Phaedra Saw re-listed on eBay

cutter

Grumbler in Training
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Jul 5, 2004
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Douglas
Hi everybody,
I had to end the auction for the Phaedra early because eBay somehow lost the photos. Said the only way to restore them is to re-list, so I did.

I have re-listed the saw system here.

New Item # 3826375589
Phaedra Saw Re-listed

Thanks,
cutter
 
OK, I may as well be the nitpicker of the day.

cutter, you have your calibration stop on the wrong table of your Phaedra. That side doesn't have any way to set the calibration for cutting miters. And it doesn't look like the other side has the required tape measure installed either. (fuzzy photo, can't say for sure.)

The system is a good one, though. I have used a Phaedra for the last 16 years (before they had the calibration decal for the infeed table!!) and can fault it in no way for low to medium volume framing.

Good luck in your auction.

Framerguy
 
Tom,

On the Phaedra that I have, you can use the stop on either side - both tables have the decals - you just reverse the slider in the stop. The way my shop is laid out I have to use the stop on the side where cutter has it. You're right that he doesn't have the tape installed. It's an important convenience for cutting multiple lengths of the same moulding.


Pat :D
 
Thanks Pat, I have an older model that has the table decal only on the left table. What I was referring to is the self adhesive tape measure that goes behind&nbsp the stop. It didn't appear to be on either side and, without that, you can't set the stop to any initial measurement point to zero in the width of the moulding.

I was just curious about how cutter used that system without the tape measures in place. I can't imagine having to manually measure from the saw blade back to whatever length your mitered frame leg might be just to zero the stop each time.


FGII
 
Sorry guys, I used the system with no problems. In fact, I found that it had less waste than a double mitre saw.
You're right, I didn't put the other tape on, but I didn't need it either. The scale on the bottom of the table was all I needed. As you know, the stop is what enables you to cut multiples so fast. And the stop can be used on either side.

That really is nitpicking Framerguy. I might be tempted to think you wanted to bid.
But thank you for wishing me luck with my auction.

[ 07-09-2004, 06:51 AM: Message edited by: cutter ]
 
cutter,

I am glad to hear that your Phaedra worked so well for you. I don't have a clue HOW it worked so well for you but I guess you had some kind of system worked out to set your stop for various lengths.

Good luck with the auction, the Phaedra is a fine miter system and I have used one daily for the lastt 16 years with no complaints. The only thing that I would do, in hindsight, is buy 2 12" miter saws instead of 10" saws. The capacity is more with a 12" blade although you might have a bit more problem with runout with the larger blades.

FGII
 
Thanks Framerguy,
I don't know about those old Phaedra's, but this newer one works very well indeed. Actually, the only system that I needed to use it so well, was to know what size I was cutting. I really can't believe that the old Phaedras were so complicated. Did they require special computations or something?
This one, you simply cut one 45 deg, slide your piece down to line up on the scale with the length that you want, adjust the stop, and cut the other 45 deg. Simple really. All you need to know is what 1" is, and 1/2", 1/4", 1/8", and 1/16".

And you are right about these 12" Phaedras, they actually cut larger mouldings than most Pistorius saws. Smooth and straight too.

Thanks again for your wishing me luck. Say, aren't you about ready to replace your old piece of equipment?
 
Cutter,

The purpose of the stop scale is to allow you to quickly move the stop to a new size with given moulding. i.e. set the stop scale at 12" and set the moulding so that the rabbet is lined up with the correct diagonal mark. Then slide the adjustable rod of the stop to meet the moulding. When you need a new length all you have to do is move the stop to correct length - you don't have to bother with the diagonals. It does make it easier. If you don't have the scales to give to your buyer, ruler tapes are available at hardware stores. If you don't have installation instructions, just post a request on the grumble and one of us can help.

Pat
kaffeetrinker_2.gif
 
Thanks, Pat.

cutter, the old Phaedra's work exactly like the new Phaedra system. The only changes in the new system is the addition of 2 clamps out front and the calibration decal on both tables. The rest of the system is exactly like the one that I have used for years.

As Pat said, you are missing an important step in speeding up your cutting of frame legs. That little self adhesive "ruler" that should be positioned directly behind your stop makes changing from one leg length to another a snap. If you look on your stop, you will see a plexiglas piece with a red vertical line on it. THAT is what we are referring to, that should be set as a first step on whatever length of frame leg you want to cut. And, to set that line on a given measurement, you need to have that self adhesive tape installed behind the stop in that shallow groove in the table back. Anyway, you are selling the system so it may be a moot point to you.

I don't think that I will be needing a new system soon. There is really nothing to wear out on a Phaedra system. Mine cuts as accurately as it did when I bought it. I cut 7 frames yesterday before leaving for home, 2 of the same profile, and the others of different profiles and, with setup for each profile, cutting, coloring the miter edges, and joining, it took just over an hour and 15 minutes and that was just cruising along, no rush or hurry. It was the end of the work day. I needed them dried for today to assemble the work or I probably wouldn't have messed with them.

(I usually take the last hour of the work day to check email and the Grumble and just wind down a little bit.)

FGII
 
Well guys, if you say so, then it must certainly be true. But I sure can't figure out how that little tape could make it any faster or easier. I found it really fast to just make that first cut, place it directly on the measurement I wanted, slide the stop to touch, and make the next cut. If that little tape helps you to eliminate one of those four steps, then by golly, I sure wasted a pile of time.

And I sure wouldn't want anybody to overbid for such a slow saw either. Even if I did say right there in my ad that I really need the money. I paid a pile for this thing, and to buy one new, anybody would pay a pile. But now, I'm pretty well convinced that this is one messed up piece of equipment.

Oh well, at least my wife can go on WIC, and public housing is available. I can place my little daughter on PeachCare, and we'll just hope that the wife and I don't get sick. Reason is, I was really counting on a little money from this thing to squeeze by until the end of August, when I'll be starting a new job. But instead I'll probably be busy moving us out of our home around then.
Sure wish I had your success, then I could have plenty of extra time to decide to be the nitpicker of the day.
 
cutter,

I want to apologize to you as I see that you have taken a point of mine personally and I really didn't mean to have it go that way. I never meant in any way to make you feel inferior or demean your setup with your saw system. I was simply pointing out that you didn't have the system set up the way it was intended to be used.

If your method of cutting worked for you, I am happy for you. But, I wasn't trying to be smart or cause you any bad feelings with my comments. I also showed my own ignorance in the way that the newer Phaedras are used so don't take what I said personally. I was simply speaking from a few years experience using the Phaedra system and how it functioned for me.

Sorry for the misunderestanding.

Framerguy
 
Gee Framerguy, I'm sorry too. Didn't mean to sound so snappy there, and I wasn't trying to make you feel like you could find better things to do with your time than try to **** people off.

I was simply saying that the saw works perfectly and is fast and simple to use, without the design features that I found to be poorly thought out. It's also a nearly new saw, as I was open only about 6 months after I bought it (though it has been kept in a warehouse since).

It only seemed to me that you might have kept your comments to yourself instead of trying to pick apart a perfectly fine piece of machinery that I am trying to sell. I'm sure you are familiar with those PIA customers that will ask for a discount because you overcut a mat opening by 1/8", but have you ever had one sit there and announce that to everybody that walks in?
 
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