pistorius mn200

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geperry

CGF, Certified Grumble Framer
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Jul 24, 2004
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Round Pond, ME
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I spoke to a frame shop owner about buying his Pistorius mn200. He's asking $800. This price seems quite low to me. What should I be looking for when checking out this machine? What questions should I ask before driving 6 hours to check it out?
In starting up a frame shop, would I be better off is a frame square saw? what are the pros and cons of both saws?
Any advice greatly appreciated, and thanks for past postings.
 
Grab it if it cuts true. Cut a few corners in both narrow and wide mouldings. The saw is a solid piece of equipment so if it cuts good now you should have no problem getting any parts you need down the road. Jim Miller bought an old one a year or so ago. Did a little rehab and I think he is satisfied with the purchase.
 
Two things you should consider: the saw weighs over 550 lbs. and what kind of measuring system comes with it. Pistorius thinks highly of their measuring tables. Also, the MN 200 uses 12" blades.

The Frame Square saw, esp. the Rabbit Saw, is an excellent saw. It's a sliding table type saw and sliding table saws are the most accurate crosscutting saws. It's 10" blade can cut wider and taller moulding than the EM 200's 12" blades. The Frame Square saw will produce much less tear out on the backs of leafed moulding, too, because of the way the blade enters and exits the cut. The major draw back to the saw is it's slow compared to a double miter saw and it takes up more room becaues its fences are at 90 degrees to each other. Because the saw cuts from the rabbit to the back of the moulding, it has a very accurate and easy to use measuring sustem. It'll probably make a little more waste than a double miter saw, but not much more as you learn to use it. Also, because the table is moved by a long lever, you have great control over rate of feed. The Frame Square saw will be easier to work on than the EM200.

I have two Pistorius saws and I love 'em but I think the Frame Square is a better choice for a beginner.
 
I don't know why I kept refering to the MN200 as EM200. "MN" stands for miter notcher; the saws are used as notchers in the furniture industry. There is an EMN which means economy miter notcher.

I meant to point out the the Frame Square Rabbit saw's easy to use measuring system. You set the stop on 12" and it'll cut a 12" leg out of moulding of whatever width. I love this saw!
 
Just bought a MN200. If you get the serial number off of it and call Pistorius they will be able to tell you alot about it including how old it is, who bought and when.
If you go get it. Take a good set of allen wrenches, a 10" or 12" crescent wrench, an appliance dolly, at least one other 6' 275# helper. Second best purchase I have made, First was the property my store sits on. It has been paid off for the last 15 years.

Their web site says it only wieghts 350# but don't believe it as Warren says 550#-600# is closer.
 
The best way to move a Big saw is rollers. Sections of 1.5 to 3 inch pipe. Most appliance movers are not strong enough. Be causious with changes in floors and thresholds. Rollers can be placed in front of and behind a door to avoid the door sill. A warehouse style pallet jack could also be used. They can be rented for a day.


BTY, when I moved 2 machines 8 years to our new location I borrowed the assistance of a friend
thumbsup.gif
who made a living moving and installing heavy equipment for industry, among other things (iron worker - rigger erector. Ever see a person bear hug a refrigerator and move it?


Anyone need a 1,000 ton punch press moved or installed?
 
pistourious saw

hey man ive been a framer for 25 years also have a saw blade sharpening service and specialize in pistouious saws even though i cant spell anyway that is an awesome deal i would not sell one for less than 3 grand wheter it works or not simple reason is you can totaly rebuild one for about 5 6 hundred bucks so jump also if interested in i travel all over country fine tuning and rebuilding for travel expenses and 80.00 an hour also if you have access to pallet jack that is an extremly easy way to move rons saw sercice 717 582 2858
 
I'm seeing a lot of these around that price. Reason is that they are expensive to have shipped. Great saw and indestructible. I have a 12" Pistorius and then bought a Frame Square later for wide mouldings. If you are cutting 2 or 3 frames a day the Frame Square would better suit your needs but for the price if it is near you for pick up you will never regret the decision. Now just keep your eye out for a Frame Square that is the same type of bargain.
 
katman said:
... Jim Miller bought an old one a year or so ago. Did a little rehab and I think he is satisfied with the purchase.
Click to expand...

Actually it was several years ago, and yes, I was pleased with that model EMN. Jeff Rodier bought it when he set up his present shop and, as far as I know, he's still using it daily.

I sold it because I no longer need a production-type cutting tool of that magnitude. In the same floor space I now have a Morso chopper and a Phaedra SawHelper setup with tandem DeWalt 12" saws. Now I can cut any moulding material accurately, more cleanly, more quietly, and with minimum waste.
 
Yep Jim, I'm using it daily and it is still ticking. I have cut in the neighborhood of 20,000 frames with it in less than 2 years.
 
"Now I can cut any moulding material accurately, more cleanly, more quietly"

ROFLMAO
 
Seems like a good thread to blurt this out in since I'm punch drunk from working all day on a Sunday on a 33 piece shadowbox, a gallery wrapped canvas which the customer now wants framed but the canvas was GLUED on the stretchers then varnished over the corners after it was stretched, and another fabric liner and honkin moulding for a canvas on the hottest most humid day of the year all due monday morning did I mention I'm punch drunk... I used my Morso chopper today! I was pretty sure it was only good for use as a portkey anymore, but as I ran the 3 inch deep shadowbox moulding through the Pistorius EMN it said "YOU SHALL NOT PASS" and it was right. So I did what I always do when things seem bleak, I called the girlfriend who said "What about that chopper?" and I said "Oh yeah! I forgot all about that!" So now I figure it's safe from the scrapyard for another 5 years.
 
Just noticed this is a 5 year old thread.............
 
johnny said:
"What about that chopper?" and I said "Oh yeah! I forgot all about that!" So now I figure it's safe from the scrapyard for another 5 years.
Click to expand...

We're hurting for saws here so we just swapped a few holes on the old Morso's pedal yoke to put the blades high as possible, now we cut just about any regular 4" moulding and quite a few reverses as wide as 3.5". But you gotta lose the rabbet supports for anything wider than 3 7/8".

That lifts the blades completely out of mesh with the lower flat blades, so be sure your blades are lined up right before flooring the pedal. Had a little trouble with a slightly potato-chipped "2Morso 0707" marked blade, had to re-align the bottom blades for one of them...was there a bad batch then?

Cuts those big gonzo Pirates-of-the-Caribbean poly mouldings like a dream, perfect joints every time.
 
Johnny

My EMN-12 will cut 3.375" high out to 1.75" wide
and 5" wide by 1" high at the rabbit
 
Mine hits the inside guard. I removed the outer guard for the picture.
 

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