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Post by aas on Nov 14, 2020 7:50:04 GMT -5
I have the Erika 85, yes it is heavy and not easy to get up a flight of stairs on your own. I ended up getting a Festool CS50 for upstairs work.
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Post by kraftt on Nov 14, 2020 18:35:48 GMT -5
For a small job certainly it may not be worth the effort to lug it in, but if the job is large enough almost everyone I know sets up their cutting station(s) in the largest downstairs room and works from a cut-list to distribute materials in each room before grabbing a gun. If you can learn to trust your numbers it’s way faster. But if you're a back’n’forth kind of guy, or in a back'n'forth situation, it needs to be in the room you are working in unless you had a lot of coffee. Typically you’re not coping each end so a baby chop saw (on wheels) etc. can accompany you to each room to ‘adjust’ pre-cut lengths when needed. I’m sure the Erika is tops for shorter lengths of trim but for long crown & base a compound miter with L/R extensions, stops, maybe a nice thick Royce Ayr blade etc. gets it done.
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Post by bicycleclip on Nov 16, 2020 16:32:54 GMT -5
I owned an 2014 built Erika 85 for a couple of years. I bought it from a site carpenter who didn't enjoy lugging it around. He sold it to me and bought an Erika 60 instead.
I worked hard at my relationship with the Erika, and I learned a lot by using it. Used it mainly as a stationary saw, in a very small workshop. I owned every accessory available for it, and pairs of tables, fences etc (pictures of it are still in classifieds I think).
I sold it a few weeks ago because I found I didn't have enough room for it. My workshop is 14' x 14'. With a very powerful tablesaw in that space you start to feel a bit crowded. I sold it and bought an Ulmia Mitre (Hand) saw. With a japanese blade it cuts as fast as I need it to.
I'm 6' 3" tall and burly and the Erika was awkward to carry. The advice about setting up on the ground floor is true.
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Post by aas on Nov 17, 2020 8:34:58 GMT -5
Yes, I'd recommend the wheels. For moving around, get a sack trolley, put some protection on the base and back, and the Erika will transport with the cutting table against the back (feet sticking out). You might even be able to find a stair climbing trolley that is the right size.
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Post by MrToolJunkie on Nov 27, 2020 0:12:04 GMT -5
I think that there are pics here of someone strapping it to a dolly - this would be the best way to cart if around - with big tires on the dolly is would be manageable to get it up some stairs or maneuver around. Carrying it is awkward for sure and I would not want to carry it up stairs. Recipe for pulling my back for dropping the machine...nightmare if it toppled down a flight of stairs - no thanks.
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