Mini bench top table-saw

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Fruitini
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Mini bench top table-saw

Post by Fruitini »

Does anyone have any recommendations for a mini bench top table saw? I already have a large DeWalt DW745 table saw in the cellar for larger cuts and big runs which is brilliant but I'm thinking a small hobbyist type table saw would be useful in the workshop itself for trimming spacers and thinner wooden bits to length where finer control and a bit less power is required. I guess the only specifications im looking for is accurate(!) and the ability to hook up to the vacuum to keep dust at a minimum.
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Re: Mini bench top table-saw

Post by Not your average framer »

The difficulty with smaller table saws is likely to be the lack of quality, since smaller saws are usually made down to price. The cutting speed and the number of teeth on the blade have a lot to do with the quality of the cut. I don't want to spend lots of time making good the quality of the finish on the cut surface, because It can be a lot of sanding.

Right from the start, I wanted a table saw with a 10 inch diameter blade and I'm really glad that I stuck to that. I bought an Einhell portable site saw with a 2,000 watt motor and for what I do it has been great. Not too expensive, but makes an easy job of the sort of things that I do. I use it primarily for Pine and obeche, I have cut a small amount of Oak with it and it was o.k., but I,m not really into cutting Oak on a table saw as I prefer to cut Oak on my Band saw.

Sanding down a piece of Oak that has been cut on a table saw, does not make a lot of sense, when the band saw produces such a smooth finish, which is almost good enough not to need sanding. The main saw which I use in the workshop is a small band saw. It takes up so little space and because the blade is so narrow, it generates much less saw dust. It's also good for cutting shapes which you cannot cut on a table saw.
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Re: Mini bench top table-saw

Post by GeoSpectrum »

I've just built a table saw into my workbench. I use the saw Triton module that is designed go into a portable bench system. You need access to the underside to adjust the height of the blade and connect up the power. The riving knife is removeable when I need to use the whole bench top which is 8x4ft. A small track saw might do the job, or use the small handheld Makita HS301 and make a track out of parallel lengths of upside down moulding. The saw would run along the rebates keeping a nice straight cut.
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Re: Mini bench top table-saw

Post by Not your average framer »

Hi Alan,

That sounds like a very interesting saw. I don't have the option to fit my saw directly into a bench top, but that would have been an option that I would have really liked. To be honest, I don't much like the fence that my existing saw came with and would have liked something which automatically stays parallel to the saw blade, but It is not always so.

Eventually I will need to put a plywood top on my existing table saw a fit a proper mitre slot in to it and a better fence and locking system for the fence. Currently getting that done is a long way down the current list of future priorities. I much prefer a table saw to a router for cutting out rebates and also find that I get a very smooth cut doing making such cuts in pine,or obeche, when using my current saw.
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Re: Mini bench top table-saw

Post by baughen »

Proxxon do a small table saw (https://www.axminstertools.com/proxxon- ... eal-717740). I don't have one but I do have other Proxxon tools so I can testiment to their usual high quality. Axminster Tools normally stock them but they are currently out of stock (on line - due in next week) although you may be able to get one from their stores. Other places also stock them in this country.

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Re: Mini bench top table-saw

Post by Not your average framer »

As far as I know these Proxxon power tools are powered by DC motors, which suggests to me that they probably are quite low power and only have an 80mm diameter saw blade. Having said all that Proxxon power tools have a very good reputation for quality in general, but they are quite expensive. I have always gone for the more powerful and less specialised power tools with more power, although I go for the best combination of build quality, power and price, as I an looking for more bang for you bucks.

I don't mind the fact that a particular power tool may have a limited life, as I always buy power tools to have considerably more power than I will need and therefore, because the tool is always under using it's available power, the usable lifespan of the power tool will be greatly extended. I like a table saw to have a 10 inch diameter saw blade, because the available range of saw blade for that diameter is quite extensive and for what I use it for there will always be adequate power, without the load on the motor slowing it down and passing excessive current through the commutator segment and shortening the life of the motor.

Like most of us, I don't use my table every day, so it's not getting hammered. In fact, I mainly use it when my band saw, or my sliding compound mitre saw, will not do what I need to do. A quick side note here; My sliding compound mitre saw has got a cross cut capacity of 14 inches at 90 degrees and within this capacity, this saw doubles as a radial are saw, for trimming down some standard size strut backs and producing a nice clean cut, if you place a suitable bit of scrap underneath to prevent the tha saw causing any breaking away of the cut from underneath.
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Re: Mini bench top table-saw

Post by GeoffLittle »

Mark,

Thank you for passing on your knowledge. I have been lurking and gathering lots of top tips for most of this year.

If you don't mind me asking I wonder if you would share what make and model of band saw and blade you have actually got.

ATB
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Re: Mini bench top table-saw

Post by Not your average framer »

Hi geoff,

I have an Einhell table saw with a 10 inch diameter blade and it has a 2,000 watt motor, To be honest, wish I had paid the extra for something with a solid cast table, but I did not realise that the table top is made from pressed steel, until after I had bought it. It came will a 36 tooth blade as standard, but I also bought a Trend 60 tooth blade as well. I find that the 36 tooth blade that it came with produces a very nice clean cut, which cleans up with almost no sanding at all, after cutting and to be honest I had assumed that I would need something better to get a clean cut. I now have the trend 60 tooth blade mostly available for use on the sliding compound mitre saw, but I still can use it on the table saw, if I wish.

I am not a big fan of buying big name equipment, were you are paying a lot extra for the name. As far as I can see, the difference in quality between the big name equipment is not always as much as it used to be, but it still pays to have a good look at the quality of whatever you are buying, because there is still some cheap and not too decent quality stuff around. I mostly buy Clarke and Einhell power tools and I have been very impressed with the quality of what I have bought so far. For some power tools Clarke have what the call the contractor range, it does not appear to cover every possible type of power tool that you might want, but I have found this particular range to be very solid and durable.

I would like to point out that there are plenty of other reasonably priced brands out there, which are also of fairly decent good quality as well, so I am not ruling out any other brands, so please just be careful to make sure that you are happy with the quality and durability of what you are buying. sometimes the extra which you have to pay for a considerable improvement in quality is an extremely small amount, the the quality improvement can be substantial.
Mark Lacey

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Re: Mini bench top table-saw

Post by GeoffLittle »

Thank you Mark, much appreciated. I see that is a very comprehensive reply about your table saw. Do you mind me asking which band saw you use? I am leaning towards getting a band saw first and then a table saw. No rush as I am info gathering at the moment... (this is a great place for that :D )

Thanks again.
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Re: Mini bench top table-saw

Post by Fruitini »

Thanks everyone for your input. The one recommendation from baughen looks interesting. Top end for price but the very comprehensive review doesn't exactly sing its praises. Accuracy of cut, riving knife and fence performance would be a deal maker for me and this one doesn't appear to cut the mustard out of the box. My 'big' table saw (DeWalt DW745) wasn't cheap at £430, but having burnt out a cheap inherited one with a very annoying fence, I felt I wanted to invest in something that would be super accurate, easy to adjust and last! This one certainly ticks those boxes. The fence is a dream and the rack and pinion adjustment so quick and smooth. I guess I'm looking for the same in miniature, but its probably a big ask! The bandsaw suggestion from Mark is interesting - I'd be interested if you could elaborate on your set up too. Thanks
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Re: Mini bench top table-saw

Post by Not your average framer »

I just have a basic band saw and I would like to upgrade to one with ball race blade guides sometime. I takes a bit of use to get the feel to enable you to get the best out of such a basic band saw, but I get great accuracy out of it. It might sound like it's something really amazing, but I have adjusted my way of working so as to use it in ways that allow it to be the best power tool for the job and I still use my table saw and my sliding compoud mitre saw when, whatever I am using has the advantage. As you probably already realise, I like things to be quick, simple and easy. Anything which is not quick, simple and easy, gets to be avoided. Yes, using my band saw is my favorite work shop power tool, but I do pick and choose my preferred way of doing things to get the best results. Speed and the quality of the results that I can obtain will determine whether I will continue to use a particular method of working, or a particular moulding profile that I can make for myself from bits sliced of cheap mouldings.

I like using a band saw, because of the flexibility and speed of working that it gives me. I would point out that having bought the band saw, has led to fairly significant changes in how I work and how I do things. If you are planning to get a band saw and not change how you do things to get the full advantage of using a band saw, then you won't be getting the full benefit from having one. I've not only bought a band saw, but I have always been someone who is prepared to think out of the box quite a bit. I also have an electric scroll saw and can easily make little cradles for object framing as well. I have a big incentive to use power tools to the uttermost as I am a stroke victim and can no longer do what I used to do before my stroke, without such tools and therefore, I have to find ways of making things work if I am to continue being a framer. Ideas that don't quite work the first time around, get looked at very carefully and techniques are perfected to make the ideas become workable.

Don't get a band saw, unless you are ready to learn all the ways in which it is going to make life easier and transform your possibilities for ways of working, or you will end up wondering why you bought it. What lots of online videos about using a band saw in different ways and learn about making small jigs to enable you to undertake difficult tasks with ease. So much of what I do is easy, but if you convince yourself that something is going to be really hard, that's how you will find it to be. It's all about mind set and being prepared to push the limits a bit.
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Re: Mini bench top table-saw

Post by prospero »

This just popped up unbidden on my Facebook timeline. :D

https://giecally.com/products/cutting-1 ... gjWg-nih-c

It's not a recommendation as it may be a death trap for all I know, but it looks a handy little gadget for our trade.

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Re: Mini bench top table-saw

Post by Fruitini »

Very interesting. Thanks for this. Will see if I can find a review somewhere
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Re: Mini bench top table-saw

Post by Not your average framer »

Hi peter,

That really surprising that they can even afford to produce something like that for the money, with a no quibble guarentee and and a full refund option, it sounds like you can't really go wrong at only £38. The cutting depth is only 29mm, but it would probably cope with cutting obeche reasonably well, so it might be worth thinking about.
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Re: Mini bench top table-saw

Post by prospero »

38 is just for a set of blades Mark. The saw is 146.77. Which isn't too bad.

(The full price is 309.01..........Apparently.) :roll:
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Re: Mini bench top table-saw

Post by Not your average framer »

I think I'll stick with my full size 2000 watt table saw. I like having the extra power in reserve, which means that I never have to push it too close to the maximum. My thinking is that by never running it too hard, it should last for years. I don't use it as much these days, now I got the band saw. The band saw does not need to be set up every time I want to use it and it does not produce much saw dust.
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Re: Mini bench top table-saw

Post by Fruitini »

Googled the "Neze Mini Table Saw Pro" and found it at the crazy price of £34 here...!!! Only omission from the original link seems the extra blades but as far as I can tell its the same machine, at least pretty close.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3297332 ... lsrc=aw.ds

Also a pretty good box unpacking video and demonstration here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ny1kiYvyxmQ

I think a £34 punt is called for!!
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Re: Mini bench top table-saw

Post by Gesso&Bole »

I have the Proxxon mini table saw. It’s a fabulous piece of kit, very accurate and very clean cuts.

The main advantage for me is that it is small and lightweight so very easy to get out when I need it. It has coped well with everything Picture framing related without drama.

For general DIY work, there are times when it is a bit small. So if you have a small workshop and just want a table saw for framing purposes it’s recommended.
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Re: Mini bench top table-saw

Post by Justintime »

Is that the Proxxon FET table Saw?
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Re: Mini bench top table-saw

Post by Gesso&Bole »

yes, that's the one
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