Got two 4X8 sheets of plywood today at Lowes. Making some stacking shelves for the shop, and had them slice them for me.
Getting them sliced into pieces 11 7/8", figuring about 1/8" for the cut, would give 7 pieces at 11 7/8" and 1 at slightly wider, per sheet. Well, that's always the way it worked before. Not today.
Usually they measure each cut individually, and don't use a stop block. Last time I wound up with one piece at 10 7/8" and one at approx
14", because of doing it this way.So, this time I insisted on them using a stop block. No prob, right? Yeah, right.
I watched the guy measure the first cut, it was right on. I watched him put in the stop block, it was right on. I watched the pieces get cut. No prob. I looked at the pieces after they were cut. I couldn't believe it.
The first sheet went well. The second sheet went well. Then I got to eyballing the pieces. The last cut from the first sheet was about 2 inches narrower than the first 7. OK, I can live with that. Don't know how it happened, but, I can live with it. But, the last cut from the second sheet was only about 3 inches wide. I sorta felt like standing there, using my finger on my lips, and going brrrrrr.
The guy didn't use a clamp on the stop block. He used a spring clamp. The only thing I can figure is, every time he slid the rest of the sheet in place, for another cut, he moved the stop block just a bit. So, now I know to either, let them measure each cut individually, or, if they use a stop block, to have them use a C clamp on it.
I can use all the pieces, with only a minor bit of extra waste. That, and the fact that I was already in a hurry, decided me to just go ahead and take them.
It really amazed me tho. I thought no one was going to screw up using a stop block. Especially since I was right there watching, and seeing that it was done right. But, it's like they say, anything that can be screwed up, will be screwed up, sooner or later. I'm just happy I can use it as is. I'd have hated standing around in there while they cut two new sheets, and too even more time.
I can carry full size sheets in my pickup, but it's a real problem for me anymore, handling a full size sheet, and especially at home, and setting one up to cut. But, I've been thinking that if I could just get the sheets into the truck, no prob from there on. I could get them home, pull them a foot or so out of the truck, and use a saw guide to slice them to size, right on the tailgate. Maybe rest them on a couple of pieces of 2X4, so the blade has clearance.
Oh yeah, the guy that cut for me, well, two guys actually, one was in his 30s, and the other probably somewhere between 25 and 30, no little teenager. Amazing.
JOAT If history repeats itself, I should think we can expect the same thing again.
- Terry Venables
Life just ain't life without good music. - JOAT Web Page Update 25 Sep 2003. Some tunes I like.