The builder I work for does basement window wells out of 6×6 pressure treated. They take too long to put together. (I’ve mentioned this another thread, before.) Every step in the process just eats up time.
We don’t have a shop, or any specialized tools beyond the usual sorta thing. A pile of 6x6s get delivered to site, and then we go at it.
In the past, our foreman would cut them with a chainsaw, but he found that sharpening the chain ate up too much time. Then he switched to a 12″ miter saw, but that requires handling the timbers onto the saw (and then rotating them for a second cut), which is tedious.
I’ve only had to do 5 windows so far, and I made my cuts by making a series of four cuts with a circ saw, then a quick nip with a sawzall. This is not a fast process, with lots of flipping of the material, which isn’t exactly light.
Any smart ideas? I’m wondering if there might be a larger circ saw that would slice through a 6×6 in two cuts. Cut, flip flip, cut, done.
Replies
8.25" circular saw.
or the big 16" Makita circular saw.
Jeff
Buck Construction
Artistry In Carpentry
Pittsburgh Pa
Biff,
I have a Milwaukee 10" sidewinder, nice saw.
Specs below.
http://www.cpomilwaukee.com/saws/circular_saws/8-_and_up/6460.html?ref=froogle6460
KK
Edited 10/12/2008 10:14 pm by coonass
Look up Bigfoot Saws.
You could also make a guide out of steel pipe and use a 12" reciprical saw blade, guided between the steel posts
Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
I don't feel it's healthy to keep your faults bottled up inside me.
Edited 10/12/2008 10:44 pm by xxPaulCPxx
'Big Foot', it's an after market table/guard that attaches to a wormdrive turning it into a 10" blade saw. Lately can only find it sold with a skill saw, about 350.00 a couple years ago. Cuts through 6x6's in two passes. It's great for plating too, set the saw for just over 3" and you can cut top and bottom plates in one pass. Not heavy like the big 16" beam saws, and the tables are complsite now...I've been using one for about 10 years now, well, not the same one, couple dissapeared, the old metal tables used to get bent with rough use, but when you need it it's a wonder. Also cuts the thick TJI type manufactured I joist in one pass, not to mention 4x material
CaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
the big Mikita is about $500 or ou can buy a Mafell for about $2400 both will make quick work of mere 6x6's (if you buy the Mikita make sure you buy the carbide blade.)
we use a 10 " circular saw ....2 cuts
16 inch Mikita one cut!
Check CL - in Detroit there's 2 of the Makita 16" circ saws selling for apprx $130 right now from diff sellers.
JT
that's a great deal. Local White Cap wants $800 - I paid 6 bills on AmazonView Image “Good work costs much more than poor imitation or factory product” – Charles GreeneCaliforniaRemodelingContractor.com
I'm talking about used and looking like they've had a life of cutting - but still very usable.I've seen em new around $579 - actually, I ran into a brand new latest version of that saw for $250 last year sometime - and then decided I didn't really need it too much and sold it for $375 I think...JT
That's definitely the right saw for cutting 6x and similar thicknesses. Everything else takes 2 cuts or more.
by the hour, i like a 7 1/4.....4 cuts with the saw & a handsaw to finishMike Hussein Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Me paying by the hour, I like the 16" saw, since you can just stand there at the horses and cut piece after piece. Helps that I know and work with guy who has one.
Thanks for all the input. Looks like you're in agreement as to the right strategy.
If buying the big makita used make sure you fire it up and make a few cuts to ensure the motor is pulling strong. A crew I worked on would sometimes use the big makita on long deep rips and the combination of large (often dull) blade, 12 amp motor and opporator impatience would have smoke seeping out of the motor housing. The saw seemed to go down hill quickly the more smoke was let out of it. :-)
Beer was created so carpenters wouldn't rule the world.
rent a portable bandsaw, the type plumbers use to cut sewer pipe.
may be an alternative to tracking down a makita monster.
toolman65