The Framers Forum

I have been wondering if sometime the moulding I use is not square, bottom(which will form the rear of the frame) relative to outside face.

I used to have a morso but now cut with a mitre saw, I am now toying with making foot operated pneumatic clamps, if I did, should I be looking at orientating them vertically or horizontally or does it really make a difference as long as everything is consistent?

I have had a look at videos of some automatic mitre saws (cassesse, brevetti etc) and some hold down vertically and some hold horizontally against a stop.

What do you think the advantages are, if any for each method? What is your preferred method when cutting on a morso and why?

Thanks in advance...

Hold the bottom flat, and do the same on the underpinner

Some frames ar not square, so always hold the bottom flat

I do the same as Steve. I was told to hold the moulding this way around forty five years ago and have never thought to hold it in any other way.

Peter.

The flat surface is your reference and the moulding must be held down against the flat surface to ensure that the mitre is not left open when viewing the front face of the frame. Not all moulding will be completely square between the surface at the back and the surface which is against the fence. I don't know why this is, but it's no big deal, some mouldings are made this way.

You need to apply enough downward presure to prevent the mouling from tipping up as the Morso blade bites into the moulding, otherwise you will get a defective mitre cut and your mitre won't join to the next piece of moulding as a tight, strong and correctly presented mitre.

As said before, when underpinning always hold down on the Morso.
However, if you're using a Hoffmann dovetail router, I suggest holding against the back for the best join.

The consensus is definitely "hold down". I think I have generally been holding against the vertical fence, I will make a change to my technique and see if I can eradicate the odd gap in a corner....

Thanks for all of your input.... It's very much appreciated.