I suppose that depends upon what you mean by "really need them." The answer is "No. Neither the kit nor the scratch builder requires Burnes Model Machine Tools to build a ship model." There are many alternative options. They are simply the best options. If one isn't of a mind to pay their cost or has no place to put them, they are no option at all. Simple as that.
-
Win a Free Custom Engraved Brass Coin!!!
As a way to introduce our brass coins to the community, we will raffle off a free coin during the month of August. Follow link ABOVE for instructions for entering.
Said no guy ever who was interested in having a date on Saturday night!
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2024
- Messages
- 805
- Points
- 353
Would gloves allow you to cut Al? I can't say for sure as we haven't tried it, however I doubt it as the metal would be in contact with the saw table and the blade at the same time.
In my opinion, gloves should NEVER be worn when operating a table saw. Whether it is a SawStop or not, a spinning blade can catch the glove, regardless of the material it is made from, and pull your hand right into it. If it was a SawStop, the glove would probably pull your hand into the blade and do significantly more damage to it (because of the momentum of your hand) before the mechanism had a chance to fire.
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2016
- Messages
- 6,236
- Points
- 728
Said no guy ever who was interested in having a date on Saturday night!
now that brought a grin from ear to ear
this is your thread Bob but a little off the tool topic.
the vet sure did get the attention of the ladies no doubt about it. BUT i discovered those were the high-maintenance ones. Coming back to my place i get "oh my! not what expected" you place is hum more like a workshop. Yup i call it an art studio. It is not plush or expensive or the least bit tidy. What warms my heart when you ask your girlfriend to move in, and she say yes do you have room for my tools and supplies?
sure thing we can load up the old pickup truck still married after 40 some years
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2016
- Messages
- 6,236
- Points
- 728
to sum it up yes buy the best you can afford that is if you really need the tool.
actually i did at one time have the Sherline lathe, mill, and all the accessories and set up for CNC but they sat around more than i found use for them so i sold all that stuff.
actually i did at one time have the Sherline lathe, mill, and all the accessories and set up for CNC but they sat around more than i found use for them so i sold all that stuff.
Last edited:
Said no guy ever who was interested in having a date on Saturday night!
now that brought a grin from ear to ear
this is your thread Bob but a little off the tool topic.
the vet sure did get the attention of the ladies no doubt about it. BUT i discovered those were the high-maintenance ones. Coming back to my place i get "oh my! not what expected" you place is hum more like a workshop. Yup i call it an art studio. It is not plush or expensive or the least bit tidy. What warms my heart when you ask your girlfriend to move in, and she say yes do you have room for my tools and supplies?
sure thing we can load up the old pickup truck still married after 40 some years
I had the same experience with a BMW 635Csi and a replica MBZ 540K roadster.
At first it's fun to have everybody waving and honking at you, but the novelty wears off quickly. After a while, it gets wearing. You don't want to look like a jerk and ignore people, but you don't want to be waving back all the time, either.
Your story reminds me of one L.F. Herreshoff's secretary once told me. He'd tool around town in his Ferrari convertible with his two standard poodles, but he'd turned his house, "The Castle" in Marblehead, into a workshop. He had a good-sized machinist's lathe in his dining room!
here is another saw, gone for 2.5K https://www.ebay.com/itm/227051157609
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2016
- Messages
- 6,236
- Points
- 728
Word on the internet is that Donna Byrnes recently reported that Byrnes Model Machines will be back in full operation producing and selling all their machines as of the first of the year
now that just boggles my mind why would anyone do that when you can buy a brand new one for $1,850.00 less? i would like to find the person who bought the saw i have a hammer here i am willing to sell for $1,100.00 and i will toss in a screwdriver for another $300.00
it must be the BMW 635Csi, classic vet thing i have more money than i know what to do with, i like people to wave at me, i like to do stupid things
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2019
- Messages
- 717
- Points
- 353
One could come up with 100's of reasons...
It is a wild guess but, too many "self appointed expert modelers" on social media have declared it as "must have tool" would be one of those reasons.
At least there is one modeler feeling happy somewhere!
Well....
G.
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2016
- Messages
- 6,236
- Points
- 728
"self appointed expert modelers" on social media have declared it as "must have tool"
that was a stupid thing a "must have tool" and the reason i even responded to this thread. There is no such thing in model ship building it was all hype and nothing more. Sure, let's try and discourage people getting into this hobby. You need expensive exotic wood, sure it cost $40.00 a board foot but you need it, you need special skills, you need books and more books and knowledge, You need to do expensive research, You need expensive tools a lathe, a table saw, a mill, a thickness sander, a disk sander and a load of hand tools. Scratch building! forget about it you need thousands and thousands of dollars for tools.
i am far from a master builder but i get along with a knife, sandpaper, a dremel tool, a razor saw and a few odds and ends. Oh my! that might be the very reason i am not in the master class it must be my tools or lack there of.
that was a stupid thing a "must have tool" and the reason i even responded to this thread. There is no such thing in model ship building it was all hype and nothing more. Sure, let's try and discourage people getting into this hobby. You need expensive exotic wood, sure it cost $40.00 a board foot but you need it, you need special skills, you need books and more books and knowledge, You need to do expensive research, You need expensive tools a lathe, a table saw, a mill, a thickness sander, a disk sander and a load of hand tools. Scratch building! forget about it you need thousands and thousands of dollars for tools.
i am far from a master builder but i get along with a knife, sandpaper, a dremel tool, a razor saw and a few odds and ends. Oh my! that might be the very reason i am not in the master class it must be my tools or lack there of.
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2024
- Messages
- 805
- Points
- 353
Call it a "multi-directional impact generator", sell it to the government and you can get $1,500!
You deep thinkers crack me up. The bottom line is personal preference. Sure you can get along with a knife, sandpaper, a Dremel tool, razor saw and a few odds and ends. As a retired toolmaker I know the value of good tools. I prefer to make my life easier. You can rationalize anything to suit your personal situation. OBTW, I have four of Jim Byrnes tools and wouldn't part with them at any cost.
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2025
- Messages
- 50
- Points
- 58
I never took Psych or Soch, but I bet there is a "syndrome" wired in some individuals that requires that others follow their path to get them a needed reassurance and confirmation. It means that you "love" them. Their advice reflects an enthusiasm that is more about them than the situation or device in question. Person to person contact can show clues and warnings. This anonymous communication = difficult to see red flags. A clue could be total enthusiasm without any conditions or requisites.
Nobody ever said you had to have a Byrnes machine to be a good ship modeler. Nobody ever said anything about the Byrnes machines other than they were the best of their kind available today and were fairly priced based on a cost/benefit analysis. Whether one obtains one, or not is purely a personal decision.
No doubt, there are extremely talented people who model ships intentionally using nothing but hand tools as a matter of principle, if nothing else. More power to them! That's reason enough not to buy a Byrnes power tool. Nevertheless, I think people would be well advised to disregard those who argue that quality tools capable of producing close tolerance work aren't necessary because "... look what great models were built in the 18th and 19th centuries, like the Admiralty Board models, without any fancy tools at all. The fact is that in terms of accuracy and detail, our best modelers today, using plenty of close tolerance powered tools, are routinely producing models of far greater technical quality than the modelers who built the Admiralty Board models.
No doubt, there are extremely talented people who model ships intentionally using nothing but hand tools as a matter of principle, if nothing else. More power to them! That's reason enough not to buy a Byrnes power tool. Nevertheless, I think people would be well advised to disregard those who argue that quality tools capable of producing close tolerance work aren't necessary because "... look what great models were built in the 18th and 19th centuries, like the Admiralty Board models, without any fancy tools at all. The fact is that in terms of accuracy and detail, our best modelers today, using plenty of close tolerance powered tools, are routinely producing models of far greater technical quality than the modelers who built the Admiralty Board models.
Last edited: