From FHB – Opinions on Jambmaster Jig?
Hey guys, I’m looking for opinions on this jig made to elimate the need for shimming pre-hungs (or regular doors I suppose) – I don’t know the price yet, but I’m wondering if it’s worth looking into…thoughts?
Justin Fink – FHB Editorial
Replies
Interesting concept. I'd like to hear a hands on reveiw. If it really set up plumb/square in 7 minutes start to finish I would consider it.
Looks expensive.
If you have any poo, fling it now.
I'd like to see it in action, too.
I wonder if it works on exterior jambs, as well as other heavier than normal jambs.
And I'd really like to know the price.
Justin - If you don't shim them, what holds the jamb in place once you remove the jig? The casing?
I'd bet most production trim carpenters figure 1hr to hang, case and install hardware on a prehung using (dry) shims. That would include messing around with bad framing, drywall extending into the opening, trimming cheap jambs to proper length, mortising for strike plate...
So what the heck is so extraordinary about just getting the thing swinging in "average 7 minutes"?
I'm skeptical.
Tipi, Tipi, Tipi!
http://www.asmallwoodworkingcompany.com
I looked at the whole site, instructions for use and all.
It is apparently a kingsized router fixture that enables you to "pre-shim" a rough opening with enough precision so that a prehung door (or just a frame) can be installed, shim free.
Blocks of wood, maybe sized about 1/2 x 1-1/2 x 4-3/8, are hot-melt-glued to the RO jambs at each of the plate points, then zipped off with the template-collar-fixtured router.
The faces of the router-trimmed blocks are all in alignment, plumb each side, and spaced correctly apart, side-to-side.
Let's say the doorshop operation that supplies your interior prehungs makes all your 2/6 units with a frame width of 31-1/2". After "preshimming" a RO for one of the 2/6 doors, the blocks have their faces spaced 31-1/2" apart.
One of the photos in the site shows a machined block that started off on a badly twisted trimmer stud, and its shape goes from zero on one side to what looks like about 1/2" on the other.
Interesting concept. If I made my living doing trim carpentry, it might pay to have a rig like this.
Justin,
Looks cool as we install all our own doors. But I always have to wonder on jigs like this...how much and is it worth it? If its like $200. or so, it'll cost too much.
These are always the tools I'd love to rent for a job (two-three days) and then I decide if I want one for my own or not.
Mike
Thanks for all the feedback guys, I'm going to talk to the company and find out the price and maybe have them send one to our office so we can try it out. Just wanted to get a first round of opinions from the breaktimers. Thanks again.Justin Fink - FHB Editorial
One thing I have a Q about is...
Does this thing have the capability to do prehung doors?
and does it allow for corrections that may need to be done for prehungs that were pre-butchered?
When jambs are straight and flat and hinges are consistantly mortised and Margins are all the same and the door is flat and the hinge mortises are not beveled because the door is beveled on both edges.......
....this thing probably does a quick and professional job.
but door hanging in my experience usually requires a "bag of tricks"
production door hangers will probably be the market for this tool, but I don't see much efficient use for it in residential work.
Mr. T.
"My sincere view is that the commitment of our forces to this fight was done with a casualness and swagger that are the special province of those who have never had to execute these missions - or bury the results." - Retired Marine Lt. Gen. Gregory Newbold.
I think one of it's main intents is pre-hungs from what I have gathered in discussions with it's developer. The more I think about it, the better an idea it seems to be for hanging split jamb doors because you won't have all the problems of screwing around with shims that get covered by the casing. In any case, I'm having the developer send me one of the kits and we're going to give it a whirl. I'll post what we find out as soon as I know.Justin Fink - FHB Editorial