hello woodworkers, I’m Bo and I am a carpenter. Been an employee for 5 years ( I’m 29) and just started my own business in Tahoe, CA. Realizing how much I miss the nice tools and money sense of my old employers so I ‘m looking for advice ( never hurts to ask) I have some questions I would appreciate some professional feedback on. First, portable jointer? I haven’t thought this much about a tool since my first tablesaw! never seen one and need to know if anyone has had any luck with the little things?Don’t have much room for a shop and need to be portable for
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I havent had any luck with portable jointers I have tried a cheap craftsman and the delta version, but the beds are just to short to really be of any use on anything longer then a few feet.
It may sound old fashioned, but I keep a Record jack plane (and a couple block planes) with me all the time. I also have one of their portable bench clamps that I clamp on to anything solid. A little practice with the plane, and a good sharp edge will give you very flat smooth surfaces. And you have all the convience of a cordless tool. :)
i agree with justus a jointer plane can do anything a jointer can.a buddy of mine went to a school auction and picked up a mid size heavy one with agood size bed .with a little tlc it cuts as good as new.they might be worth checking out .one thing the price was right.
framer
I get by with straight linning with a skil saw and a straight edge , then a hand power plane to clean it up. I dont have the room in my truck for anything else. I would buy a long bed jointer if I was going to buy one though with casters. Four wheeler trailer with a mesh ramp would do the trick.
Tim Mooney
Good tips gentlemen. I love a sharp block plane as much as anyone, only problem is time, getting a perfectly sq. edge for a glue up, and hitting stubborn grain. To straighten boards my Dad sent me these tablesaw clamps that tighten on to a straight-edge, and then can clamp on to a board that needs to straightend. It a very valuable tool and very cheap to boot!! That gets my stock nice and pretty, just need that sq. glassy finish of a jointer! looks like I need to bite the bullet ! Nobody has heard of the book of means huh? I understand it is a cost book for nearly everything you encounter in the carpentry trade. Sq. ft. for a 2 story timberframe to casing and jambing a 3'-4' window. I like the idea, but if I am the only one using it.....
Thanks again, bo.
I saw a pretty good estimating book in HD yesterday, it had many tables and rate conversions for your part of the country and such, it seemed pretty right on to me. There was a long thread about pricing your work in the buisness forum. And the subject has come up several times. Try doing a search.
I thought about picking up the est guide I saw, but as I looked through it and decided that all the estimates were reasonable, I decided that I didn't need it. If all the prices were far off what I was charging, then I would have gotten it. as it was it just confirmed to me that I was pretty close. Now the question is How did I learn to price my work? I don't know.
Justus