Daler issues

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Daveyo
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Daler issues

Post by Daveyo »

Ok I've started using Daler for mounts rather than my usual budget type board and Im finding it a massive pain to cut... my mount cutter is a very old keencut has no depth of cut adjustment and the blade takes two passes or doesn't even cut through the board at all!
It seems the thickness of the board is the issue.
Any suggestions?
I'm looking at a different mount cutter as I want to start cutting larger mounts but it's really annoying.... I've just been cutting double mounts ( ive always taped one inside
the other to get perfect results) and its a nightmare.
Any suggestions,? I can lower the blade slightly but I then end up.with over cuts...... :head:
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Re: Daler issues

Post by poliopete »

Perhaps it's time to upgrade to a better cutter.
It could be a good investment if it improves efficiency.
Daveyo
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Re: Daler issues

Post by Daveyo »

I quite agree... it became obsolete 22 years ago!
Works great still but has an issue with Daler!
I've been using it 27 years and it was second hand then..
It must be like me cheap......
Pretty annoying when your trying to crack on.. d
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Re: Daler issues

Post by Not your average framer »

Ah...No depth of cut adjustment! You must be talking about the Keencut Ace, or the smaller version called the Keencut Dart. Sadly even the owners handbook does not make it clear how to adjust the depth of cut, but you can adjust the deoth of cut, it's just that nobody bothers to tell you this. The little black knob on the chrome plated stalk has it travel limited by a black allen key cap head screw, which is locked in place with a threaded nut. Loosening the nut enables you to screw the cap head in, or out to adjust how far the black knob can be pushed over to propel the tip of the blade into the mountboard.

Many years ago, I bought a secondhand Keencut Dart, as you will probably know these mountcutters were designed to use the 1991 pattern stanley knife blades. At the time these mountcutters were designed most framers were using the standard neutral pH boards, which were quite soft, but the conservation grade boards most of us now use are much dense and the very much more pointed tip of the Stanley knife blades flex a little too much and produce hooked cuts when use the more dense blades we now use,

My understanding is that these mountcutters were originally designed in perhaps about the 1980's and a lot has changed since then, but I was able to fit a normal rectangular mount cutting blade into my Keencut Dart and re=adjust the depth of cut so that I could use the cutter on the denser modern boards, but you do need the use some really stiff blades. The less stiff blades like the Personna blades are much too flexible and will still tend to produce hooked cuts.

Just about all the early Keencut mountcutter such as the Dart, Ace and Laser, are just about impossible to obtain spares for, so it may be quite a good move to consider something more modern, if that's what you are thinking.
Mark Lacey

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Daveyo
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Re: Daler issues

Post by Daveyo »

Thanks for the detailed reply... I don't think there is any adjustment as I don't think it's the models you suggest?
Maybe it's the laser??
Anyway makes sense what you say about the boards....
Not an issue really as I can change board supplier + buy the bigger mount cutter my mates selling... his isn't quite as old.... :shock:
D
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Steve N
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Re: Daler issues

Post by Steve N »

On my Keencut Dart, which I still have in the workshop, the adjustment screw is shown in this photo
Adjustment Keencut Dart.jpg
Adjustment Keencut Dart.jpg (470.27 KiB) Viewed 5145 times
Just a thought, have you tried a new blade
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Daveyo
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Re: Daler issues

Post by Daveyo »

Thanks again for your reply Steve, that's not the machine I have.
Mine has a different blade cahnging system to that and to me if you leave the blade out longer it changes the angle slightly but does seem to overcut more when using the stops.... a friends got a fletcher 2100 for sale which is slightly younger than my current keencut.... trouble is I know bugger all about the machine so need to learn how to use it... :?
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Steve N
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Re: Daler issues

Post by Steve N »

When you change the depth of the blade, it will have an effect on the stops, if you are going to use daler, then re-calibrate the machine for that board. If I was you, buy the Fletcher, they are good machine
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Re: Daler issues

Post by Daveyo »

Thats good to know.... will have it next weekend BUT i do like my little Keen cut machine.
Steve, whilst Ive got your attention would you mind me asking your thoughts on underpinners?
I have got the chance of the little bench mounted morso but cant find much info on it.
Would you recommend a paricular underpinner to start out with.....?
I was going to go foot operated to start and then maybe up grade to compressed air later...
Thans again your help is much appreciated.
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Steve N
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Re: Daler issues

Post by Steve N »

I don't know anything about Morso underpinners, but I would go for a Cassese personally, here one on eBay, but once you atart using hard woods , oak, ask ramin, you will want to move up to Pneumatic one

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CASSESE-CS79 ... 3054399817

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pro-Turner-P ... 2957309232
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Re: Daler issues

Post by David McCormack »

Just jumping in on this thread :D

I think Mr.Framey uses a morso underpinner....
Mr.Framey wrote: It's the old morso underpinner I have.
See this thread https://www.theframersforum.com/viewtop ... =6&t=16772

Also, have you seen this underpinner for sale: https://www.theframersforum.com/viewtop ... =7&t=16800

And it's in the West Midlands.....
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Re: Daler issues

Post by Not your average framer »

Hi Steve,

That's interesting, my Keencut Dart did not look like that. Yours looks quite modern in comparison to mine. Mine had a cicular blade holder, with the blade holder mounted at an angle, so that as you turned the blade holder from one position to the other the blade would either produce a 45 degree bevel cut, or a 90 degree straight cut. They must have changed the design between yours and mine, without seeing any reason to change the model name.
Mark Lacey

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Steve N
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Re: Daler issues

Post by Steve N »

Hi Mark, I got mine around 1990 -1991,it has a separate 90 degree cutter, that you have to fit on so you can cut the blank to size, the biggest mount I can cut is 50cm
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Re: Daler issues

Post by Daveyo »

Mines also with the round style cutter head... spins around for straight cut or mitre..
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Re: Daler issues

Post by Not your average framer »

If you were quite happy with such an old style mount cutter, then maybe sometime secondhand, but not so old might be the way to go. If nothing else, it should save the some money and there's no shortage of decent secondhand equipment.
Mark Lacey

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