Multi-functional machine

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BHuij

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Joined
Apr 23, 2025
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19
Location
Utah
I'm looking at this today on Amazon.

Don't worry, I'm not going to buy that one. It has every single possible red flag for "cheap, no QC garbage that works poorly and will break soon."

But the concept intrigues me. I am working in a small garage. I have very limited space on my workbench and for storage. Buying separate benchtop bandsaw and desk/belt sander combo is probably out of the question.

All I really want to do is cut my pen blanks to length (frequently dense exotic hardwoods and/or acrylic blanks). Cut them on precise angles so I can make segmented blanks. And sand things down so that I have a good consistent square cross section to clamp up in my pen blank jaws on my chuck for drilling.

Are there any combo machines that are actually any good for cutting up small projects and doing some basic sanding? The ability to mount a buffing wheel is also rather nice, though I'm leaning towards just getting a 2- or 3-wheel buffing setup for my lathe at this point.
 
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Micro lux makes a mini table saw that might do what you want. Jim Brynes made a table saw that was the best for what you want but they are not producing any at this time. Jim passed away and they are no currently selling tools until they can regroup according to the website.

Byrnes Model Machines Home Page

Byrnes Model Machines produces precision-engineered miniature Table Saws and Thickness Sanders for Ship Modelers, Dollhouse Makers and Model Railroad Builders; every machine has an accuracy measured in thousandths of an inch.
www.byrnesmodelmachines.com
You might be able to find a used one if you look long enough.
 
Everyone says buying separate tools that work in small shops says they do not have room. I call false and no imagination. They make every tool possible in bench size. use your thinking power or google tool storage ideas. They make flip down tables. Carousal tables. You will not get the accuracy you want with small toys like that. How can it be? The chuck that is mounted on the side probably has more runout than any drill motor you operated. Even the Brynes saw just linked is limited in what it can do. yes they are more accurate and better built but come with a big price tag because you have to pay for the accuracy. Just my opinion. I guarantee you can outfit the smallest shop with tools that you need and want.
 
Well after doing a lot more reading and thinking about it, I ultimately decided to pick up a benchtop bandsaw.

I may experiment with a DIY "faceplate + plywood + sanding disc" solution for the limited amount of disc sanding I expect to do with segmented blanks, given how most people seem to recommend skipping the drill-based trimmer for those more delicate blanks.

Or I may just buy the smallest well-reviewed dedicated disc sander I can find for my bench top and rotate out tools as needed.

For now, I think having a bandsaw gets me solidly into "now I can make segmented blanks" territory, while also letting me get within a millimeter or so of perfectly flush to the pen tube after I glue it in. If I have to do a bit of hand sanding to be perfectly flush with the end of the tube after that while I still lack a disc sander, so be it.
 
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