a good manual underpinner?

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New Albany Framer

CGF, Certified Grumble Framer
Joined
Feb 15, 2006
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101
Loc
New Albany Indiana
I'm considering purchasing a manual underpinner? Anyone have any suggestions concerning a good manual underpinner? I have read about the Imnes underpinner and the cassesse. Anyone use any of these pieces of equipment? Anyone have any suggestions about another brand?
 
We use a foot powered Cassese. Love it. I can feel how the bit is responding to the wood on the fastener. I like that control and knowledge.

This last summer I got a chance to actually use a lever arm [hand] VN nailer... scarey.... but I guess it's what you get used to. The shop does about 2,000 frames a year... so it must work.
 
A few months back I bought the Cassese. I like it alot on most frames. Very easy to use and set up. Still learning though. Doesn't work on all profiles. I've had to go back and use the vise with brad nailer. It does cut down assembly time. I find myself using the hardwood v-nails most often. Don't know how they are different than the softwood v-nails. They just seem to work best on all types of wood.
 
Denny, the "Hardwood" nails are slightly duller so the mush their way though the fibers without following the grain.
The "Softwood" is sharper so it will penitrate without crushing the fibers, but if you use it in something like cherry or walnut, it will catch and divert... usually out the back:fire:
A rule of thumb is that if you can easily make a mark in the miter with your thumbnail, use the "Soft".

I found this to be true with my hand planes as well, when working with Doug Fir, the blade needs to be scarey sharp, but if I'm working Cherry, I'll resharpen but not hone the blade, and I get a better surface.:nuts:
 
Pistorius makes both an “arm” and a “leg” operated underpinner. We have use the “arm” model (VN-J) for over 15 years without any problems. Their web site will describe all of their models in detail.
 
I use the Mitre-Mite VN Manual by ITW AMP. It's worked great for six years. I'm sure the others are good as well. These are good for a low volumn shop since, as you know most of your time is not spent assembling frames.
 
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