I am interested in purchasing what is called a “trim tree”. A trim tree holds trim stock instead of using sawhorses when painting or staining. Usually sold in pairs and is advertised to hold 2500 feet of trim per pair. They can be used in a shop or on the job. They have folding “arms” and are supposedly transported easily. Has anyone used these and would you spend the $260+ per pair? I’ve seen these units advertised in painting trade magazines and thought I would draw on the experiences of other pros. Thanks for your thoughts.
Brian
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I made something similiar to what you're talking about, some extra 2x4's and furring strips, can't seem to find the picture, they don't fold up though. Cost was relatively cheap, probably 50 bucks in material and hour's work
If you don't need them to be portable they seem to work for us and I could post a picture if you're interested.
would I spend $260? depends how bad I needed them and how much I needed them to be portable.
How often are you finishing trim and in what quantities?
Thanks for your response. I would use them on an occasional basis when we paint or finish trim before it is installed. I prefer to finish trim (casings, base, shoe etc.) on saw horses before the carpenter installs. This way we can apply primer, sand and topcoat at waist level. After the install we caulk, fill holes and spray the last topcoat. This way the finish has fewer blems and debris and we're not on our knees sanding. The problem with this approach is storage of wet trim. A "trim tree " from my perspective would alleviate the need for saw-horse drying racks all over the house or basement remodel. My main concern is how well this product is constructed. If it doesn't work it ain't worth $10 let alone $260. I have also constructed my own wooden versions but they can't hold the linear feet that the advertised model can. Any thoughts or am I all wet?
Thanks
I've gotten those cheap metal sawhorse brackets before and made some temporary sets. I use the typical legs, but make 'em longer than normal so they're up higher. (Maybe 32" off the floor)For the horizontal piece I use a 12' 2X4 so I have plenty of space. I only stick the brackets on with a couple of screws, so they knock down easily.
It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
The wood tree I made theoretically could hold about 1150 linear feet, that would be based on number of 16's of 2 1/4" or 3 1/2" trim, either way our needs are nut usually that great all at once.
They are large and take up storage space in the shop when not in use so I like the idea of the movable and storable metal pre-fab units.
I have also thought of using metal shelf standards on the wall, with enough wall space that would be eaisily collapsable and relatively cheap. I don't what your shop is like, if we ever manage to clear enough space on a wall to make that option work, it quickly get's covered. In a dedicated paint booth I could see it working rather well
Yeah, after several years of fighting homemeade plywood racks on the wall I finially did just that, Cag.
My spray room is 8x13 with the door on one end, the exhaust fan opposite and windows along one sidewall. Just a few months ago I said "enough!", went down to the lumber yard and bought all the 5' wall standards they had and all their 12" and 14" brackets and installed them on the side walls in about an hour (with drywall screws).
I spray all my base. casing, sills, whatever on a pair of tall narrow sawhorses in the middle of the room, then place the wet stock on these brackets. I think I could easilly spray and dry 1,000 lineal feet at a time. And when I'm spraying cabinets or doors I can remove the brackets completely and have the entire room to work in.
I got a nice surprise when the monthly bill from the lumber yard came, too. I remember thinking at the time "I'm not going to look at the price of these things, I don't care if it's a few hundred bucks, I'm doing it". I think those wall standards were a couple bucks each, as were the brackets. I'm sure I don't have 100 bucks in the entire thing.
The only thing that I'm unhappy about is that it took me this long to do it.
Be easy enough to mount some of these standards to 2x4s, like Mongo said, with hinges holding the 2x4s together at the top and clothsline to keep the legs from spreading too far. Be very easy to transport and store.TIPI,TIPI,TIPI!
Ah,.... Yer camera not workin ther Jim?
Tim
Im afraid Ive got a confession.
I dont have any, but I bet ya guessed that didnt ya?
Ive got a friend . Well hes not that good a friend as it turns out.
He built a folding A frame from four studs to make a pair from used door hinges. So thats four two bys that go on the ladder rack. He used rips of 5/8s decking to make the shelfs attached to the A frame and screws it on laying flat to both. They are numbered and the holes match up. He made a cross from two 1x4s and put a bolt in the middle and it goes on the ladder rack. They screw to the Aframes standing up.
The only problem I see with them is he wont let me borrow them. They are very portable and we have set them up out side and inside .
Tim
a couple of clean pallets work for me...
I use hinged 2x4s with 20p nails set every couple inches on the 1-1/2" edge. Been using the same ones for over 10 years now.
Trim, clapboards...they hold it all. They transport easy, are easy set up and knock down, and they've yet to walk off a job.
I've put them on sawhorses for horizontal, leaned them against a wall for vertical, or rotated them about the hinge for a freestanding "A" frame.
At times I have clamped them in sawhorse brackets. Nails "UP" for a trim or siding holding rack, and nails "DOWN" for a long sawhorse platform for cutting sheetgoods or other items.
Could you send a pic? That would be very helpful. Thanks.
Exactly ! he knows the rules too . <G>
Tim
I built some stacking racks for drying window sash. They work fine for trim, too -- anything up to about 2" thick.
-- J.S.