I don't need a saw......do I?

Sarah Winchester

CGF, Certified Grumble Framer
Joined
Nov 6, 2004
Posts
186
Loc
Michigan
Another business in the big old building my shop is in, is a furniture maker (oooh, he makes some beautiful rockers!) and he chops my lengths for me. He only charges $2 per frame (that's eight cuts, right?) He uses either a table saw, or a radial arm saw, and the cuts are perfect, smooth as glass, and straight. So I don't use a sander. So I guess I don't need to buy a saw, do I? another perk of having him as a neighbor is that he supplies air for my Wizard from his compressor. It's a huge one, set up on the floor above, and I never hear it, and always have clean dry air.
 
I think you answered your own question.

Don't fix it if it ain't broke.

I might have a small chop saw just in case he gets very busy and you have a rush.
 
It sounds like a good arrangement, at least for now. It's a challenge to get perfect miters with a table saw or radial saw without special attachments, but why fix something that ain't broke?

Don't fix it if it ain't broke.
Ha! Great minds, and all that . . .
 
Ron, I'm still on, and appreciate your quick reply. I've heard many times that you can't get a good miter with those saws. But he claims he can, and I've watched him cut them (like I know what I'm watching!) and they are perfect. What am I missing?......what attachments? Anyway, i was just curious, and it's not broke, so I'm going to stick with this program. Thank You
 
If he's making gorgeous rockers.... the man is into jigs and set-ups.... so you may not understand what you are seeing... but it's there.

Sometime when you both have some slow time, print this thread out, and show it to him.. and let him explain to you what he is doing that makes for perfect cuts. You'll appreciate what he does even more...maybe even enough to do some free framing for him. :D

And to take a twist on what the others have said:

"If it ain't Baroque, don't Louis it up, it may just be time for a little Rococoa."
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I've always said:

Who needs a swimming pool if your neighbors got one?

Who needs a power washer, edger, riding mower or snowblower if your neighbors got one?

Who needs a boat or summer cottage if your neighbors got one?

Who needs kids if your neighbors got some?

Who needs a wife if...maybe I'm taking this too far!

;)

Sounds like you've got a great neighbor...folks in Michigan are generally good people. Midwest neighborliness is one of life's joys.

Dave Makielski
 
New business plan:
Move in next door to a wood worker / furniture maker.

I can not imagine a more perfect arrangment!
...and yes...frame that guy whatever he wants!
LOL
 
Originally posted by Dave:
I've always said:

Who needs a swimming pool if your neighbors got one?

Who needs a power washer, edger, riding mower or snowblower if your neighbors got one?

Who needs a boat or summer cottage if your neighbors got one?

Who needs kids if your neighbors got some?

Who needs a wife if...maybe I'm taking this too far!

;)

Sounds like you've got a great neighbor...folks in Michigan are generally good people. Midwest neighborliness is one of life's joys.

Dave Makielski
Very well said!

In a perfect world all those will be provided by one single neighbor!
 
Get the man a pint or a 6 pack from time to time. We cut for another shop and get $1.5 a pass with the saw, do the math it is $12 if it is all 8 sides. Treat him well!
 
Originally posted by Sarah Winchester:
I've heard many times that you can't get a good miter with those saws. But he claims he can, and I've watched him cut them (like I know what I'm watching!) and they are perfect. What am I missing?......what attachments? Anyway, i was just curious, and it's not broke, so I'm going to stick with this program. Thank You
Sarah,

You can get a good miter with just about ANY saw as long as it is calibrated correctly and you are using decent saw blades. (Assuming that it isn't beat to death but a cabinetmaker will have that certain respect for his tools that many home crafters lack.) You may not be missing anything tangible, just a good woodworker who takes care of the tools that contribute to his livlihood.

BTW, I would not take the time to chop moulding all afternoon for a framer no matter HOW pretty she was for a quarter a chop!! :eek:
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And, until you've had to endure a small compressor roaring in your ears in the frame shop, you really can't fully appreciate the deal you have on the free air supply from upstairs!!

Yeah, it sure don't look broke to ME!!
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Framerguy
 
In another thread we have framers singing the praises of visualization software and now in this one we have framers tipping their hat to the idea of not cutting your own moulding. I'm wondering is this progression or regression?
 
Jay,

And the ingredient that jells the fruit is the assumption that, since Sarah has only been in framing a few years, she may not have the coin to spring for a dedicated set of framing saws or maybe she just doesn't want to spend the money! If I were new to running my own frameshop I may very well take advantage of the same offer if it were available to me.

Does your post imply that you think that all framers who order chop are heading the wrong direction with their business?? Hey, I am fortunate to have had plenty of space in my frameshops to have my own saws up to this most recent turn of employment for me. Now I don't have room for a Craftsman hand miter saw (that's a "push, pull, push, pull or zooooba, zooooba" for you young framers!) let alone all my work benches and saw table, hence, I am ordering chop until such time that my boss rents more shop space in our little mall.

FGII
 
If I was vague I’m sorry. It’s accidental.

I think a frame shop should be able to at a minimum cut wood moulding and metal also would be nice.

I don’t intend to debate if chops are a good idea. I do think that level of dependency is a recipe for disaster, as you have to pass on so many golden opportunities. By not being able to do very basic tasks, like cutting a frame, you stack the deck against you from the start.

You could open a garage without an air compressor, but I wouldn’t advise it. Pneumatic tools are just to darn important to that trade to even consider it a reasonable option.

This trade isn’t much different. There are bare minimum requirements to even have a fighting chance. I put cutting and joining moulding in that category.

My shop is well under 2 years old by the way.
 
gmff,

The link in your profile brings up a shopping web site and not your store. I think you've got one too many "http"s in there.
 
Originally posted by FramingFool:
I hafta say that not being able to cut your own moulding, but having a Wizard, is kinda strange....
Unless I missed something, I don't recall Sarah mentioning that she owned/rented a Wizard. This is getting way too nit picky and off subject for the original intent of her post which was to question whether she needed to buy a chop saw under her present circumstances.

I still maintain that she's got a good deal going for her until such time as the cabinetmaker retires or shoots himself in the foot with a nail gun!
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FGII
 
Originally posted by Sarah Winchester:
another perk of having him as a neighbor is that he supplies air for my Wizard from his compressor.
Perhaps you can convince him that the Wizard is a tool that he needs. If he buys it then an open sign, some free samples, and a good book is all you'll need.
 
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