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Model: US40-04
GTIN: 00000346000016
I bought the Dremel Saw Max for cutting wood. It needed to do a better job than a jigsaw. Read this post to see if it does.
The Dremel Saw Max is an excellent tool for cutting a variety of materials up to 20mm (0.787in) thickness. (Don’t cut metal 20mm thick; use a heavy-duty tool for that. The Saw Max handles metal rods of up to 8mm only.) All-in-all, an impressive little tool that works quickly and cleanly.
In some countries the Saw Max is coded SM20, in others, DSM20. It’s the same product.
It’s versatile.
Cut wood, metal, plastic, brick, and tile with the Saw Max. The only limit is the thickness of the material you’re cutting.
It’s quick.
The Saw Max runs through material quickly. It makes other cutting tools look bad.
It’s easy to use.
Add a blade, set your height, and start cutting. It’s as simple as that.
It’s accurate.
With an easy-to-follow line of sight and a thin kerf, the Saw Max gives you as accurate a cut as your hand and eye allow.
It’s smooth.
Run a jigsaw through thin material once and you’ll not do it again. Because the Saw Max is a unidirectional tool, it doesn’t rip your job apart.
It’s clean.
My baby angle grinder, when I use it with my right hand, rotates towards me. Have you any idea of the junk it dumps on you when you cut? The Saw Max cuts away from you, whether you use it with your right or left hand. Furthermore, the Dremel comes with a vacuum nozzle, which allows you to suck up shavings while you cut.
Vibration: 3,3 m/s
Sound power: 108 dB
Sound pressure: 96 dB
Power cord length: 96.46 inches / 8 ft (2,450mm) Might be slightly shorter in the USA
Power: 710 watts
Amperage: 6
Voltage: Available in 120 and 220 / 240
Speed (no load): 17,000 RPM
Height: 10.63 inches (270mm)
Width: 3.93 inches (100mm)
Length: 15,35 inches (390mm)
Weight: 3,75 lbs (1.7 kg)
Plastic carry case.
Dremel Saw Max cutting tool.
PVC and wood cutting disc (DSM500).
Metal cutting disc (DSM510), (3 of).
Dust port adaptor.
Straight edge guide.
2×4 cutting guide.
Allen Key.
Usage guide and other paperwork.
It doesn’t take much to start using this handy tool.
Add a blade, set your height, and start cutting. It’s as simple as that.
Remove the Saw Max from the carry case.
Press and hold down the spindle lock.
Loosen the lock bolt.
Remove the outer washer.
Place the cutting disc onto the inner washer, on the spindle.
Make sure it’s facing the right way.
Place the outer washer onto the cutting disc.
Screw in the lock bolt.
Tighten the lock bolt.
Adjust the cutting height.
Cut.
This add-on is useless, to be honest. I’d rather draw lines on a 2×4 or cut without a guide than go through the rigmarole of using this attachment. Nevertheless, I thought I’d add it to the article to show you how it works. You’re supposed to use a flush-cut disc for cutting (DSM600) with this attachment, but I don’t have it. I used the standard wood-cutting blade.
Below are steps to use the Saw Max straight-edge guide. The Saw Max labored through the lumber with this rip cut. Don’t use it on thick planks.
Locate the metal rod into the slot on the plastic guide.
Lock the metal rod in place with the wing screw.
Slide the assembled guide into the slot at the back of the Dremel Saw Max.
Insert the square lock nut into the Dremel Saw Max.
Insert the set screw into the lock nut.
Lock the set screw in place.
A conventional angle grinder cuts towards you if you hold it in your right hand with the blade parallel to your body, its bottom facing left. Try cutting plywood with this setup and see how long before you’ve had enough of chewing on splinters and dust. The Saw Max cuts away from you, which means you’re not feasting on wood chips and dust. Furthermore, the Saw Max comes with a vacuum cleaner attachment, which makes working with it much cleaner than working with an angle grinder. The Saw Max’s cut is also much cleaner than a jigsaw’s cut.
The Saw Max comes with four discs: one for wood and PVC, the other three for metal. However, there are five types of cutting discs available, which allows you to cover just about every type of material you can think of cutting.
DSM600.
Multi-purpose carbide flush cutting wheel.
Cuts: drywall / plasterboard / fiberboard / hardwood / laminates / plastic / plexiglass / plywood / softwood / vinyl.
Blade thickness: 1.9 mm (0.07 inches).
Diameter: 77 mm (3 inches).
DSM540.
Diamond tile cutting wheel.
Cuts: brick / ceramic / drywall/plasterboard / floor tile / marble / porcelain / wall tile.
Blade thickness: 1.9 mm (0.07 inches).
Diameter: 77 mm (3 inches).
DSM520.
Masonry cutting wheel.
Cuts: brick / drywall / plasterboard.
Blade thickness: 1.9 mm (0.07 inches).
Diameter: 77 mm (3 inches).
DSM510.
Metal and plastic cutting wheel.
Cuts: aluminium / cast iron / copper / fiberboard / plastic / plexiglass / soft metal / vinyl.
Blade thickness: 1.27 mm (0.05 inches).
Diameter: 77 mm (3 inches).
DSM500.
Multi-purpose carbide cutting wheel.
Cuts: drywall / plasterboard / fiberboard / hardwood / laminates / plastic / plexiglass / plywood / softwood / vinyl
Blade thickness: 1.9 mm (0.07 inches).
Diameter: 77 mm (3 inches).
Dremel’s cutting discs are expensive, so I emailed abrasive disc manufacturers, asking whether they make a three-inch disc that’ll fit the Saw Max. Below is a list of some of the companies I emailed. None of them has a disc that’ll fit the Saw Max. You’re stuck using the Dremel brand since no one makes a disc with an 11mm (7/16 inches) bore. There are generics available for other Dremel machines, but not for the Saw Max (yet). Keep an eye on two companies if you want to buy generic blades for your Saw Max. One is Tork Craft, and the other is Gyros Tools. Neither have Saw Max blades yet, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they add it to their range. Both of these companies make a range of cutting discs and accessories for Dremel’s other tools.
Blacksmith.
Bosch.
Diacut.
Draper.
Everett.
Fastflex.
Fischer.
Klingspor.
Danny Burnette at Klingspor USA gave exceptional service. He went out of his way to try and help me.
Metabo.
Pferd.
Ridgid.
SIA.
Tork Craft (Vermont Sales).
Walter.
I split ten 4mm (0.16 inches) plywood sheets into four. The cross-cut (1220mm / 48 inches) took 19 seconds, while the two rip cuts (total of 2440mm / 96 inches) took 15 seconds each. That’s a total of 49 seconds per board (3660mm / 144 inches). That’s quick cutting. There are tools that work quicker than that, but they won’t fit in a standard toolbox. Besides, the Saw Max is a joy to use.
I couldn’t test the Saw Max on tiles, since I don’t have the masonry wheel. But if the Saw Max’s wood-cutting ability is anything to go by, it’ll run through tiles with ease.
I bought a 40mm (1.57in) PVC pipe with a 2mm (0.078in) wall thickness, and made two cuts down the length of the pipe. I’ve used two other tools for the same job before: a dozuki saw and a baby grinder with a cutting disc. Both of them worked fine, but I like that you can set the depth of cut with the Saw Max. It gives me the feeling of more control.
I cut two pieces of metal: a 19mm (0.75 inches) tube with a 1mm (0.03 inches) wall and a solid 12.5mm (0.49 inches) rebar rod. The Saw Max handled the metal well, although you must take care to not overload the motor.
This, is from the Dremel SM20, Saw Max Amazon page…
Backed by a two-year warranty
That’s a decent warranty. To be expected from a company like Dremel.
