JAWHORSE

[kennyd]

Thanks for the info. I've been lusting after a rail saw to breakdown sheet goods and other tasks. I'm waiting for the Missus to come up with a "honey-do" project that will justify my purchasing one.

Steve

Another word. Expensive.

However, I think they may have come down in price since Makita and Dewalt have entered the fray.

Steve

The Festool is $100 over the Makita. Not enough to push me away, but I'm just not planning on using it a whole lot. At least not in the foreseeable future.

I like Makita tools a whole bunch. The only ones that have been retired from my arsenal are the 12V drill and saw. The rest are still humming away. Not bad stuff for the dough.

I'm still up in air on the Makita versus Festool track saw. I have a Makita LS1013L SCMS that suits my needs, although I wouldn't give it a A+ for dust collection.

Steve

Not so you'd notice However, the Dewalt and Makita are similarly priced, when you figure in the rails and blades. But yeah, the green and black is quite spendy. I've only regretted one purchase--not because it was a bad product (it's not) but just because I almost never use it.

Here is another alternative that is only $99.00 plus a circular saw: Portable Panel Saw System 2.0 at Penn State Industries

I have the older version-actually like it better because I was able to put 1/4" hardboard on the bottom to act as kerf guide. The Makita saw I have mounted to the fixture is permanent so it's always adjusted. I bought this years ago before anybody ever even herd of Festool...But I'd be lying if I said that I have never lusted for one!

Here is two pictures from when I recently built my sandblast cabinet, I used it to cut the odd angle pieces of the lower funnel.

 

[jake98]

You can make a good saw guide with a 3/4 x 6" or so plywood rip, and a thinner wider one beneath. On your first cut you cut the thinner one off to the saw base size. After that you place that cut edge where you want the cut, and it helps hold down the splintering. I have two, one long, one shorter.

 

[varmint]

Paul: in your series of pics, I notice what seems to be a safety cap on your welding gas tank... but since the gauge set still could be knocked off, is what I think is the safety cap really gonna work? Or, what is that thing?

 

[jeffinsgf]

I'll add another voice to the chorus of satisfied Jawhorse owners. I just love mine. I'm a really crappy welder, but if everything is held just right, and all I have to worry about is running a bead, I can get 'er done. The Jawhorse welding attachment let's me configure my components exactly as I need them.

Last spring I built quite a few bean frames and trellises for the garden from cedar saplings. I've found they last a lot longer if I peel the bark off. I was amazed at how stable the Jawhorse was, with the log jaws on, holding 7 and 8 foot long cedar saplings with me using a drawknife on the bark.

Guys, the woodworking industry is where I've made my living for the last 30+ years. I've got every gizmo and gadget known to man. This is the most used work holding device in my shop, for woodworking, metalworking or any kinda working.

Without taking the discussion political, it's a shame the Aussie company that invented it couldn't get it off the ground before the patent ran out. "Rockwell" has done a good job of taking the design, tweaking it a little, and getting it built at a marketable price (unfortuantely, in China).

 

[varmint]

I haven't used the Makita saw/rail, but I did get to use the Festool setup, complete with their table. That rig might be costly, but when a contractor buddy and I built our new kitchen cabinets, we cut up a lot of expensive baltic birch plywood, and the Festool made the job quick, no stress, and the pieces were just perfect. Of course, you still have to measure, but the saw worked as advertised. Dust collection is top notch, too. I wish I could justify owning one. Used my friend's Festool Domino setup on that job, too, and that's another fine, precision tool for woodworking. But, it's priced for professionals. I should say I am not quite so impressed with their sanders.

 

[4shorts]

Paul: in your series of pics, I notice what seems to be a safety cap on your welding gas tank... but since the gauge set still could be knocked off, is what I think is the safety cap really gonna work? Or, what is that thing?

This is the new type of gas bottle. Gone are the screw on metal caps. The new protector is there to protect the valve during transporting but does nothing to protect the regulators in the shop. I like this system way better. There is no more unscrewing the valve to get pressure. Now you just pull up on a leaver to open the gas flow. It's nice to know that when I post this stuff people are actually looking. :thumbsup:

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

I found another good use for the jawhorse today. I was scraping the gasket off an oil pan. I was working on the work bench and the pan was hard to hold on to and moving all over the place. I got out the jawhorse and clamped the pan in it. What a difference that made. Being able to use 2 hands on the scraper made the job a whole lot easier. I love this thing.
Bill

 

[4shorts]

I found another good use for the jawhorse today. I was scraping the gasket off an oil pan. I was working on the work bench and the pan was hard to hold on to and moving all over the place. I got out the jawhorse and clamped the pan in it. What a difference that made. Being able to use 2 hands on the scraper made the job a whole lot easier. I love this thing.
Bill

Cool. I knew you would :thumbsup:

 

[Pit Man]

I use my jaw horse with the log jaws to cut firewood.
Saves my back from bending over all the time.
You can anchor the jaw horse to the ground if it's unstable.
It's been well worth the money.

 

[Johnbro]

I haven't used the Makita saw/rail, but I did get to use the Festool setup, complete with their table. That rig might be costly, but when a contractor buddy and I built our new kitchen cabinets, we cut up a lot of expensive baltic birch plywood, and the Festool made the job quick, no stress, and the pieces were just perfect. Of course, you still have to measure, but the saw worked as advertised. Dust collection is top notch, too. I wish I could justify owning one. Used my friend's Festool Domino setup on that job, too, and that's another fine, precision tool for woodworking. But, it's priced for professionals. I should say I am not quite so impressed with their sanders.

Interesting...I would say it's the sanders that blow most people away. Have you tried the RO150 (Rotex)? It has virtually 100% dust collection, can be as aggressive as a belt sander or as delicate as a fine finish sander, can even be used for buffing and polishing your car. Plus the Festool sandpapers are hands down the best I've ever used.