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Post by Bluesky78987 on Jan 16, 2017 16:51:39 GMT -5
Wood cutting for the condo-resident: I'm tired of not being able to cut wood. Right now what I want to do is cut my dop sticks shorter (without using any elbow grease I mean!) But I can see maybe wanting to do other little jobs with it later. (Like, maybe cutting thin craft wood sheets to postcard size to mount greeting card pictures to, that sort of thing). I live in a condo, and have no workbench to bolt anything to. I have a mini jewelry vice that clamps on the table edge, however. What should I get? - Dremel blade? Which one? (Could use it indoors?) - Special blade for my 4" tile saw? (outdoors) - Mini table saw? They look so cute! (outdoors) Harbor Freight 4" Mini Table SawAmazon 4" mini table sawWhichever solution is tidier (less setup, noise, mess) cheaper and more flexible for future tasks would be best. I like the fact that a table saw just sits on the bench and you hold the wood, just like a rock saw. Prefer that to the circular or scroll saw design where I would need to clamp the wood somewhere, but I'm open to opinions. Thanks in advance! Susan |
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on Jan 16, 2017 17:03:38 GMT -5
Never seen a table saw that small, those are neat. Table top band saws are very versatile and can be used to cut free form shapes as well as straight cuts. Not as mini as your table saw links though. Here is one from harbor freight since that was where you seen the table saw www.harborfreight.com/13-hp-9-in-benchtop-band-saw-60500.htmlChuck |
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2017 17:20:02 GMT -5
I'm with chuck a bandsaw or a even scroll saw quite versatile. But depends on the cuts you need. A 10" chop saw is my most used wood tool.
I can't find a small one for you. I know they exist in 6".
I encourage you to reconsider table saw style. Quite dangerous to use like a rock saw. Have more than a couple friends lost finger(s) cutting on table saws.
I don't mean to be the safety police. My aim is to be sure my e-friend is aware and doesn't damage herself.
Huggz
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Jan 16, 2017 17:27:21 GMT -5
Yeah they're really super teeny. I'm a little worried I would need to get another saw later and be annoyed about that. The band saw looks good, wish it was smaller though. I wonder how it would go cutting dop sticks with a dremel. Seems like opportunity for fiddly wobbly work.
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Jan 16, 2017 17:31:33 GMT -5
Thanks Shotgunner. 6" might be ok, but I don't really have a garage to store something large in. It's so frustrating living in a condo! Maybe I will just cut them with elbow grease for now.
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Post by jakesrocks on Jan 16, 2017 18:27:27 GMT -5
I have an earlier version of HF's band saw. Been using it since the 90's with no real problems.
To cut things like dop sticks, simply set the sliding miter gage at 90 deg, Hold your dop stick against the miter gage & slide it through. The miter gage can also be used as a fence for cutting strips of wood to a preset width.
Replacement blades can be gotten at most hardware stores. I get mine at our local Menards.
I've used mine to cut shapes from wood up to 3/4" thick, and have even used it to cut parts out of 1/8" aluminum.
Now the cons. The saw is a bit heavy, but you should have no problem picking it up. Band saws by their nature are top heavy & need to be bolted or clamped to your work surface. And lastly the HF band saws are a bit tricky lining up the blade rollers. They come with instructions which were printed in China which can also be tricky.
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Jan 16, 2017 19:58:32 GMT -5
My kingdom for a GARAGE . . . sigh. Just think of all the great toys I could get!
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Post by jakesrocks on Jan 16, 2017 20:29:14 GMT -5
My kingdom for a GARAGE . . . sigh. Just think of all the great toys I could get! LOL. Careful what you wish for Susan. I have a garage with lots of toys in it. It also contains 2 cars. There's a foot of snow on the ground & a pickup parked in the driveway, rendering the garage useless until after spring thaw. Have you considered one of these ? lumberjocks.com/reviews/2840I have a scroll saw in my basement shop. Mine is a more expensive brand but works the same way. By using a coarse tooth blade & clamping a strip of wood to the saw table as a guide, you could cut all of the dop sticks you wanted to. Scroll saws are slower cutting that band or table saws are, but they were designed to do intricate cuts. They are quieter than either a band or table saw. |
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Post by johnjsgems on Jan 16, 2017 20:43:12 GMT -5
I use a tiny chop saw I bought from Gryphon Corp. They are made for cutting something to do with stained glass but they had blades that cut wood, plastic, etc. Does a good job chopping dop sticks but size of material is limited. I think I cut 1" PVC for Genie spacers though. How many dop sticks do you need? You could probably cut a couple of dozen with a cheap back saw and plastic miter box combo (Home Depot, under $10) in the time it took you to post or question and read these messages. Or buy dop stick assortments 10 for $5, 5 different diameters and spend your time grinding rocks.
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller 
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723 
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Post by Fossilman on Jan 16, 2017 22:15:03 GMT -5
I'm going to buy one of those little table saws... Seen one at Lowe's and a few online....
I would go for it....
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rivarat
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since June 2016
Posts: 140
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Post by rivarat on Jan 17, 2017 0:29:13 GMT -5
I have a bandsaw, table saw, scroll saw as well as hand saws.
My first choice would be a bandsaw as the blade motion tends to pull the item being cut down to the table, reasonably easy to control. Can make nice straights cuts using the sliding miter or using the fence (if one allows for blade drift.
The scroll saw if you pinch the blade with the item being cut wants to pick it up and down with the blade motion making it chatter against the saw table. Without use a guide you're cuts mightn't be square.
Table saw - be very wary, I wouldn't recommend for small items if it grabs or pinches the blade it can pull (maybe more you hand pressure feeding the item turned into a sideways motion into the blade) Table saws (or incorrect use of) are responsible for allot of injuries. Trust me- I I'm lucky to have all my fingers but I did make a mess of one.
If only cutting dop sticks, save you're money and just use a hand saw.
All of these saws have sharp and fast teeth, and will be just as happy eating a finger as they would be eating a piece of wood.
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Post by Peruano on Jan 17, 2017 9:48:14 GMT -5
While I have most of those power saws, I like to cut stones off of dop sticks with a hack saw. The fine teeth cut wood fast, and (listen closely) I need the exercise. It takes a few seconds or maybe even 30 seconds for a 2 x 2. You already have the vice so it works. I sometimes use a hand miter saw just because its stiffer. Yes when I have 50 or so 2 x 2 stubs that have been in oil, I do use the chop saw to cut a fresh end on them, but that's a luxury. If you are really talking dop sticks, go hand power and save the environment.
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Post by vegasjames on Jan 17, 2017 9:52:12 GMT -5
If you don't want a lot of noise why not just use a small miter box and hand saw?
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Post by Bluesky78987 on Jan 17, 2017 11:17:56 GMT -5
Lol John. For now I guess I'll cut the dopsticks (I already own them, they're just too long) by hand. Next time I want to cut wood for something else, I'll mail it to one of you guys!
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Erich
spending too much on rocks
Member since November 2015
Posts: 411
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Post by Erich on Jan 17, 2017 12:33:10 GMT -5
I have several different saws but for small stuff I use the Harbor Freight scroll saw. It's not so big.
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jerrys
spending too much on rocks
Member since February 2014
Posts: 263
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Post by jerrys on Feb 1, 2017 13:14:33 GMT -5
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Post by pghram on Feb 6, 2017 20:55:32 GMT -5
For cutting dowel rod I would use a small coping saw.
Peace,
Rich
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Post by toiv0 on Feb 6, 2017 21:49:41 GMT -5
Take a pruner to them, I just use a jewelers saw if I am doing a few. Put in a coarser blade.
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Post by Pat on Feb 6, 2017 22:27:54 GMT -5
I know just about nothing about saws. Those two you linked are cute, but I would worry about stability.
Re dop dowels, you could use flat head bolts --- the kind without writing on the head. I use them when I must. Normally just use fingers.
Re the wooden postcard pieces, I've seen them at Michael's.
Anyhow, good luck!
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,723
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Post by Fossilman on Feb 7, 2017 9:37:49 GMT -5
I have a bandsaw, table saw, scroll saw as well as hand saws. My first choice would be a bandsaw as the blade motion tends to pull the item being cut down to the table, reasonably easy to control. Can make nice straights cuts using the sliding miter or using the fence (if one allows for blade drift. The scroll saw if you pinch the blade with the item being cut wants to pick it up and down with the blade motion making it chatter against the saw table. Without use a guide you're cuts mightn't be square. Table saw - be very wary, I wouldn't recommend for small items if it grabs or pinches the blade it can pull (maybe more you hand pressure feeding the item turned into a sideways motion into the blade) Table saws (or incorrect use of) are responsible for allot of injuries. Trust me- I I'm lucky to have all my fingers but I did make a mess of one. If only cutting dop sticks, save you're money and just use a hand saw. All of these saws have sharp and fast teeth, and will be just as happy eating a finger as they would be eating a piece of wood. I'm a woodworker and retired carpenter too,so I have all the equipment,except the band saw......Has for fast and sharp teeth,yes,they do bite and hard!! Lost the tip of my thumb on the table saw.... |
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