Mitre own or chop service

[Ceebee]

I have a business plan for mounting/selling my own work combined with small scale framing for local artists/photographers (I know, me and hundreds of others). As a start up I dont want to rush in in case things go awry. My aim is to have Morso/keencut/good underpinner but I dont want to spread finances too thinly (I have access to about 6k if needed) and want to stat small.
Enough background here's the question. Would members recommend a mitre saw (nobex ?) and guillotine - Axminster have good reviews for their oem model- at around £300 or would you buy to order using a chop service ? Obviously orders will be small at first so chop could cope but buying equipment would let me make mistakes on low volumes so I am better for larger volumes.
Help appreciated.

CJB

[Keadyart]

Ceebee,
i reckon you would be better taking your £300(for noblex)adding a little more to it and buying a good second hand Morso guillotine.
All the best
Brian

P.S. I have never used a noblex saw.but my vote would be Morso everytime.And if things don't work out, sell the morso again at the same price you bought it
or more,they last for decades and always hold their price

[framemaker]

I agree totally with Keadyart,

I think the argument that the Morso holds its value so well is true, and not much more needs to be said. But I think there is a world of difference between a Morso and a hand mitre saw/trimmer, in accuracy, convenience, speed, and quality.

I even think you would be better just ordering chop for the start of your venture.

I'm also in the Midlands, If its any help your welcome to come over to my workshop one day and have a go on a morso/ultimat/etc.

[David]

As above, if you are serious you will need a basic set of professional equipment. It will give you a quality job in a reasonable time, otherwise any framing will just take too long. Start by getting the best you can otherwise you will only have to replace the hobby tools. It is possible to do very good quality framing with hobby equipment but it takes too long to be viable as a business. Generally framing equpment can last a long time and hold its value if looked after.

As for chop or lengths, we do both. I like to offer a wide range but do not have the space or capital to hold everything in stock. So I work to the 80/20 rule. The top 20%-30% of mouldings, or there abouts, and anything requireing more than 2 or 4 lengths we buy in lengths the rest is done on chop. If you don't want to go to the Morso at present then a chop service would be a good start. No cutting and no wastage or storage to worry about. I use Nielsen - very good ali range, and Larson Juhl (Arqadia) for chop, good quality moulding, cutting and quick reliable service. Remember to account for delivery charges if not meeting the minimum for free delivery.

Good luck.

David.

[Ricky]

Ceebee,Check This out
Its Just What You Need
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Picture-Framing-E ... 20b54dc239

[Ceebee]

Thanks for the suggestions , 2 to watch now;
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/MORSO-Mitre-Guill ... 0588884705?
pt=UK_Crafts_FramingMatting_EH&hash=item2a0befb2e1#ht_500wt_1156

[Custard]

If you use a Nobex before long you'll discover shooting boards. Then you'll make one, then you'll make a better one. Then you'll buy a better shooting board plane, then you'll buy the proper equipment to sharpen the blades on your shooting board plane. Then you'll decide that shooting boards aren't the best way after all of finishing off a Nobex mitre, and that disc sanders are actually a better bet. You'll buy a cheap disc sander, discover it's not that accurate, and then buy a bigger one with a cast iron tilting table. Then you'll invest in an aftermarket mitre fence for the disc sander.

And so on and so on.

If you'd just got a Morso in the first place you wouldn't have wasted a lot of time, money, and materials on the epic saga that is trying to cut consistently tight mitres with a Nobex!

My advice is simple. Use a chop service then after a while get a Morso. Everything else is just a diversion.

[Roboframer]

before long you'll discover shooting boards. Then you'll make one, then you'll make a better one. Then you'll buy a better shooting board plane, then you'll buy the proper equipment to sharpen the blades on your shooting board plane. Then you'll decide that shooting boards aren't the best way after all of finishing off a Nobex mitre, and that disc sanders are actually a better bet. You'll buy a cheap disc sander, discover it's not that accurate, and then buy a bigger one with a cast iron tilting table. Then you'll invest in an aftermarket mitre fence for the disc sander.

I liked that!

It reminded me of this .....





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