Lubrication?

[Cozzer]

According to the manual, my Proxxon DSH/E is "basically maintenance free", but then states that to keep it clean, "use a soft cloth", etc.

Well, keeping it clean isn't really my concern....and methinks the word "basically" is ar5e-covering on Proxxon's part!

How about lubrication? Oil? Grease? Dry powder? Where?

On a slightly different tack, should I do something to the bed? It's aluminium in this case. I've noticed there's sometimes a slight resistance when sliding work towards the blade...

Your thoughts/solutions very welcome! Thank you!

 

[scrimper]

Your saw is one of the cheaper machines available in a huge range of guises - underneath the plastic covers it is the same basic machine as hundreds of others although I do have to say the Proxxon looks nicer than most other clones.

As regards your comment on the table I would strongly advise that you make and fit a supplementary wooden table to fit over your existing alloy table,this serves several purposes as listed below.
1) It protects your original table.
2) You can wax and polish the table allowing the work to move more freely.
3) On a cold day it will be warmer to work on a wood table rather than a metal one.
4) You can make the hole size for the blade smaller and give more support to the work on delicate cuts and finer blades.

If you want to see the table I made for my Hegner I explain it in my video listed below. The bit about the table starts at the 16 minutes point.

 

[Cozzer]

Thanks, Scrimper...great advice about the additional table. Will nick your idea...

I did conjure with getting a Hegner, but they look a bit "too meaty" for my marquetry needs, hence plumping for the variable speed Proxxon job. Far from cheap (compared to the sub £150 jobs), and space was (as ever!) at a premium, so the small footprint was a consideration.
Appears that Deltas (unobtainable over here?) and (original) Excaliburs are the saws of choice for the pro veneer boys, but frankly some of 'em are so adept, they could probably get good results using a chain saw!

 

[scrimper]

Thanks, Scrimper...great advice about the additional table. Will nick your idea...

I did conjure with getting a Hegner, but they look a bit "too meaty" for my marquetry needs, hence plumping for the variable speed Proxxon job. Far from cheap (compared to the sub £150 jobs), and space was (as ever!) at a premium, so the small footprint was a consideration.
Appears that Deltas (unobtainable over here?) and (original) Excaliburs are the saws of choice for the pro veneer boys, but frankly some of 'em are so adept, they could probably get good results using a chain saw!

I did a bit of Marquetry in my younger days (a very long time ago) but I only ever used a sharp craft knife (did not have a saw then - or any money!) I can't imagine how you cut out the small pieces of thin veneer with a scroll saw.

 

[Cozzer]

I did a bit of Marquetry in my younger days (a very long time ago) but I only ever used a sharp craft knife (did not have a saw then - or any money!) I can't imagine how you cut out the small pieces of thin veneer with a scroll saw.

You and me both as regards the craft knife - Brits seem to have adopted "the window method" in the main, but our American cousins favour the scroll/fret saw idea, cutting 2+ veneers simultaneously. The idea being that if you wander offline it doesn't matter because both/all veneers will still fit together, if you see what I mean...
Nothing ventured, etc., so I thought I'd give it a shot. Same as you, time is gradually running out, so why not?!
Apparently all it takes is skill, talent, steady hands, patience, good eyesight, and a few hundred hours of nothing better to do.
I have none of these qualities by some margin, but no doubt there's an Amazon book I can buy, or a video I can watch, that will grant me all these faculties overnight...

 

[Amplidyne]

I did a bit of Marquetry in my younger days (a very long time ago) but I only ever used a sharp craft knife (did not have a saw then - or any money!) I can't imagine how you cut out the small pieces of thin veneer with a scroll saw.

There was an article in "The Woodworker" back in the day, I think it was the one that had the free veneer pieces on the cover, which I still have somewhere I think!
Anyway the article was about some expert guys who used scroll saws to cut veneer for complicated marquetry which they sold as a business.
I've done a bit of veneering, but never any marquetry. I tried a bit of veneer with the scroll saw, but TBH, it was all over the place. Reasonably used to using the saw.
So it's a no from me.

 

[Cozzer]

There was an article in "The Woodworker" back in the day, I think it was the one that had the free veneer pieces on the cover, which I still have somewhere I think!
Anyway the article was about some expert guys who used scroll saws to cut veneer for complicated marquetry which they sold as a business.
I've done a bit of veneering, but never any marquetry. I tried a bit of veneer with the scroll saw, but TBH, it was all over the place. Reasonably used to using the saw.
So it's a no from me.

If you find some free time over the weekend, have a search for works by Silas Kopf and Paul Schurch. Both yanks, and both adept - very! - at using the scroll saw. What they achieve is amazing.
(Ironically, they're both on record admiring the skills of knife wielders!)