Chop/Mitre saw

[Gern]

Hi guys. Has anyone ever used a mini benchtop chop/mitre saw similar to this:



I still have big problems making square cuts and thought something like this would help. It looks OK for small section wood and metal, but I suspect the cutting speed of 7800 rpm is more likely to melt plastic rather than cut it.

[Tim Marlow]

Never seen one of those before Dave. I think you are probably right about cutting plastic with it. The rotational speed seems a little high. I also think the blade looks a little exposed so might not be the safest in use…..what voltage is it? If it’s twelve volt a railway transformer would allow you to slow it down for plastic?

I do have one of these, but don’t think it’s been used for about twenty years…..

I used to use it for cutting MDF for gaming figures in the days before laser cut MDF, and for various railway modelling tasks. I buy my bases pre cut now though, they are cheap and it gets rid of a really boring task. Makes a hell of a lot of dust in use as well. It’s twelve volt so I do turn it down for plastic. Has a wood and a metal blade as well.

Personally, I think the most controllable is one of these…..

https://www.scalemodelshop.co.uk/mitre-box-set-k5-handle-saw-blade-excel-55666-p14954/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyKH-jpmo-wIVg_ftCh2JSw3eEAQYAiABEgLcmfD_BwE

Easy to use, cheap, and you can replace the cutting saw for a finer or coarser one depending upon the task. Slightly slower in use, and a bit more fiddly for repetitive cuts, but probably more useful than either of the above.

[The Smythe Meister]

Never seen one of those before Dave. I think you are probably right about cutting plastic with it. The rotational speed seems a little high. I also think the blade looks a little exposed so might not be the safest in use…..what voltage is it? If it’s twelve volt a railway transformer would allow you to slow it down for plastic?

I do have one of these, but don’t think it’s been used for about twenty years…..
[ATTACH=CONFIG]n1188076[/ATTACH]
I used to use it for cutting MDF for gaming figures in the days before laser cut MDF, and for various railway modelling tasks. I buy my bases pre cut now though, they are cheap and it gets rid of a really boring task. Makes a hell of a lot of dust in use as well. It’s twelve volt so I do turn it down for plastic. Has a wood and a metal blade as well.

Personally, I think the most controllable is one of these…..

https://www.scalemodelshop.co.uk/mitre-box-set-k5-handle-saw-blade-excel-55666-p14954/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIyKH-jpmo-wIVg_ftCh2JSw3eEAQYAiABEgLcmfD_BwE

Easy to use, cheap, and you can replace the cutting saw for a finer or coarser one depending upon the task. Slightly slower in use, and a bit more fiddly for repetitive cuts, but probably more useful than either of the above.

Yep,
Unless you're prepared to shell out a LOT of your Groats for a quality, miniature saw,such as a Proxxon, then I'd take up Tim's suggestion.
I've had that exact same thing for a few years,and although I don't use it often,it always fits the purpose when I do.

[Guest]

Dave .
Surprised it's even allowed with out the normal auto guard . Seems it would be ok for thin metal tube and small section timber.
Most saw blades now would be tipped , that blade looks as if it's just a standard type . Hopefully you are able to get replacement blades for it .

[stillp]

Dave, that saw doesn't look accurate, or cheap, or safe. I agree with Tim, just get a mitre box.
Pete

[minitnkr]

I've been happy w/my Excel mitre box & saws for decades. Still works fine.

[Gern]

Good points about that saw guys. I suspect that a cheapo one wouldn't give me the results I want but I can't afford one of the better quality ones, so I'll cross it off my Xmas list.

I had one of those mitre boxes many years ago and still couldn't get within 5 degrees of a square cut. I found the width of the groove still allowed the saw blade to wobble from side to side.

I've seen a smaller version of a mitre box made by CMK to go with their razor saws which I might try. Maybe a narrower groove would give me more control. I'll see if I can find some reviews.

[AlanG]

Have you looked into a scroll saw? Probably a lot safer and will still give a 90 deg cut