Precutting ...good/bad Idea?...kewl Tool

OntarioFramer

A couple framing crews on my jobsite precut all the parts to the walls (outside and inside) including crips, headers, sills before putting in the first nail. Myself, i've always cut for windows and doors when the walls built. Seeing the sight of a huge unorganized pile of lumber brings my mojo down. Have any of the framing guys out there successfully used the precutting technique with a crew of three or less?
Also I tried the dewalt framing saw and loved it. That explains why my skilsaw is on ebay at this very moment (the one w/the new dewalt blade). The dewalt is much lighter and easiest to make cuts especially on the roof. Any thoughts?

Big Dave

We would make all the headers beforehand and then just grab them when you need them but as far as the cripples no. There is just too much of a chance of something not fitting correctly. A crew of three guys needs two nailing the walls together and the third cutting and marking plates, sills, cripples and top plates. This worked the best for us and eliminated alot of confusion.

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jjtt

I have had lumber packages delivered to my shop and precut all of the door and window pieces. At the time we did this, the weather was terrible and I was trying to stay busy while we waited to pour the foundation. It worked really nice and speeded up the framing process on site. The only problem was having to handle the material several times and keep it organized. As long as you know your header width and it is not a complex house it is easily done. Now we just precut trimmers, headers, cripples, sills etc... off of the plans and have them stacked and ready to go. If your framers are good, there shouldn't be any variation between the cuts and the actual dimensions.

Sider' Brian

We use precut decking packages sometimes with no problems.
Anything else I would hesitate to use.

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maj

Hey, this guy posted twice about this.

I posted about the same as jjtt on the other one.I always prebuild everything in the shop, then load it on the trailer and haul it all to the jobsite. I leave it on the trailer till it's needed.

Scott Young

i have been on a four man crew. the layout man lays out the plates. two men stage the studs, and the cut man begins cutting tees, headers, king/jack combos, and corners. after the lay out man finishes the plates, he begins to assemble the cuts. they are staged. the cut man continues to pull lumber and cut to stay ahead of the others.

vtgaetano

I agree with pre-cutting studs, headers, sills, jacks, etc.....cut the cripples when needed I would say it is much faster, although I have built 300 feet of exterior 8' wall with windows every 8' in one day with TWO men.

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nailbanger138

I have found the most efficiency in two man crews. While I detail the other man cuts. I usually pre cut everything with a chop saw but cripples above headers, and I also build all channels, corners and kingstud/trimmers right of the stack. But all same size pieces are stacked together--no "pick up sticks".
This way when you start banging walls thats pretty much all you have to do.

Paulsan

My usual routine goes something like this:

I review the plans and then drive out and check the foundation. After making the necessary corrections on the plans I order the material for the walls and floors.
I arrive with material two or three days prior to my helpers ( who are usually doing the punch out on the last house ).
I layout all plates and floor packages, then cut all joists and wall components.
Crew arrives and we frame and sheet first floor.
I snap lines for reference and cut the roof package while the boys are building walls.
All cut material is clearly marked ( black for 1st flr, red for 2nd etc) and stacked in an organized way, close to the building.
Then we simply insert tab "A" into slot "B" and apply nails.

Organization is the key.
Precutting saves a lot of time.

AMLConstruction

Its faster to precut your header material and window parts. I lay out and cut myself, always about a wall or two ahead of the framers.