To that end, on January 27, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) ordered U.S. Customs to exclude Bosch REAXX Jobsite Table Saws, and cartridges for those saws, from entering the United States. Further, the ITC issued an order to Robert Bosch Tool Corporation saying Bosch must “cease and desist from conducting any of the following activities in the United States: importing, selling, marketing, advertising, distributing, transferring (except for exportation), and soliciting United States agents or distributors for imported [REAXX] table saws.”

The ITC has now terminated its investigation against Bosch.

Dr. Stephen Gass, president of SawStop, commented on the Commission’s decision: “When Bosch chose to introduce the REAXX saw in disregard of our patents, they left us with no alternative but to take action in court. We have defended our innovation, our hard work, and our investments in developing SawStop technology, and we are pleased that the ITC ordered the exclusion of products that use our patented inventions without a license and confirmed the strength of those patents. We are grateful for the U.S. patent system for encouraging and protecting innovations and we look forward to continuing to supply the market with safer saws.”

In response to the “cease and desist” order, Linda Beckmeyer, Bosch’s manager of media and public relations, offered this reply:

“Robert Bosch Tool Corporation is very disappointed with the ITC’s decision. Bosch maintains that development of its professional table saw product respects other companies’ patents and represents a new and unique technology in the construction market. It is disappointing that a competitor is continuing its campaign to stop the sale of REAXX technology to consumers.

We believe that advanced REAXX safety technology does not violate any competitor’s intellectual property rights. The patents asserted against REAXX are based on applications filed more than 15 years ago; Bosch does not believe they apply to REAXX technology. In addition, Bosch believes that if the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office had complete information, it would not have issued certain patents in the first place.

It is our firm belief that the development, marketing and distribution of the REAXX Jobsite Table Saw is completely separate and distinct from anything other brands or manufacturers are doing.”

Beckmeyer added that the case is now in a 60-day presidential review period, which began on Jan. 27. During this time, the U.S. president has an opportunity to review the facts of the case and then veto this exclusion order.

During the review period, “nothing changes,” Beckmeyer says, related to the availability of REAXX Jobsite Table Saws, activation cartridges or other accessories.

Beckmeyer further clarified that the ITC order relates to future importation of REAXX saws into the U.S. Activation cartridges that are now produced in the U.S. are not affected by the cease and desist order.

“At Bosch, safety is a priority. We will work to defend consumers’ rights to buy our products,” Beckmeyer says.

Woodworker’s Journal will continue to provide updates about this case as information becomes available.

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Although the saw is compact, its brushless motor is both powerful and efficient: DeWALT reports that it will run more than twice as long between charges as its DC385 series reciprocating saw with a comparable battery. This allows for extended use in applications ranging from plumbing to demo work. Controlled by a variable-speed trigger, the motor delivers up to 2,900 strokes per minute at a stroke length of 1-1/8 in. An LED light will help brighten the cutting area.

The saw is optimized for use with DeWALT’s new XR Reciprocating Saw Blades, coming later this spring. They are designed to help extend battery runtime for cordless saws.

Made in the U.S.A. with global materials, DeWALT’s new XR Compact Reciprocating Saw includes a three-year limited warranty, one-year free service contract and 90-day money-back guarantee. It’s available in three configurations: as a bare tool (model DCS367B; $159), in a kit with a 2.0 Ah battery (model DCS367D1; $219) or in a kit with a 5.0 Ah battery (model DCS367P1; $279).

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The sled features zero-clearance support, which reduces the chance of small pieces getting stuck between the blade and throat plate, or falling through entirely. A small plastic ramp on one side of the kerf carries the drop-off piece away from the blade. Sections of aluminum T-track on top of the sled’s fences make it easy to install a stop block (not included). A shorter T-track in the base provides an attachment point for a hold-down clamp (also not included).

This sled will fit table saws with standard 3/8- x 3/4-in. miter slots. Spacing between the miter slots and the blade must be at least 2-1/2 in. or more.

A locking metal stop with star knob comes with the sled and fits in a miter slot. It can be used to stop the sled when the blade passes through the rear fence.

Rockler’s Table Saw Small Parts Sled (item 55916, $69.99) is available now at Rockler stores, online or through the printed catalog.

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Chris Marshall: When I was a kid, I had dreams of building a full diorama of buildings and bridges for my HO-scale model railroad set (I’m sure every ‘70s kid with a train set had the same dream…), so your question brings back some nice memories. Somewhere around that time, I learned about a company called PROXXON that makes woodworking machines for miniature hobbies of this sort. If you’ve never heard of them, here’s a link. Have a look at their little KS 115 Bench Circular Saw with a 2-9/16-in.-dia. saw blade — it has 80 teeth! Maybe some of our eZine readers have experience with PROXXON tools and will share some feedback about them.

But, all dreaming aside, I’m not sure cutting miniature parts requires miniature tools — even though the thought of trying out a tiny table saw seems like fun. Instead, I think the more reasonable approach and set of concerns for a woodworker with “full-size” tools issue is how to feed tiny pieces of wood next to a large blade without cutting your fingernails in the process. Or leaving saw marks in your miniature “lumber” parts. Hence, the question you raise for us. What I’d probably do is make a simple crosscut sled with an aluminum T-track that fits in your saw’s miter slot or slots — there are plenty of crosscut sled plans online. The sled should have as little side-to-side play as possible when you slide it across the saw table to ensure that the cuts will be clean, right off the blade.

Rockler has a new Small Parts Sled for making crosscuts on the table saw (see below), and you can read more about that by clicking over to “What’s In Store” in this issue. It’s intended for crosscuts only.

As you’ve probably experienced, a circular saw blade will sometimes catch tiny offcuts and shoot them here or there, but a band saw blade won’t do that. For this reason, I think I’d fashion a sled to work on my band saw instead of the table saw. My sled would fit in just one miter slot on the band saw table with a base positioned on only one side of the blade.

Regardless of the style of sled you make or whether it works on a table saw or band saw, keep your fingers clear by starting with oversized workpieces whenever possible and holding stock with push blocks, scraps of wood or hold-down clamps. Whatever fixtures or fences you create to use with your sled — and I’m sure there will be several required for using the same sled to both rip and crosscut parts — I think a single sled could take care of just about all of your miniature-parts cutting needs.

Do other eZine readers make miniature parts for train sets, dollhouses and the like? Please offer Jim your advice for what type of cutting jig and methodology works best for you.

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-Duane Erwin

See the Gallery Below:

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“Come on, Rob. What wife wouldn’t be thrilled to have her husband walk into the house, all covered in man glitter, and hand her a necklace with a huge wooden heart?” – Allen Wagner
“I am 37 and came along at the very tail end of the ‘70s, September of ‘79 to be a little more precise. I come from a place in Indiana that is far enough away from ‘normal folk’ that those from Hazard, Kentucky would consider us kin. Even with me coming from those roots, I wouldn’t consider jewelry anything made from wood. Nope. It came from pretty and precious metals. Things like IH tractors, you know, the once-shiny bright red tractors, or the chrome bumper off of my uncle’s K20 truck he harvested an unknown amount of whitetail deer with. You know, anything pretty and shiny you can bait a coon trap with will make a good ring. With that said, where’s the pictures of these women? I sure would like to see the pictures you are talking about.” – Kevin Hanes

Kevin: see above. – Editor

“I made a couple of bracelets for my wife.  She said she wanted them but has never worn them. Oh, well.” – Bob Mayfield

“Agree with your thoughts regarding wives, girlfriends, etc., but there is another side to be looked at. The St. Louis Woodworkers Guild supplies toys to several hospitals in the St Louis area. So far, we have donated more than 5,000 toys for the children to assemble and/or paint. One of many items I submitted was a necklace to be painted.” – Rich Sanders

“I chose my wedding ring 30 years ago. It is a band of ironwood with a groove holding a pressure fitted pure gold band. It is beautiful and durable and, unlike my watches and other jewelry, it doesn’t give me an allergic reaction! It was made by a professional jeweler who worked in unusual materials. I would not recommend this to a home woodworker! I won’t even try a pen! But wooden jewelry, if done right, is a thing of beauty and joy!” – Carl Carter

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