Frame cutting tools

Create a Post
Denny, I have the hand trimmer from Lee Valley Tools. I've tried it on frame mouldings and wasn't particularily pleased with the resulting mitres. The mitres weren't as accurate as I would have liked, especially when trying to trim hardwood moulding. However, I use it all the time when trimming fillets and find it does a great job on them. I wouldn't recommend it for frames and if you were just going to use it to chop fillets, it would probably be better to purchase a Fletcher Fillet Master and Fillet Chopper Master instead (that's what I probably would have purchased instead of the hand trimmer if I had known about them at the time!)
 
In the "old timers" world, these trimmers are refered to as "Lyon trimmers" or simply "Lyons" in reference to the original maker. The old ones were great..... but like everything else that someone takes to the continent of cheap, and simpley says "copy this"... they perform like a bad Yugo in a NASCAR race.

The (same continent) knock-offs, work better and have a higher quality of blade..... (sad, very sad comment) but are still not of the quality of the Lyon from say 30 years ago.

It's sad to see on many levels, the corruption of a fine tool. I think that the size of the castings and lack of market is what keeps Leigh Neilson from bringing back a truly handy tool.

Get a Morso/Jyden and maybe a disk sander and never look back. The side benefit of these two is not mentioned on another thread.. they are the basis of a truly "Green" shop.... they are "Solar Powered" you know..... you smile at the beautiful Sunrise... go to work and stomp the chopper and spin the sander and dream of sailing in the warm sunshine. :D
 
Maybe its just me, but I always wondered why anyone would need a trimmer if you had a chopper? Seems like a waste of money. Am I frankenthreading?
 
I wondered the same thing too, Steph. Isn't a fillet trimmer simply a mini-chopper? The ones I've seen/used are. And if your chopper blades are properly set and sharp, why would you need a sander? I had a mushy snotwood moulding yesterday that probably could've used a sander, but a few swipes with an emery board did the trick (lots cheaper, too!)
 
Please don't confuse that Lee tools with Lie-NielsenToolworks of Warren Maine, maker of some of the most beautiful and ergonomic tools you will ever have the pleasure to use. I have one of their planes, which if I didn't use it, would be framed and on a wall!
 
Well Val I did get a disc sander when I was in Vegas....it was worth every penny. The rare times I order chop I always use it. I find the chops I cut on my morso are often better than what most companies send out. I recently ordered an Omega chop for a 7' long mirror I was framing. I bisquit joined it, but if I hadn't run it thru the sander I would have had serious problems. I had to sand the heck out of it. The miters were hideous! It was perfect by the time I joined it.

If you do get one, I strongly recommend the AMP sander. I checked out a few and you can get a sander for less. After talking to many framers I heard too many nightmare stories about the cheaper model. But thats ok, I was more turned off by the folks at the booth for that company. Rudeness and ALOT of BS. ok its an official frankenthread...sorry!
 
Ah-ha....other peoples choppers. Hadn't thought of that, as I don't order chops very often, except for metal. Good point, Steph.
 
Denny,
I bought the frame co measuring rail when I was just framing for myself in my basement. I set it up with a power miter saw and it works well. I still have it and use it on mouldings that don't do well in my morso. The only drawback is the scale is only 48 inches.
 
Ron L said:
Denny,
I bought the frame co measuring rail when I was just framing for myself in my basement. I set it up with a power miter saw and it works well. I still have it and use it on mouldings that don't do well in my morso. The only drawback is the scale is only 48 inches.
Click to expand...

Thanks everyone.

Ron,
Thanks, glad to read you still like it. I'm concidering getting it. They sell an extension for it, but I rarely do any frames larger than 48 inches.

Has anyone else used the FrameCo miter scale?
 
Didn't read the description, but that looks very similar to a Lion Mitre Trimmer. I have had one for nearly 20 years and still love it. I used it a lot in the early days when I didn't have all the framing equipment I have now. It's still on a shelf in my shop--we got it out the other day to trim something that wouldn't fit in the chop saw. I also use it at home for various projects. Makes a lovely champfer! What they say about the trimmings leaving a velvet finish is true. I used to be able to trim translucent shavings off oak moulding. And--as heavy as it is--it makes a great weight!
 
Create a Post
Back
Top