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Post by Tom Gensmer on Dec 27, 2014 23:27:22 GMT -5
Years ago, I remember a Festool representative telling me about their philosophy about "taking the tool to the work". This was back when Festool first hit North America, and they were trying to persuade carpenters to take the track saw to a sheet of plywood, versus trying to take the sheet to a table saw.
I've adapted this mantra to "take the small thing to the big thing". This is a variation on the above mentioned Festool philosophy, but I feel it's a bit more flexible. For instance, you don't use a circular saw or track saw to cut a return on a piece of shoe, right? No, you'd take the small base shoe to a relatively large and stable miter saw or (hopefully in my future) Erika saw. On the other hand, if I needed to trim 1" off of a 16' long, 1.75"x14" LVL beam that weighs several hundred pounds, would I heave it up on a miter saw stand? Heck no! I'd take the relatively small KSS-400 to the beam. Taking the small thing to the big thing. Or, if you need to apply an edge treatment to a really big timber, you would use a hand held router, whereas for a tiny piece that's smaller than the base of your router, of course you'd take the work to your router table.
This seemingly simple (and obvious!) revelation has dramatically changed the way I approach work. It gives me a kind of tool/wood shorthand. I look at the piece of wood to be processed, then glance at the tools that can perform the task (there are often several). Whatever is smallest goes to the larger thing. Given everything that I need to process and keep track of in a regular working day (tracking production schedules, sequence of work for the day, coordinating with subcontractors, keeping track of cut lists, ordering materials, planning the work for tomorrow, etc.....), every little thing that I can do to streamline my thought process is much appreciated.
I wonder what relatively simple, seemingly intuitive mantras, mental shortcuts or philosophies you guys employ to help streamline your work processes?
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Post by 7 on Dec 28, 2014 0:35:15 GMT -5
Measure once cut as many times as possible. Systamatize.
Examples: When installing baseboard It is a lot faster and perfectly accurate to measure the entire house or at least an entire floor level- make a cut list using a "language" that makes sense to you- stand at the miter saw and cut the entire cut list numbering the back then run them to their location every 8 or 10 cuts then go around and nail them all in.
Same with flooring- When tiling a room if your layout is good and the house is even reasonably square you can often cut 15 tiles standing at the saw once instead of walking to the saw, cutting the tile, walking back set the tile, measure the next one and repeat. It's a lot faster to utilize the fudge factor beneath the sheetrock and the portion that will be hidden under the baseboard and cut them all, spread the mortar, set them all.
But in short- Systamatize- think in production & assembly line terms.
And: interesting thread, good idea.
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Post by wrightwoodwork on Dec 28, 2014 6:11:10 GMT -5
Work in a system, do the task with the least number of steps, don't waste time changing tools every 2 minutes.
Examples if making stud partions I will work out how many studs I need and take an average size and cut using the kss saws. I don't know what concrete layers are like in other parts of the world. Here some of the slaps leave a bit to be desired and not a constant leval. So to get everyone perfect will the far too long and is not worth the effort. As long as it looks right with no glaring obviously bad bits then its fine. I will cut the heads and soles in pairs so I am 100% confident that they are both the same. Then for the dwangs I will hold the 600/400 on the edge of the timber same as the stud then minus the thickness. I will cut 1 piece and check it is correct then I will use it as a rod to mark the rest. I will either go left to right or right to left doesn't really matter the leave about the saw blade thickness between the line to mark the next one. Then any off cuts that are no use go straight in the bin. Sometimes I will have the bin right below where the cutting will fall so it lands straight in the bin. Also work tidily and tidy as you go. Then I know where everything is. A pet hate of mine is people who work in a bomb site then leave it and say they'll tidy it the next day. To me there is nothing nicer than the next day going into the job everything is nice and tidy in piles and ready to go can put your hand straight on it. Not waste your time searching for it and the floor is clear. Yo me I walk in and think this is going to he a good day Evan before I've done a thing. Where if it is a mess and can't find a thing straight off I'm thinking not this again. The day should always start with good feeling. I believe that people who work tidily will naturally produce tidy work
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Post by jasonkehl on Dec 28, 2014 8:14:36 GMT -5
Good responses guys, it's sure nice to read of fellow carpenters who think this way, "how can we do what we do better"? I tend to take the small thing to the big thing also, but never really instilled it within my head as a mantra, until now...
The "clean as you work" method is so much more efficient than letting the mess pile up around you causing trip hazards that you'll have to clean eventually anyway.
I work at incorporating efficiency in every step of the process. I am an early riser so I use that time to plan out the day for me and my crew, once we get on site I already know exactly what I want everyone to do, so there is virtually zero time spent standing around on site figuring out what is next.
Systamatize, good word! We do relativley large projects and often spend 6 months to a year on one project so time spent up front pays huge dividends as the job unfolds. I built some cutting tables out of ptg lumber and plywood, they will last for years outside before needing replacement or repairs.
One is a long and narrow cutting table with a Kreg adjustable stop block system. It works well with any track saw and a short length of track for accurate/repetitive crosscuts and only the saw needs to be brought out and put away each day. I will be modifying it to use my recently purchased KSS saws for even more efficiency. I use it mostly for siding and soffit work.
A second table is about 40" wide and 12' long. I have a continuous fixed end stop on the left and a series of fixed stops along the back. For cutting multiples of any framing member it really speeds things up. I will mark the crown on each board in a series of wall studs placing them on the table. Next I mark the cut length on the first one and the last one, place an F guide and make the cut. I can fit 7 2x6's on the table and with the KSS 400 on an F guide cut them faster and more accurately than most other methods. I can follow the same basic procedure but stacked double high if I use the KSS 80 or triple high if I use the MKS 130.
It's simple things like this that can save a great deal of time with no loss of quality. Every time I can find a way to work more efficiently it makes my work more enjoyable and more profitable, the profits usually go to more Mafell or Festool though...
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Post by Tom Gensmer on Dec 28, 2014 19:21:48 GMT -5
I love it, thanks guys! I wholeheartedly agree with all of the above advice. While much of it seems painfully obvious to many of us, many of these tips were major revelations to me when I first discovered them. 7: I totally agree about making a cut list for a whole level of a house. Not only does it speed production once you're at the saw, but I feel that it also helps me to maximize my materials. I also really like preassembling as much of my trim as possible, building window and door casings, as well as sections of crown moldings on my work table, then taking them to the kitchen once the glue is set. Wrightwoodwork: It is a major pet peeve of mine when fellow carpenters let the job site become a mess. It presents the wrong image to the customer, slows work, and impedes safety. JasonKehl: I love the idea of gang-cutting. Unfortunately I don't often get to work on large enough projects that I can justify it, but as a concept I am enamored it. Overall, I really like the theme you have all mentioned regarding "systematizing" your work, creating mental shortcuts and standardized procedures to help speed production and clear away unnecessary mental clutter. We have a lot of skilled tradesmen here, I'm very curious to hear what the rest of you have to contribute!  |
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Post by MrToolJunkie on Dec 29, 2014 1:02:13 GMT -5
Using little jigs to duplicate/replicate things - jigs to set drawer slides and hardware, jigs for making duplicate cuts, etc... If I have to do something more than twice, then a jig is in order to save time.
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Post by wrightwoodwork on Dec 29, 2014 3:35:06 GMT -5
Another little philosophy I have is, sharp pencil sharp mind, blunt pencil blunt mind. It was something my lecturer installed into my head from be an apprentice. Without sharp tools and pencil and a mind you can't produce accurate work
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Post by thedude306 on Dec 29, 2014 8:48:48 GMT -5
Systamitize! Glad to see some some lean Six Sigma 5S info get into the discussion.
Sort, Set in order, Shine, Standardise, Systamitize.
I find the Sort (only use/have the things you need) and Set in order (Efficient work flow) are the two big ones. Once you wrap your head around those the other 3S come easily.
I find that once I cleaned up my shop and got rid of the "extra" clutter (do you really need 9 grinders if you only ever use 3?) and started laying out things to be as efficient as possible (do a spaghetti diagram, even for on site work) my work flow became much easier to get more done.
Great discussion!
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Post by jalvis on Dec 29, 2014 11:47:11 GMT -5
My experience is that you will never be all that efficient if your work varies regularly. Real efficiency comes from specialization which for me is difficult since theres lots of variation.
To add to the discussion the leading cause of poor efficiency is simply lack of experience. I see this in myself regularly. If theres a task I've done often I don't hesitate but simply "do." You will see more action from experience and less thinking. The only way I have found to overcome hesitation in the unfamiliar is to have a strong game plan ahead of time and do my homework, but even then theres lots fumbling. Having a system also helps immensely. A system of communication. A system to estimate. A system to mark the beginning of a task and the end. Have a written system and modify as needed.
Another key as it applies to efficiency in accuracy is to NOT measure. I find that not measuring is better. Use story sticks, templates, or measure from the source to the piece being cut. Also accurate stops or measuring devices on the machine that don't require measuring will drastically overcome error and increase efficiency.
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Post by lincoln on Jan 17, 2015 18:43:30 GMT -5
I build a lot of bars/coffee counters etc, for the restaurants and cafes that we fit out, and I've found that carrying out the tasks in the same order, on each build, helps with efficiency. In the past I've tried changing the order for whatever reason and I always regretted it. No two jobs of ours are ever the same, but the process of the build can be - regardless of size, configuration, finishes etc.
The simplest thing is lists. Always work from a list, whether it's the start of a job, or approaching the end - I find it makes you feel organized, and it feels good ticking things off.
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Post by 7 on Jan 21, 2015 22:56:53 GMT -5
Eat your vegetables first.
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Post by jonathan on Jan 24, 2015 2:22:00 GMT -5
Eat your vegetables first.  |
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