Thanks to their versatility and a wide range of available accessories—not to mention the fact that they’re compact enough to be stored in a Brooklyn apartment—Dremel tools have always played an irreplaceable role in my craft studio. So, when Dremel offered to send me their new 2-in-1 Dremel Moto-Saw
The project that I worked on for this review was pretty basic: My husband and I installed a new window shelf for the cats so they could spend their afternoons bird watching and chattering at squirrels.
Why keep it simple?
I really wanted to get a feel for how well the Dremel Moto-Saw would handle common household uses before moving on to anything more complex. In the context of this project, “simple” means straight lines, right angles, and a couple of square notches. (I’m sure I’ll weigh in on curve cutting, detail cutting, and cutting non-wood materials in the future, but, for now, I’m sticking to the easy stuff.)
So, what’s a Dremel Moto-Saw, and what does it do?
The Dremel Moto-Saw is a scroll saw that can be converted into a portable hand-held motorized coping saw.
According to the Dremel website:
The Dremel Moto-Saw offers a compact and easy solution for making detailed cuts in a variety of materials including wood, plastic, laminates and metal. This portable, precision-sawing tool is easy to store, set-up, and operate and features a tool-free mechanism for quick blade changes. An auto-tensioning feature keeps the blade taut and ready to cut so you don’t have to make blade adjustments and its slim, ergonomic handle with comfort grip provides control in any cutting position. The Moto-Saw functions as a stationary scroll saw yet it can be removed from its base to become a portable motorized coping saw.
- Precisely cut through a variety of materials: wood, laminate, plastic and thin metal
- Portable. Precise. Easy.
- Two tools in one: bench top and handheld capability
Features:
- Detachable Coping Function for handheld use to take the tool to the work piece
- Auto Tensioning Quick Change™ mechanism for easy accessory change and optimal blade tensioning
- Variable Speed Control for optimal cutting in a variety of materials
- Fast Clamp Base attaches to various tables, benches and surfaces
- Dust Port Adapter keeps line of sight clear and work space clean
- Two year warranty
Items and accessories included in kit:
- Dremel MS20 Moto-Saw
- Fast Clamp Base
- Storage Case
- MS50 Side Cutting Blade
- MS51 Wood and Plastic Blade (4)
- MS52 Fine wood blade (4)
- MS53 Metal blade
- Vaccum Adapter
Retail price: $99.00
What I loved:
1. The Dremel Moto-Saw came packed in its own sturdy carrying case, which ensures that the parts, accessories, blades, and manual will stay organized and tidy. (I never could resist a good carrying case..)
2. Inside the carrying case, the blades have a storage slot that is separated from pieces of the saw that might damage or bend them.
3. The Dremel Moto-Saw has two modes: bench top or hand-held. When in bench top mode, you can attach a shop vac adaptor to the saw base to keep down the dust and mess.
4. The clamps that hold the saw base to the table when the Moto-Saw is in bench top mode have swiveling tips to ensure a sturdy and secure grip, even if the bottom of your table isn’t perfectly flat.
5. Once the base is clamped in place, it feels very sturdy and solid. (For even more security, the screw holes at the back of the saw base can be used to permanently attach it to your workbench.)
6. When inserted into the base, the Moto-Saw tool snaps firmly and easily into place. When it’s time to remove it, a firm tug while pressing the lock button in the back releases it from the base.
7. The blue quick change lever allows you to release and change blades in seconds. Plus, when the lever is engaged, it automatically adjusts the blade to optimal tension.
Note: The Dremel Moto-Saw kit comes with blades for cutting wood, plastic, laminates, and metal.
8. When using a blade that is straight and free from defects, marked lines on wood are easy to see and follow, and the Dremel Moto-Saw makes straight, even cuts. (See my note on damaged blades in the “What I didn’t love” section below.)
Note: There isn’t much of a learning curve with this tool, but I do recommend making at least one practice cut on a scrap piece of wood before getting started on a project.
9. When you’re finished using it, the Dremel Moto-Saw is easy to disassemble and store. Because each part can be removed, it can quickly be wiped clean with a dry or damp cloth before it’s placed in its carrying case.
10. If you can’t bring your project to the tabletop, you can now bring your saw right to the project. When removed from the base, the Dremel Moto-Saw becomes a hand-held motorized coping saw.
What I didn’t love:
1. My husband and I had trouble getting the saw to cut in a straight line when we made our first cuts. Upon closer inspection, we noticed that the blade we were using wasn’t perfectly straight and that some of the teeth were bent very slightly away from the center. (I assume that this damage took place during shipping.) After installing a new blade, we had a much easier time getting straight, consistent cuts.
Note: To get the best, most precise cuts, make sure that you select the correct blade for the material that you’re cutting. Then, before turing on the saw, always double check the condition of the blade’s teeth, even when the blade is brand new.
Overall impressions:
I’m very pleased to welcome the Dremel Moto-Saw
Want a Dremel Moto-Saw of your own? You can buy one here:
Please note that the link provided below is an affiliate link, and I will be compensated if you choose to make a purchase after clicking through.
Thanks for review
Dear
I have recently acquired this tool moto-saw. Have you noticed this does not come with the blue guides at sides of the base as it shown in the box?. do you have some problem for this missing piece? I have received also my moto saw without them, but have presented my complaints to Dremel since I think if they offer it in the image the product should come with all the pieces. Please let me know your opinion. Regards. Ernesto.
Hm. Nope, I hadn’t actually noticed the absence of the blue pieces. That said, I also haven’t had any problems using the Moto-Saw without them.
Hi, some days ago I writed here about the missing pieces, well, I contacted Dremel and they sent me them for free. Maybe you could do the same,even they sent me the miter gauge too. I contacted them by Facebook. These pieces are useful actually for the miter gauge in order to keep it fixed to the table. good luck!
can I use this moto saw for cutting out metal pendents and cut sliver disc to make jewelry I pound out sliver spoons to cut out disc to make neckless and spoon rings will this saw do the trick for me in my jewelry making shop thankyou lynette
I’m not sure–it would probably depend largely on the kind of blade you were using. I’d checkout the Dremel website to have a look at blade options/listed uses, and, if still in doubt, contact the company directly.