Replies

1. 
   David_Nickelson | Jan 27, 1999 08:25am | #1

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   Steve...
   There used to be...an attachment for a standard skil saw..called a lay down table...
   It had an extra large table...you removed your factory table and replaced with this...
   Standard item..southern california roof cutters saws...
   I dont know..whether it was a local accesory...or was available...

   DN

2. 
   Guest_ | Jan 27, 1999 08:45am | #2

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   A Chainsaw.

   Don't all finish carpenters have one yet?

1. 
   Guest_ | Jan 27, 1999 10:30pm | #3

   *Most radial arm saws should work. An 8" Ryobi is cheap and light.

1. 
   Guest_ | Jan 28, 1999 12:01am | #4

   *Dare I say a sawzall with a long heavy blade? One where the blade teeth are in-line with the stroke of the arbor. As opposed to some that angle downward, or into the cut - very aggressive, difficult to control. I have made some very nice cuts with the long blade, I think it is only 8 inches long though - three at a time?-Rob

1. 
   Guest_ | Jan 28, 1999 02:00am | #5

   *I think you need that table David is talking about. That BIG Makita saw wont go far enough, neither will a Skil 8", only to 60. I saw an add for a table called a BIG FOOT but dont know if that will let you swing to 75. Good Luck, and happy single cutting if you have to.Dave

1. 
   Guest_ | Jan 28, 1999 05:45am | #6

   *BigFoot makes a 14" saw which will get you your dpeth but the base does not swing to 75 +. You can however make a shim to get you the extra degrees for the saw to ride on. BigFoot is at (702)565-9954 talk to Bob Hutchings.They made a custom saw for me that sports a 26" blade!

2. 
   Guest_ | Jan 28, 1999 10:31pm | #7

   *Steve:I found the write up on the Big Foot in issue 120 of FHB. Larry Hahn says that it fits on a Skil 77 or Makita 5177B so you can install a 10 inch blade. The saw and adaptor together are $325, doesnt say how much just the adaptor is. Blade cuts to 3-3/4 inch depth. I assume this is not on an angle. For $75 you can get a table the allows a swing from -5 to 75 degrees.Hope this helps.Dave

3. 
   brisketbean_ | Jan 29, 1999 09:00am | #8

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   Steve:
   If you could find a saw that would give you that 68 degree bevel that you want so that you could gang cut the seat cut on your rafters you will find out as soon as you wake up (from your dream) that there is not good enough lumber to be able to stack or line up in a workable stack to be able to acomplish your feat with out considerable error. Keep it simple and safe in the real world.

   brisketbean

4. 
   Guest_ | Jan 29, 1999 11:03am | #9

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   I have to second Brisketbean's observation. I tried gang cutting rafters. The results were not what I had hoped for.
   Anymore, I'm back to cutting them individually. Two good carpenter apprentices who work well together, one at each end of the rafter stock pile, each with a saw, and a good template betwen them would be very hard to beat for speed, accuracy, and quality.

5. 
   mfh | Jan 29, 1999 10:05pm | #10

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   Rip a 2x6 with a 30deg. bevel, stack your rafters on and tack the ripped piece inside the line of your seat cut. Set your saw at a 45 and run the shoe along the bevel of the 2x6. 30 + 45 = 75.

   Make sure your tack nails are not in your cutting path, use a 2x8 if necessary. Not sure about the depth. You'll probably need to go to an 8 1/4" saw or possibly rent a 10" but you shouldn't need anything more.

6. 
   Guest_ | Jan 30, 1999 04:07am | #11

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   Alternatives...The few Lincoln Log homes I built used 2x14 green doug fir rafters 24' to 28' long (two men needed for these puppys.)We came up with the following production rafter cutting method.

   Two men, two circular saws, saw horses.

   Design, cut and check first rafter...If its good to go, mark it as the template.

   Mark all rafters for crown while moving to sawhorses.

   Each man traces his end of template rafter and we race to see who's ready for the next one first.

   Super simple, and can be done one man on less beasty rafters. Is this method common?

   Another trick worth noting here in regard to rafter tables and framing squares for cutting rafters is the method of full scale rafter layout. Before the walls go up, measure, layout, and draw your roof system on your deck. Its real easy to do and takes little time. If you like your drawing just cut the rafter template to fit your drawing. And its really handy if you're building from your own plans. You get to see it and make changes... On the last big garage we built, a tiny change in roof pitch, allowed walls to be framed with 10' foot verses 12' cut to 10'2" 2x4s.

   Just my thoughts...anyone?

   Jack

7. 
   steve_stacker | Jan 30, 1999 04:13am | #12

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   I want to gang cut rafters in a stack for a five in twelve pitch and need a two inch seat. I cant find a saw to do it, for speed and to save my energy to stack it.