how do you chaps cut plinths?i use a worx handy cut at minute but i am investing in a mafell ksp40 plunge saw soon and wanted to know if any of you use a plunge saw to do the job?ive seen kitchen fitters use them all the time well festool ones so whats the best way of doing the job ie on a table , floor supported on blocks etc ill also be using it to cut floors back and doors etc
Generally I never cut them as I feel its a job for the kitchen fitter, I mean you wouldn't ask a painter to install your flooring would you. However I suppose if you're confident then theres a buck to be made try searching for the Crain Toe Kick saw its what they use in America, I've seen them online not very expensive fully height adjustable and its exactly what its designed for the guys on the TFP swear by it. Plus theres no issue with power as it will work off a 110v transformer just gotta change the plug and get a transformer if you haven't already got one.
So you just leave them off for your client to fix? How about doors, you don't trim them either? In our book, as floor fitters, it is all part of the service.
I can see the argument about it being a job for a joiner especially if the new floor covering isn't wood. I'm happy about many fitters not doing alterations as it gives me an advantage because I do and I charge for it. The customer still wins as I'm more convenient than getting a joiner. I know I've won some jobs as I give a more comprehensive service. If a customer is getting a new kitchen I sometimes advise what clearance should be left and I pop the plinths on afterwards. In most cases the plinths don't need to be airtight at the top anyway.
if kitchen fitters are on site then i get them to cut them as they can get a better finish but if not then i trim them as i dont think its professional leaving them off
the same here its extra money and it saves the customer getting a chippy in.also it doesnt take to long and if you cut the tops of the plinths then it wont show if its slightly out
Just to clarify I don't do it cause I'm not confident I can do as good a job as a joiner or carpenter its what they trained to do for however many years its in their job description not mine. Flooring is my field of expertise and has been a family trade since the birth of Lino in 1800 and whatever the date was. My father has a library of works going back to the 1800's when my great great great grandfather and his brothers started in the trade, in this portfolio there is no mention of doors ever having to be cut by them. My family have made a living out of this trade for many years without having to do door trimming or plinth trimming. Wood You Like don't shoot someone down just cause they don't do something you do obviously you specilise in Wood so its something you would easily be able to do as you work with wood everyday. Me I don't do wood floors, before you shoot someone down think there may be a reason they don't and yes there is, I once tried it on an oak door as the shop said you'll have to cut it I expressed my concerns and all I got was get on with it. So I did and a chunk came out off the face of the door, told the customer who went ballistic at me called the shop ranting and raving how I'd cocked up his door. Fair play I had and it cost me £950 to replace, so lesson learned don't you think. And like my father said to me I told you before don't touch or do something you wouldn't normally do, cause the minute you do you become liable for it. End of.
My reply was based on the original question and your reply. Yes, we do specialise in wooden floors, but the question from Dazza does not indicate what type of flooring it concerns. Your reply, specially the part on "would you ask a painter...", prompted my style of replying - I don't know and cannot read minds what type of flooring you normally do, plus I know of plenty of carpet and other style of floor covering fitters who do do extra bits for a client. And some don't, so we are frequently asked to please cut the doors to new size after carpet fitters have not even taken the trouble to remove the doors in other rooms and leave the clients with a newly fitted carpet but not being able to close the door! Now is that what you call service?
Well I can assure you thats not me I always mark the door using the material and a 2mm shim so guys like you or carpenters know exactly where they need to be cut I would also take them off put screws back in frame and set aside to be cut I'll even take it down stairs and put it in the garage if thats what the customer wants. And I'm sure you'll agree after I had to fork out £950 to replace a door on a job that was only worth £80 to me, I'm not the guy for cutting doors.
Me personally i don't think you should undertake any work you have not been trained in. Jay is correct to not want to cut the doors if he hasn't been trained on how to cut doors with out chipping them etc. However, one of the things our customers want who visit our shop is a complete service. If my fitters cant cut the doors they simply go elsewhere for there carpets / floorcoverings. Due to this all my fitters have been trained in different methods of cutting doors and plinths. This is also something 'Carpet Right' have picked up on and all there fitters are now been sent on courses to learn how to cut doors. Out of intrest, would any of you be intrested in a course on cutting doors / plinths and different methods? Or not something you would really be intrested in? I have never been asked for this sort of thing before anyway.
Not for me I'm affraid I know what I'm good at and I'll stick to it, like I said the shops I work for have carpenters, joiners and french polishers in their books whos services they call upon when needed so they can offer the service profesionally by people who are time served and trained experts in their field.
Going back to your original question dazza I use a Mafell to cut doors - just taking them off and running the Mafell along the track to give a good finish. I think the De Walt and Makita plunge saws can be set up to cut doors in situ with their guide rails so might be worth looking at those.
I have to admit there are times when I'm reluctant to remove a door and that's in an old property with a massive door that might not have been off in fifty years and the hinges have fifteen coats of paint on them.
i fully understand about being confident in trimming doors i brought a karlton as my first door trimmer and i accidently didnt set it right and it cut at an angle but managed to rectifiy the job but since my mistake and you learn i havent done it since but it does come down to what you are comfortable doing.i am not just talking about wood flooring its all floors i mainly do safetys on commercial and after screed,fit the floors raised so i chop the plinths at a price to save the company calling in the partitioners for 150 to re do the plinths i know alot of people that dont do doors,plinths etc but it does come down to if you offer it as a service or not they will most proberly take you on as you are skilled in what you do which is laying floors
hi mate not to bothered about the doors as i have a door trimmer .whats the saw itself like?im looking at the ksp40 seems to have alot of uses and ive been trying to justify getting one but its telling the misses
So what do you do when you get one of those plinths that have sucked up water like a piece of wheatabix, and when you pop it off it all crumbles and falls to pieces. I had one like that once didn't need trimming but when I popped it off it all crumbled and fell to pieces in my hands, customer goes you broke it, I showed them the difference between the bad one and a good one from the other side which then they accepted. Sometimes I look at these and when they are all swollen and just cry out not to be touched.
It cuts up to 26mm depth and is good for freehand accuracy. I use it for any ply over 6mm thick, plinths,oak planks as above and even trimming doors ( for doors I cut part of the way through using a straight edge and turn the door over to cut again). http://www.exakt.biz/dc270.html
