What about cutting off the lumber pile? Let that act as your work station?
apprentice having trouble cutting accurately
Hi everyone, i'm new to this site and am have been a carpenter apprentice for around 7 months... sorry for such a elementary question but right now we're doing form work and most of my 2X4 cuts have been coming out 1/16"-1/8" short and i've been taking some serious heat from my journeyman at work because of it...
the saw we're using is the worm-drive mag77... what i'm having trouble with is the blade being on the left-side of the motor. when i cut 2X4's, i'll make my measurement, square it, then cut it and the way we cut it at work is with the 2X on our left foot w/our right foot back.
so if i make my measurement from left to right, i can see my cut-line (when i cut) since the blade is on the left-side of the motor, but then the right side of the lumber is just too long hanging off of my left foot... naturally i want the smaller piece to fall off on the right when i cut, but when i'm cutting 6" blocks that means i can't see my cut-line or i'll end up cutting the block 1/8" or so short...
i hope what i wrote is understandable because i'm having trouble describing my problem lol... basically, the blade is on the left and in order to see the cut-line, the line has to be on the left side of the blade... so when i cut off of my left foot, the lumber always comes out short...
if we had saw-horses or a table it would be easy but at work, everything is about production and we cut fast, consistent, and off of our foot... the journeyman i work with gives me trouble because of my inaccurate cutting but when i ask for help he just tells me to go cut it and doesn't offer any advice...
thanks for any help and i really hope what i wrote makes sense since it was hard to describe my problem
the saw we're using is the worm-drive mag77... what i'm having trouble with is the blade being on the left-side of the motor. when i cut 2X4's, i'll make my measurement, square it, then cut it and the way we cut it at work is with the 2X on our left foot w/our right foot back.
so if i make my measurement from left to right, i can see my cut-line (when i cut) since the blade is on the left-side of the motor, but then the right side of the lumber is just too long hanging off of my left foot... naturally i want the smaller piece to fall off on the right when i cut, but when i'm cutting 6" blocks that means i can't see my cut-line or i'll end up cutting the block 1/8" or so short...
i hope what i wrote is understandable because i'm having trouble describing my problem lol... basically, the blade is on the left and in order to see the cut-line, the line has to be on the left side of the blade... so when i cut off of my left foot, the lumber always comes out short...
if we had saw-horses or a table it would be easy but at work, everything is about production and we cut fast, consistent, and off of our foot... the journeyman i work with gives me trouble because of my inaccurate cutting but when i ask for help he just tells me to go cut it and doesn't offer any advice...
thanks for any help and i really hope what i wrote makes sense since it was hard to describe my problem
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im not a carpenter by trade but i wish i had a good teacher take me on when i was younger.all i can tell ya is to get some 2xs and practice your cutting.if it needs work it needs work.hang in there man its only a saw it goes wherever YOU want it to go.
You have to learn to cut without seeing the blade on the line.
In other words learn how thick your blade's kerf is so you can cut on the wrong side of the line and have it still be right. Make sense?
In other words learn how thick your blade's kerf is so you can cut on the wrong side of the line and have it still be right. Make sense?
Might be time to buy your own saw? You gotta invest in yourself right?
If I am not mistaken, people who are serious about learning the trades are welcome here too.Uh this is ContractorTalk, not newbie central, come back in 10-20 years
That's bull**** dude.Uh this is ContractorTalk, not newbie central, come back in 10-20 years
You might want to find an employer that teaches there employees some basic skills before throwing them in the trenches.
Have you asked for help? If some one aks for help I am more than willing to show them on site. Other than the person you allreday asked? like another apprentice?
Are you left handed?
Have you asked for help? If some one aks for help I am more than willing to show them on site. Other than the person you allreday asked? like another apprentice?
Are you left handed?
Knock yourselves out over a kid that cant figure out how to cut a piece of wood, pfft. Whatever. I rebuilt my first automatic trans when I was 17, first engine when I was 15. Pet the poor youth of today, whatever. Seriously....
cut on the opposite side. you should be able to cut with both hands. keep the 2x on your right foot, cut w/ your left so you could see the blade . the idea of working off the pile is good as well. anyhow, you should be able to work like a beast when doing form work. when you become a journeyman, remember this thread, and have your apprentice use sawhorses..Overall, show up on time every day, keep quiet, be humble and stick it out. some days will suck, but remember, the greatest thing about construction is that no job site or situation is forever. good luck.
Most blades eat up an 1/8th of an inch when cutting. Just mark it 5 1/8th" instead of 5" and cut on the other side of the line.
This is contractors talk not Mechanics Talk come back in 10-20 yearsKnock yourselves out over a kid that cant figure out how to cut a piece of wood, pfft. Whatever. I rebuilt my first automatic trans when I was 17, first engine when I was 15. Pet the poor youth of today, whatever. Seriously....
You have to learn to cut without seeing the blade on the line.
In other words learn how thick your blade's kerf is so you can cut on the wrong side of the line and have it still be right. Make sense?
likeke34, welcome to the site
I agree with Greg, I do the same thing. For me as long as I see the front of the blade I can tell where I'm at. I guess it may take a little practice, I'm sure you'll get it though:thumbup:
Dave
I understand your difficulty. I have the same saw, it's great. So, if you can see the line, no problem. If you need to cut on the wrong side of the line, I can think of two solutions.
One is you will get better at it as time goes on. The other is to add the thickness of the saw blade to your measurement, say 1/8", so now you can cut seeing the line.
Best solution is use a chop saw for repeated small pieces.
An added NOTE - never wire back that saw guard !!!!!!!!!!
One is you will get better at it as time goes on. The other is to add the thickness of the saw blade to your measurement, say 1/8", so now you can cut seeing the line.
Best solution is use a chop saw for repeated small pieces.
An added NOTE - never wire back that saw guard !!!!!!!!!!
It just sounds like you are simply trying to cut on the line. You need to account for blade width.
That's the Christmas Spirit :thumbsup:Knock yourselves out over a kid that cant figure out how to cut a piece of wood, pfft. Whatever. I rebuilt my first automatic trans when I was 17, first engine when I was 15. Pet the poor youth of today, whatever. Seriously....
Cut on the right side of the line, or look at the front of the blade
Knock yourselves out over a kid that cant figure out how to cut a piece of wood, pfft. Whatever. I rebuilt my first automatic trans when I was 17, first engine when I was 15. Pet the poor youth of today, whatever. Seriously....
This type of behavior will not be tolerated here.Uh this is ContractorTalk, not newbie central, come back in 10-20 years
I will speak for myself and the rest of the moderating team and say that thus is the perfect place for young guys to come and ask questions about their trade. The majority of the membership is committed to passing on not only knowledge of the mechanics of their trade but also how to thrive in it.
That is what we are here for and stand for. And for those that have opposite views, your toxic comments will have you banned.
Accounting for your blade thickness and cutting on the wrong side of the line sounds like a waste of time to me. If I need to cut a bunch of six inch blocks fast, I hold my tape in my left hand, mark 6" by scribing the end of my hook, then I hold my tape on six inches plus a 32'nd and scribe the end of my hook again, then I just keep doing that on the same 2 x 4, then I cut all of them. I don't need to use a square either, with practice you can eyeball square cuts on a 2 x 4 or 2 x 6.
But you should be able to make your cut accurate on either side of the line. I don't see where your problem is, I think I'd have to see what you are doing. Are you sure you're not just forgetting what side of the line you're supposed to cut on? That's a common mistake for newbies, they just forget what side of the line to cut.
But you should be able to make your cut accurate on either side of the line. I don't see where your problem is, I think I'd have to see what you are doing. Are you sure you're not just forgetting what side of the line you're supposed to cut on? That's a common mistake for newbies, they just forget what side of the line to cut.
The reason I'm any good at contracting is some guys with building smarts didn't think it beneath them to stop what they were doing for a moment and pass along some of what they know to me.:notworthy I admire and commend likeke34 for the courage to say "I'm messing up can you help me":thumbsup:You got the rite attitude kid keep it up!Knock yourselves out over a kid that cant figure out how to cut a piece of wood, pfft. Whatever. I rebuilt my first automatic trans when I was 17, first engine when I was 15. Pet the poor youth of today, whatever. Seriously....
Oh yeah, if I have a lot of cuts to do I usually set up a chop saw, much more accurate:thumbup:
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