Opinions requested on equipment

[JDS]

Before deciding on this I thought I'd check with the wealth of knowledge on the Grumble. To be honest I haven't opened up shop yet but plan to in 2007 so I'm trying to get some equipment set up ahead of time.

I just bought a Phaedra Quadrant framing system and want to set it up with two saws.

I already have a DeWalt 12" mitre saw in my shop (in good shape) and thought about buying another just like it to have the pair for the Phaedra. That would, however, mean that I would have to use the system for other things I do such as occasional furniture making, etc.

If I buy another 12" saw. Lowes has a deal that will give me a $75.00 gift card as an incentive.

The other option is to buy two 10" DeWalt mitre saws just for the Phaedra and keep my 12" for other purposes. The two 10" saws would cost about the same as the single 12", but I wouldn't get the gift card.

My concerns are:

1. Would using a 12" set up in the Phaedra for projects other than framing be a bad idea?

2. Is the cost of high end 12" blades vs. 10" blades a factor here?

3. The 10" saw only cuts 4" material at a 45 degree cut. Do I need a larger cut for general framing?

And while I'm at it, I'm signed up for a couple of classes at the Vegas show where we will be using Fletcher mat cutters. Are these usually the larger cutters and, after the show, do they sell those cutters at reduced rates or is it not worth waiting to get one if the show discount is minimal?

Thanks for your time and I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and a Happy Hangover . . . er . . . New Year!

Jerry S.

 

[Framerguy]

We used the short cutters in all the classes I have taken with Brian Wolfe and others through the years. And I do mean short, not the 48" cutters but maybe only 24" cutter that was used just for classes in mat cutting. I don't know what they are using now but I wouldn't imagine that they sell them after each class. That would be a pain to have to buy new cutters after every trade show.

Regarding your Phaedra setup, if you got 2 saws that had very accurate 45 degree detents, I can't see any reason why you couldn't use them for furniture making. But I have been using 2 LS1030 chop saws on my old Phaedra for the past 18 years and I had to completely tear down both saws and shim them to a dead vertical and I had to wallow out the detent holes to get an accurate 45 degree angle on both of them. Therefore I don't move them out of the miter position for any other type of cutting operation. But they have served me well for all these years. I saw in another thread someone mentioned something about saw bushings and bearings wearing out quickly. I suppose they may if you don't take care of your equipment or learn how to operate them properly but I have had flawless operation from my saws for 18 years so I have no complaints about either the saws or the Phaedra setup.

One thing to consider is the wider mouldings that are being offered by many companies now. If you are going to chop 5 inch mouldings I would definitely look at buying another 12" saw to match the one you have. I have to order chop on anything over 4" with my 10" saws. And I sell alot of extremely wide mouldings. I am going to order a set of extension tables for my Euro underpinner so I can v-nail the wider mouldings also. You need to pay attention to the maximum sizes that any equipment you buy will handle. Don't cut yourself short on wide mouldings (no pun intended), you never know when somebody will come in and want that large honkin' moulding on a floor mirror or a large canvas.

Of course if you don't show wide mouldings this is all a moot point.

 

[deaconsbench]

And while I'm at it, I'm signed up for a couple of classes at the Vegas show where we will be using Fletcher mat cutters. Are these usually the larger cutters and, after the show, do they sell those cutters at reduced rates or is it not worth waiting to get one if the show discount is minimal?

Jerry S.

The Fletchers we used in Orlando earlier this year were sold later through United. I seem to remember it was a good deal, and carried the original warranty. They were 48".

I bought my nearly-new 60" Fletcher on eBay, quite reasonably.