farmgirl1
True Grumbler
I have been ordering chopped but am considering a saw. Is a worth the expense to go for the Frame Square? Can I get good reliable cuts with a Clearmount system and 2 saws?
saw recommendations
- Thread starter farmgirl1
- Start date
Welcome to the Grumble Farmgirl,
Check the archives by doing a search on Saws. There was a good thread recently about the subject and Framerguy had some great insite on the double saw question.
Check the archives by doing a search on Saws. There was a good thread recently about the subject and Framerguy had some great insite on the double saw question.
Jack Cee
MGF, Master Grumble Framer
Dear Farmgirl:
Welcome from a FarmGuy that started in this business 12 years ago (on a farm but since moved to the Village). Before you put out a lot of money on expensive double saws, look at the Phaedra system. Give some consideration to the DeWalt Saw since it has bearings instead of bushings and will retain its trueness much longer than others. I know a farm girl will understand what I am trying to tell you. Check in Decor or in Picture Framing Magazine for their advertisements. I purchased one several years ago and it works just great. Buy the largest diameter saw blade that you can afford.
Jack Cee
Old Farmer
Old Framer
Welcome from a FarmGuy that started in this business 12 years ago (on a farm but since moved to the Village). Before you put out a lot of money on expensive double saws, look at the Phaedra system. Give some consideration to the DeWalt Saw since it has bearings instead of bushings and will retain its trueness much longer than others. I know a farm girl will understand what I am trying to tell you. Check in Decor or in Picture Framing Magazine for their advertisements. I purchased one several years ago and it works just great. Buy the largest diameter saw blade that you can afford.
Jack Cee
Old Farmer
Old Framer
Emibub
PFG, Picture Framing God
Farmgirl, If you take Jack's advice I have a "lightly used" Phadera double fence system I need to sell at a reduced price of course. I invested in that when I first came here and my saws were worthless and meanwhile I upgraded to a floorsaw and now the fence system is just languishing here looking for a new home. It is just the fences and clamps I have, no saws.
Framerguy
PFG, Picture Framing God
Hi Farmgirl,
Welcome to the Grumble.
I have used a Phaedra system for about 12 years now and have had no problems at all with it. I have 2 Makita LS-1030 chop saws mounted onto the fence system. My only complaint is with the noise that the saws put out. The DeWalt is a better choice and isn't much different in price than the Makitas. (I don't think, anyway.)
If I were you, I'd take emibub up on her offer.
The secret to any saw system, in my opinion, is putting the best saw blades on that you can afford. My blades cost more than the saws but I can get clean even tight miters on most any wood used for moulding production today. You will find some chipping problems with some of the high laquer and high gesso compo mouldings but it is minor and I have tried chops from the moulding companies that I knew would give me chipping and their chops were worse than what I was getting from my own saws.
Good luck with your saws and keep cuttin'.
Framerguy
Welcome to the Grumble.
I have used a Phaedra system for about 12 years now and have had no problems at all with it. I have 2 Makita LS-1030 chop saws mounted onto the fence system. My only complaint is with the noise that the saws put out. The DeWalt is a better choice and isn't much different in price than the Makitas. (I don't think, anyway.)
If I were you, I'd take emibub up on her offer.
The secret to any saw system, in my opinion, is putting the best saw blades on that you can afford. My blades cost more than the saws but I can get clean even tight miters on most any wood used for moulding production today. You will find some chipping problems with some of the high laquer and high gesso compo mouldings but it is minor and I have tried chops from the moulding companies that I knew would give me chipping and their chops were worse than what I was getting from my own saws.
Good luck with your saws and keep cuttin'.
Framerguy
fttom
MGF, Master Grumble Framer
A big welcome from the deep South, also. Difinately scarf up that Phaedra system, if you can. I just added one to my 10"Delta Sidekick saw, and love the whole setup. Like most folks, I paid almost as much for my blade as I did my saw. I only use 1 saw, not 2. It is real easy to swing the saw left to right and back and save the extra couple of hundred dollars for another piece of equipment. If you're looking at a measuring system, though, get that gently used Phaedra instead of shucking out the big bucks for a ClearMount. You'll love the Phaedra.
Susan
Susan
DGBuck
True Grumbler
Yes, it's worth the extra expense. I have used a FrameSquare saw for the last 16 years (the saw is over 20 years old) and it still cuts the most consistently accurate mitre of any saw I've ever used. I currently own a Pistorius MN-100, CTD D-20, 2 Phaedra systems, and the FrameSquare. One of the keys to the FrameSquare is the very cool, patented moulding clamps. They hold the moulding very steady. I cut moulding up to 5-1/2" with the same accuracy as the small stuff. Also, because of the unique fence set up, it will cut just about any moulding you can throw at it, even all the new curved back mouldings. The saw is a bit awkward because you have to flip the moulding from side to side as opposed to sliding it through like on more traditional double mitre saws and the Phaedra systems. Thus it also takes up more shop space than the other saws. Make sure it will fit into your space with a 10' length of moulding clamped into it!
I get very good cuts on my Phaedra system (I currently only use one of them) and it definitely has its' place in my shop. I use it mostly for multi angle cuts and mouldings over 5-1/2"(I have a big 15" Hitachi hooked up to it). However, the FrameSquare is an industrial saw, made specifically for cutting picture frame moulding. The others are not. Pound for pound and dollar for dollar (approx. $2,800?) I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better saw.
Hope this helps!
I get very good cuts on my Phaedra system (I currently only use one of them) and it definitely has its' place in my shop. I use it mostly for multi angle cuts and mouldings over 5-1/2"(I have a big 15" Hitachi hooked up to it). However, the FrameSquare is an industrial saw, made specifically for cutting picture frame moulding. The others are not. Pound for pound and dollar for dollar (approx. $2,800?) I think you'd be hard pressed to find a better saw.
Hope this helps!
JackBingham CPF
MGF, Master Grumble Framer
We have a Morso Chopper and a Phaedra saw system. I use the chopper for most wood mouldings and the saw for large wood mouldings and metal mouldings. No problem with either.
Jack
Jack
lyoncat
CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
Welcome Farmgirl.
Leslie S.
MGF, Master Grumble Framer
The Framesquare is a great saw. I have been using mine for 10 years with very few problems. It cuts very accurate miters. It is expensive, but if you are planning on heavy production (multiples of the same size/same profile) it can't be beat. If you are a smaller operation, the other systems will work fine. I don't really do enough volume work to totally justify it, but in my case, I bought it with the shop (just lucky!) If you are worried about accurate miters, I think some of the others will recomend a miter sander...there was a good thread on this recently. Good luck.