Vinny Posted April 16, 2007 Report Share Posted April 16, 2007 Tonite this hit like a lightning bolt, I've been trying to come up with an idea for a shooting table to do fret slots. The stumbling block has been the .023 kerf saw blade (I know, I know, why not just buy the blade stupid, right?) I wasnt crazy on buying a $70 blade and having to swap out blades from my table saw and go thru the set up every time I wanted to slot a fingerboard. I really wanted a small dedicated power slotting table. A couple weeks back I picked up a saw attachment for my Dremels (part#670 paid$20 US), I didnt have an immediate use for it but it was too cool an attachment to pass up, it looks like a micro circular saw with a spring loaded blade gaurd. It threads onto the nose of a Dremel in about a minute's time. The saw housing is not perpendicular to the Dremel but is angled maybe 15 degrees so you can make a 90 degree cut and the main body of the tool isnt hitting the board you're cutting. So I opened the package tonight and looked it over, I held the tiny saw blade in my hand and thought this is really close to a fret slot's width. I mounted it up and made a test cut on scrap that I compared to a pre-slotted fingerboard. It was close but a hair too wide. I then took a piece of 180 grit paper and lightly scuffed down the side edges of the blade, sanding back the alternating sharp side edges of the cross cut blade. I then put the blade back in the saw and BINGO! perfect fret slots! I hammered in some fret wire and its nice and snug. So my plan is to mount the Dremel under a small table with the blade coming up thru a slot and slide my fingerboards over it on a typical slotted track. I'll post some pics of the shooting table as it comes together. Take care -Vinny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thegarehanman Posted April 16, 2007 Report Share Posted April 16, 2007 Tell us how it stands up in the long run. What do replacement blades go for? I have a feeling that ebony is going to tear that blade or your dremel a new one once you're done with an entire board, but who knows, maybe it'll work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sexybeast Posted April 16, 2007 Report Share Posted April 16, 2007 You HAVE to keep us posted!!! I had the same idea, but couldn't figure out how to make the thing work. I'll put you on my Christmas list if you figure it out and share with us!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vinny Posted April 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2007 The replacement blades (Dremel part #546) are about $7 each US. They have a .023 inch kerf, which is perfect for slotting but are a cross cut style, the tangs flare outward the tiniest bit, therefore the need to lightly sand down the side edges. -Vinny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fryovanni Posted April 16, 2007 Report Share Posted April 16, 2007 (edited) I will be curious to see how it does after you have slotted a couple boards. One blade wear, and two stability of the system for accurate slots with a very small blade and motor. Watch the blade heat. Good luck with it, Rich Edited April 16, 2007 by fryovanni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitarGuy Posted April 16, 2007 Report Share Posted April 16, 2007 (edited) Got it modified it tried it on my mill. Using an attachment I machined. The tolerances are not accurate enough. the runout in the blade makes the slots about .040" with the blade dialed in on the mill. I sanded the saw to make it a smaller kerf and then it just started burning. Forget it. its a lost cause. Good theroy, but not accurate enough to be effective. Edited April 16, 2007 by GuitarGuy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vinny Posted April 16, 2007 Author Report Share Posted April 16, 2007 Oh well, back to the drawing board. -Vinny Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitarGuy Posted April 16, 2007 Report Share Posted April 16, 2007 Oh well, back to the drawing board. -Vinny Hey I thought it was a good idea at first too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmarlin Posted April 16, 2007 Report Share Posted April 16, 2007 When I saw this thread I started kicking myself for ordering the miter box and saw from Stew Mac this weekend, but it looks like I made a good choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick500 Posted April 16, 2007 Report Share Posted April 16, 2007 The StewMac miter box setup works well, but I'm disappointed in that saw. It's, well, just not very sharp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmarlin Posted April 16, 2007 Report Share Posted April 16, 2007 I bought a gents saw from Woodcraft this weekend but when I got home and compared it the the slots on a preslotted board it was a little bigger(probably would still work) but I ordered the stew mac setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Posted April 16, 2007 Report Share Posted April 16, 2007 The StewMac miter box setup works well, but I'm disappointed in that saw. It's, well, just not very sharp. Have you tried any other blades? Do you know if the LMI blade is any different than StewMac's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick500 Posted April 16, 2007 Report Share Posted April 16, 2007 The StewMac miter box setup works well, but I'm disappointed in that saw. It's, well, just not very sharp. Have you tried any other blades? Do you know if the LMI blade is any different than StewMac's? I've only tried StewMac's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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