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New stuff & Accuracy

Dagwood | Posted in Construction Techniques on July 14, 2005 07:59am

I’ve seen mention on here about lasers etc. on saws, and I’m wondering how much accuracy is actually gained by these sorts of things.

I still think workmanship is mostly dependant on the person running the tool. Some of our grandfathers could have hels 1/64th with a hand saw, where today a lot of folks have a hard time holding 1/8th with a laser sightline. Don’t even get me going on angular accuracy in cuts with Compound Mitre Saws.

I wonder how much of the error on these new tools is because they never get set up right in the first place.

For the craftsmen out there, has your work improved with these toys, or is it simply for speed and ease of use?

 

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  1. csnow | Jul 14, 2005 09:41pm | #1

    "Don't even get me going on angular accuracy in cuts with Compound Mitre Saws."

    The tool I have that comes to mind is a PC CMS with laser line.

    I have it adjusted such that anything between the lines is gone, and I mean exactly. Not half a hair off.  I don't even mark the cut.  I just put the tape right on it, set the laser on the tape marking, pull the tape out of the way, and cut.  No chance even for transfer errors.  I have the precision even to split the marking on the tape if I choose.

    So I guess I'm not sure what you mean by this.  While I admire what the dead men did with their hand tools, I would not want to live as they did. 

    Currently repairing a house built by my carpenter uncle in 1952.  Though it has a few rot problems after 50 years, it's generally overbuilt, and the details show some very fine hand workmanship. Even in the parts that no one can see (like the framing), all the cuts sit flush, and even the notches are perfect. He cut all of the sticks and trim with a handsaw, and he laughs at my newfangled tools.  But hey, even he uses a handheld circular saw today.

    1. Dagwood | Jul 14, 2005 09:49pm | #2

      I guess what I'm saying is that alot of these manufacturers make it sound like their tools will make every cut an accurate one, when in reality, if you don't have a board held square to a fence or don't keep things clean and tuned, you are still going to produce crap.

      A skilled tradesman will make a thing of beauty no mater what is in his toolbox. A hack will make a mess of things no matter how good his tools are.View Image

      1. User avater
        MarkH | Jul 14, 2005 11:48pm | #3

        A good workman never blames his tools.

        Because a good workman usually has good tools.

  2. steve | Jul 15, 2005 07:07pm | #4

    i use a 12 inscms to install crown everyday and the beauty of a powersaw is repeatabilty

    with my dewalt i can trim crown down to a quater of a degree and less than a 64 th in length, with a perfect miter, that would be imposible with a handsaw

    i never use a laser or tape except for rough cuts, final cuts are always done by holding the piece in place and marking, then intuition ie 1/2 a sawblade width, tweek over a 1/2 degree, what ever it takes

    caulking is not a piece of trim



    Edited 7/15/2005 12:11 pm ET by steve

    1. User avater
      jazzdogg | Jul 15, 2005 08:16pm | #5

      "...then intuition..."

      Steve,

      Intuition, or the experience of a seasoned pro?   ; - ) 

       

       -Jazzdogg-

      "Don't ask youself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie

      1. steve | Jul 16, 2005 12:53am | #6

        well both they go togethercaulking is not a piece of trim

  3. 4Lorn1 | Jul 16, 2005 08:03am | #7

    The use of a laser is no more a guarantee of accuracy than a computer driven printer assures the numbers on the cheques are correct. Technology is a tool. Used well they improve accuracy and efficiency. Used poorly they magnify error and waste.

    At least once I have shown that another crew's laser level was off by using a simple, and much less expensive water, level.

    I have seen some of the best work done with the least expensive tools. One boss used to gauge plumb by sighting down a gold watch chain. Water levels, plumb bobs and watch chains operate on basic principles of physics and being so simple they are hard to fool.

  4. User avater
    BossHog | Jul 16, 2005 04:24pm | #8

    What's the difference between the new stuff and the old stuff.

    You could either make good or bad cuts with the old stuff. Same with the new stuff.

    So what's the point? If the tool manufacturers can make their stuff easier to use, I'm all for it.

    I've been on a calendar, but I've never been on time. [Marilyn Monroe]

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