tom__I ordered the IB/E today and thanks for your input. Has to be better than a Dremel!

Has anyone tried or looked at Micro Mark...they offer their own brand mini table saw as well as Dremel Mini SAW Tables. Both are around $275-$300. I think it would be worth it if I knew I could trust it/them. Dedication is a good thing!

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

Dave - The Micro-Mark MicroLux mini table saw looks to be about the same thing as the Proxxon. I asked a Proxxon dealer about the difference between the Proxxon FKS/E and the MicroLux saw and was told the following: "...Proxxon machine... is almost exactly like the Microlux version. Micromark has to license their machines from Proxxon, but the Proxxon version has a more recent cabinet design, and an updated motor."

I've seen the MicroLux saw for a few dollars less than the Proxxon. But I think that for the small difference I'll go with the genuine article.

Nelson - Bet you will love your new Proxxon IB/E! (At least I sure hope so.)

Dave, I've been told that the Dremel saw is way underpowered. I also thought that Dremel had discontinued them.

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

Thanks guys!

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

Nelson - Bet you will love your new Proxxon IB/E! (At least I sure hope so.) [/QUOTE]

Tom--I received the IB/E today. Wow!!! What a pleasure! I'm serious, Dremel is not in the same league. I took one of the little craytex wheels out of the dremel that I had been using to buff frets. It was worn to approx. 0.8" diameter and at high speed the Dremel would vibrate and was so noisy as to be unbearable. Put the same tool in the Proxon and at max rpm (20K) it's quiet and smooth!
The nose has a smooth (unthreaded) 20 MM boss for mounting. I'm going to mount it on my CNC router for engraving etc. I really appreciate the good advice!
Thanks

Nelson -- Glad you like it! I forgot to mention about the nose. As you found out it's 20mm round, unthreaded. I also bought the Proxxon OFV router base which fits the rotary tool. The router base itself is a nice piece; but for different applications I remove the yellow top part of the base (the part that clamps around the tool) and use it to mount the tool to something else. In the image below it's mounted to a different base I made to rout very small circles. I ordered 8mm diameter drill rod from McMaster-Carr to use for the rods that the piece from the router base mounts to.

TomS38572.7972800926