Full Version: Cutting Columns

From: Liberty [#1]
 18 Mar 2005
To: ALL

OK, I always thought I was a pretty hands-on kinda guy. But there must be a better way to cut columns and end up with a clean, straight cut. What's the method most used?

From: Rallyguy [#2]
 18 Mar 2005
To: Liberty [#1] 18 Mar 2005

Hi,

We used to use a table saw but changed over to a cut off (cross cut) saw with a thin kerf blade made for laminates. I personaly like the carbide blades best.

We setup a stop on the left side for the proper length and just move the column over, butt it up against the stop, Hold the column tight against the fence, and cut the next cut. It works great if you have alot of columns to cut.

Hope this helps,

Brian G.

From: JHayes55 [#3]
 18 Mar 2005
To: Liberty [#1] 18 Mar 2005

Our method is;
Power Miter saw with as many teeth in it as possible (at least 100).
Using a back rail and movable stop we set the size and cut.
Keep you blade sharp. If there is a better method I am not aware of it
but always open to listen and learn.

KEEP Your fingers clear!
Joe

 

EDITED: 18 Mar 2005 by JHAYES55

From: Nick (KOZASNJZ) [#4]
 18 Mar 2005
To: Liberty [#1] 18 Mar 2005

We use the same procedure as JHayes55. It's easy and fairly quick. However, you have to make sure you don't go too fast when you're cutting the column or else you'll get jagged/chipped edges. Keep it smooth, at a meduim pace and KEEP YOUR FINGERS CLEAR!

From: Liberty [#5]
 18 Mar 2005
To: JHayes55 [#3] 19 Mar 2005

I knew I would get some good advice from this forum but who would have thought I'd get responses so quickly.

Thanks all!!

The best part of it is that I now get to go shopping for power tools... Ar-Ar-Ar

From: Frazee1 [#6]
 20 Mar 2005
To: Liberty [#1] 20 Mar 2005

I use a Dewalt compound miter saw. We started with Delta, Black & Decker different ones. The problem I found with the cheaper brand of saw was the adjustments. When you first set up your saw, you need a very thick peice of wood. Either a 4x4 or larger. Set the saw where you think it is cutting straight, mark your 4x4 with pencil- "top" "front" and so on... Put your 4x4 on the saw according to your markings. Saw just a thin slice, just enough that you know for sure the blade went acrossed the whole face of the wood. Now take a square and check which adjustments are off. The larger the peice of wood, the more you will be able to tell how off it is. I keep my block of wood near my saw to check it some times. Back to the cheap saw adjustments. I didn't have any luck with them holding the adjustments. Also with a compound miter saw, you can adjust any angle the saw may be off. With others you are very limited. They will go out of the adjustment you can't change. As far as the blade, I use the factory blade that came with it. I don't know the teeth count but I get a very clean cut. I have been using this same saw since 1996. Changed the brushes last year and it still works like new. I don't know the total count per year but some times we make 1000 trophies a week. From little singles to 4 post, just to let you know we work our saw to death! As far as going slow cutting, I bring my saw blade down just as fast as I can all the time without it grabbing or chipping it. Turn rectangle column up on its side for better cuts. I have noticed a little chipping there sometimes so I now turn it that way and it does fine. As for safety, be careful! My saw didn't know to stop when I started cutting into my hand!! It was late about 1 a.m. or so still at work and was cutting so many 3 in. peices that it got so repetative. I went to remove some scrap out of the way and my brain was still into telling my arm to bring the saw down, well I watched it cut into me and realized things were not right! Well it took lots of stitches inside and out! Sorry so long but wanted to get my points across. John

From: KatheW2 (KATHE) [#7]
 22 Mar 2005
To: ALL

Just a reminder for all of you who use these saws. KEEP THOSE FINGERS OUT OF THE WAY. It has been over six months since my husband tried to cut off two fingers on our table saw, and he is usually really careful. He just was in a rush with a large cutting job and in a split second cut through one finger and slightly through the next. Thank GOD the surgion was able to repair the finger. It will never be the same, but at least he has partial use of it.

Kathe

From: Sei (SEIMA) [#8]
 22 Mar 2005
To: KatheW2 (KATHE) [#7] 22 Mar 2005

There's a guy here whose father-in-law owned a saw mill for 30 years. Last few weeks before retirement he took all four fingers off one hand at the last knuckle. Couldn't be repaired.

So yeah, be careful.

Sei

From: Liberty [#9]
 7 Apr 2005
To: Frazee1 [#6] 7 Apr 2005

Well there is a new and shiney compund mitre saw in the back room. The instructions for adjusting the saw were rough at best but your tip for the 4X4 worked great!

Now I need to pickup a vacuum. That little sucker kicked plastic all over the shop. The little bag on the back serves only one purpose that I can see and that is to advertise the manufacturers logo. It sure isn't for catching the dust...

Aren't power tools fun? Thanks everyone for the tips.

Message 972.10 was deleted

From: Rallyguy [#11]
 7 Apr 2005
To: Frazee1 [#6] 7 Apr 2005

Hi John,

Excellent points and suggestions on the saw setup...I would like to add one point. If you take too thin of a cut for testing on the 4x4, it can deflect the blade messing up your measurements and adjustments. You need to get a scrap piece off the opposite side of the blade (even if it's only 1/4 inch thick) to be sure it hasn't deflected the blade at all.

So, Make sure you create an actual slice of wood not just a slight cleanup cut on the face of the 4x4 and you will be right on with your measurements.


Brian G.

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