Miter Saw Advice

[thomasthemiller]

Hi all,

We purchased are frame shop several years ago and have been running the older radial arm saw/measuring jig system that came with the shop. It has worked ok but given the amount of play in the system puttying corners is almost always necessary. We recently began selling online and have gone from 15-20 frames a week to closer to 100 and our old system just isn't cutting it. Our current space really can't facilitate a large double miter saw due to space and power constraints. I've been looking through old forums and see mixed reviews of the clearmount system but I have been looking into their dual cut jig. I would love to see pictures of people's setups to get ideas and hear any recommendations. Thanks for your help!

 

[Ylva]

I have a similar system. You still need a larger space for the infeed of the moulding. I have a designated saw room, 5 feet wide and 24 feet long

 

[wpfay]

Hi Tom and welcome to the G. (Love the pun BTW)
With that increase in volume, you should be seriously looking for additional space as well as updated equipment.
The space wouldn't just be for a double miter saw. You would need storage to handle the amount of materials, especially moulding, that you will be buying.
You don't need to upgrade to the level of what you are doing now, but to the potential of online retail.
We started with a Craftsman radial arm saw, and I was happy to see it go.

The accuracy of the Clearmont system is dependent on the quality of the saws and the blades.
You need speed and accuracy (no need to putty).

 

[JFeig]

We started with a Craftsman radial arm saw, and I was happy to see it go.

me too.
BTY, Pistorius did sell the M100 saw with 2- 120V single phase saw motors. They were not very common. There might also be some 240V single phase units out there as well.

 

[Jim Miller]

Hello Tom:

A twin-saw Clearmount system may be your best solution, as pictured below. I used a similar system in my shop for years (Phaedra, which is no longer available). My shop had a length issue, so I placed the saw so that the full-length moulding rails extended through a doorway.

I suggest using good-quality, construction-type miter saws without fancy compound angle adjustments, which serve no purpose in this application and could make calibration more difficult. Precisely set the miter angles and then leave them alone. Once precisely set, the saws' adjustments should remain accurate, because you have no reason to swing from left to right for cutting the miters.

You can buy a complete Clearmount system with 10" Makita saw(s), or just the measuring scales, for use with whatever miter saws you prefer to use. Check this link:

Makita Saw w/ Clearmount Mitre Saw System / Measuring Grids (New) Item # CR-102000

New Makita Saw w/ Clearmount Mitre Saw System / Measuring Grids for Sale, Buy Sell Frame Shop Equipment, Art Gallery Framing Equipment Machinery

aimequipmentcompany.com

 

[thomasthemiller]

Thanks for the responses! We have started the process of looking into a larger space but that will of course take time. In the mean time I want to upgrade to something that works in our current space and could function as a secondary system if we continue to grow and end up moving. Does anyone have recommendations and specific saws to use with the clearmount system? I'm not apposed to the makitas but would love to know if there is a better option. Thanks!

 

[Ylva]

I have two Makitas and they work well. I get my saw blades from Quinn saws, like a lot of other framers.

 

[alacrity8]

The Pistorius we have came with a converter that lets it run on Single Phase power.
Our initial electrician didn't understand the diagram, so we had to hire a second guy....who knew that we had 3 phase in the building.
We keep the converter as a backup in case we ever move.
I believe that I had been told that it can be wired to turn the motors on one at a time, and thus work single phase that way.

With a Double Mitre Saw, or two Mitre Saws, you can get away with a smaller space than twice the length of the moulding if you tend to make smaller frames.
You really only need 10 ft, plus the largest frame size you are willing to cut....If you are really adventurous you could put your twinned Mitre Saws on a track that would give you 10 ft on one side, then up to 10 ft on the other side after the fist cut.

There is also the option of the Framesquare saw, which I believe works like a Mitre Sled on a Tablesaw (which is my backup for things too large for our Pistorius).
This option likely needs more square footage, but less length as your second cut is 90 degrees to the first one, not in a line.

 

[neilframer]

I have used the Makita twin saw setup in the past but my favorite saw is the CTD D45 AX pneumatic dual mitre saw I'm using now.
I'm a 57 year framer and we have an amazing amount of framing to do.

This is the third CTD D45 I've used over the years. Two of them were the D45AX pneumatic units and one was the D45 foot operated model.
Same exact saw but the regular D45, not the AX, uses a foot pedal and your leg like a chopper to make the cut.
The D45 AX has a pneumatic foot pedal that you just touch it and it goes thru the cut and the speed of the upstroke and downstroke is adjustable.
All have used Quinn blades and Quinn sharpening services.

CTD apparently closed last year but there are probably used machines available.

 

[alacrity8]

If you are interested in a Frame Square, someone just posted this: https://www.thegrumble.com/threads/picture-framing-table-saw-frame-square-upland-socal.101105/ For Sale: - Picture Framing Table Saw - Frame Square - Upland, Socal.