[TheForge] A little OT -- a mini-scale saber saw?

[Bruce Freeman]

Oh, a jeweler's saw would work fine, but that's not what I'm looking for.

Here's the contrast:  With the circular saw on the Dremel tool, I mark
the cutting line, pick up the Dremel, turn it on, and 20-30 seconds
later, the cut is made -- except for the corners where the circular
saw can't fully reach.  (If I could use rounded corners, I could use a
rotary-file-type "saw" bit in the Dremel, but for these projects the
corners must be square.)

With a jeweler's saw, I'd first drill an access hole, then remove one
end of the blade from the saw, put it through the hole, refit the
loose end, adjust it square, tighten it down, do the sawing, the
loosen the blade to remove the saw from the hole.  Elapsed dime, maybe
2-3 minutes.  Sure it's doable, but it's not convenient.  For
onesy-twosy, the time difference is not important, but when you have
to do a lot, or have to go back and make adjustments, the jeweler's
saw is an impediment.

A saber-type saw might (or might not) require a starter hole too, but
after that it would buzz right through the job.  And it would do
square corners.

It's funny though to see folks reactions to what a jeweler's saw can
do.  30 years ago I was working for a firm that had use of
scientific-type tube "compression" fittings.  I made an assertion
about what was going on inside these fittings and wasn't believed.  So
I told them I'd prove it -- and they didn't believe I could.  I took
an assembled fitting, and cut it almost in half (slightly off the
center line so the remaining pieces would not pop apart).  Lo and
behold, what I'd asserted was true, and they went away shaking their
heads both at the conclusion and at the methodology.


On Mon, Apr 4, 2011 at 8:39 AM, Saint Phlip <phlip at 99main.com> wrote:
> http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=jeweler's+saw&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=2503342424627790937&sa=X&ei=bruZTYj4AoT3gAfz28C7CA&ved=0CDEQ8wIwAA#
>
> When you're dealing with stuff on that scale, Bruce, the hand-held
> saws work just fine. To develop your skills, take a coin and cut out
> one of the pictures on it.
>
> On Mon, Apr 4, 2011 at 8:18 AM, Bruce Freeman <freemab222 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> I have a saber saw with 6"- 8" blades.
>>
>> I have a "jig saw" with 3" - 4" blades.
>>
>> What I need now is a hand-held reciprocal saw that takes blades maybe
>> 1" long.  This tool should ideally be comparable in size to a Dremel
>> tool, and have replacement blades available of different types.  I
>> need it for cutting small holes in plastic, wood, and thin metals.
>>
>> Anyone know of such a tool?
>>
>> I've been tempted by those oscillating tools, but they don't quite
>> fill this bill.  I've been using a Dremel tool with rotary saw blades,
>> but that isn't suitable for all of the tasks I'm doing.
>>
>> --
>> Bruce
>> NJ
>
> --
> Saint Phlip
>
> So, you think your data is safe?
> http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/01/23/schneier.google.hacking/index.html?hpt=T2
>
> Heat it up
> Hit it hard
> Repent as necessary.
>
> Priorities:
>
> It's the smith who makes the tools, not the tools which make the smith.
>
> .I never wanted to see anybody die, but there are a few obituary
> notices I have read with pleasure. -Clarence Darrow
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-- 
Bruce
NJ