Greetings all:
Maybe those of you whom use the CS-89 are liking the thumbnailers better because the particular joiner is clunky-donkey... if you know what I am saying here!
I used a CS-89 in Hawaii and it always had problems and was most difficult to use to make good joins. Where I work, the CS-89 has confirmed my poor opinion of the model. I am not down on Cassese as I once owned a CS-910 and it was AWESOME and easy to use.
Here is why I don't like the CS-89.
It is dangerous! Why did the manufacturer build a machine that requires you to hold the foot-switch half way down to lock the molding against the fence and then require you to continue pressing the pedal in order to insert the V-Nail? How dangerous is that? I constantly remind myself that I need to be very careful using the machine. I typically dry test-clamp the corner in the CS-89 and make adjustments to the fences if needed. I then apply glue and re-clamp the corner by pressing half way down on the foot-switch.
Next, I observe that the corner is aligned as perfectly as possible and sometimes this step requires first wiping the glue squeeze-out from the corner wherein lies the danger. It would be very easy to wipe the glue with a finger while leaning forward to inspect and.... you guessed it, continue to press the pedal. That would be painful and one of the members above pointed out.
I also don't like the amount of pressure the dogs place on the corner when it is clamped. I don't have anything quantitative, but it seems to be a much weaker force than on the CS-910 (also an 810 that I have used) and my Miter-mite.
So dad got a big 16" band saw for Christmas and re-sawed some 2' long walnut logs into planks. He then planed, sanded, molded, shaped, spit on and scared the wood into shape. He made solid molding.
A couple of days ago he brought some of the molding over to the shop and we chopped and joined one frame before deciding to try it at home instead. After work he came over and we easily chopped and joined 3 perfect frames in my garage with my chopper and VN-4.
That made me realize another reason that I don't care for the CS-89. It is clunky and LOUD! The molding actually moves around when using it! The Miter-Mite solidly locked the corner.
About half the time I have had to resort to pre-joining the corners and clamping them in a Stanley-400 vice before v-nailing because of the CS-89’s limitations.
And… thing I just thought of. The tray on the top of the table moves (the frame) vice just the head when repositioning to insert multiple v-nails. I don’t like that. Can’t pin exactly why except it seems hokey and I think when nails are inserted on steeply profiled moldings (top is angled) the tray seems to move as the v-nail is inserted.
So. Is a lower end joiner as good as using a thumbnailer? I think they may be about the same or slightly in favor of the v-nailer. Is a more robust joiner better than a thumbnailer? Definitely.
My dad taught me to always buy the best (i.e. usually the most expensive) tools you can afford. I mostly do that and am usually sorry when I don’t. Better tools generally equate to durability, saved time and less FRUSTRATION!
Bill Ward . I like the biscuit joiner comment for deep moldings… thanks!
Jennifer – J Phipps TN. Yes, the CS-89 is the machine similar to the 79 but it is pneumatically vice manually operated.
Susan – Susang. Exploding frames? Sounds dangerous! You need to stop using those sticks of TNT as molding! Seriously. What joiner do you have? And by exploding, I presume you are talking about the corner coming apart when the v-nail is inserted. If so, it sounds like the dogs that clamp the frame in are not strong enough (maybe you have a CS-89?), or maybe there is some sort of misalignment or timing problem with the machine that allows the molding to move.
Rick Bergeron. I am sure, since you have used both that the Fletcher is your choice. However, I am not sure why you believe the Thumbnailer system does not pull the corner together. The plastic inserts are angled slightly away at the top, so as the plastic insert is forced into the slots, the corner is wedged together. Are the Fletcher inserts straight vice angled and so the cut is angled instead?
Jeff_Nobles. I wouldn’t waste your money on the thumbnailer. Convince your wife that a better model v-nailer is the way to go and get a really good one!
Warmest aloha,
Bill