JLC Article

WNYcarpenter

Any of you JLC subscribers recall reading the "Getting Organized For Fast Framing" article...April 2007?

There were a lot of good ideas about getting organized and being efficient, but I'm a little skeptcal about gang cutting rafters/ I joists/ stair stringers etc... I come more from a remodeling/restoration background and gang cutting sometimes causes problems, or ends up wasting material. No one's perfect so if you cut 50 rafters exactly the same you'd better be pretty confident everything is square and parallel. I envision 3/8 in gaps in rafters that are shimmed and nailed.

I've been burnt by slam it up styles that make the framers look good, but are a pain in the ass for everyone else. One picture shows a guy making a plumb cut on 16 rafters ganged together with a chainsaw jig....the precision makes me cringe. Does this approach work without your work looking like it was done by a bunch of beavers?

Joe Carola

It works. I know Tim who wrote the article. How can you be wrong if you cut two rafters and check for fit and once they are checked and fit, you cut the rest. His chainsaw is made for cutting the plumbcuts and the ob=ne he uses cuts just like a circular saw. Go over to JLC and read there he posts a million pictures of his work.

I don't gang cut but I cut hundreds of rafters the same length and they have to fit, how can they not?

__________________
Joe Carola

Mike Finley

Gang cutting is a huge time saver in all aspects of construction and something I try to employ whenever possible.

Maybe what he left out was that he does a little pre-measuring and verifying to make sure where those items are going are going to be within tolerance.

WNYcarpenter

We don't frame nearly as much as some other companies so our efforts aren't concentrated so much on framing efficiency. We want to be efficient of course, but we don't know all the tricks. In restoration, you're more of a problem solver. Cut a couple rafters and if they work on both ends, and in the middle, why not? My boss might think I'm nuts cutting rafters with a chainsaw, but after saving that much time we'll be heros!

KentWhitten

I've seen the ads and seen people swear by them. I personally have never used this method. I have my method that fits close to this, but it's for my personal taste and it is definitely slower than that, but still quite fast. I'm not sure I'll ever get to trying it because I think I'm all done framing.

I don't see why it wouldn't work though. The concept is all there. I too have a hard time picturing the seat cuts and plumb points at the ridge coming in perfect. I know some a-hole inspectors in WA state as I'm sure everyone does, that if there's ever so slight of a gap in your rafter to the ridge or anywhere, they get all woman on you.

__________________
If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place ~Lao Tzu

Custom Cabinetry - Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Kennebunkport, Yarmouth, Falmouth, Cumberland, Ogunquit, Maine

Salmon Falls Cabinetry

WNYcarpenter

I wasn't able to post a reply on the Bastard Roof? thread...I want to thank K2eoj and framerman for your patience

I'm sure any time spent working with you guys would be very educational.

__________________
"I knew I lost my wallet as soon as I threw my pants over the fence". -'lil jarhead bro when asking for a wire transfer...