Wade, I hope this is not off topic but I am answering your call for comments on use since you still feel on the fence about the decision. Yesterday I started in on a dozen japanese style timber framing saw horses for a class (6 pair).
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That's about 72 pieces of 3.5"x3.5" material. For a length trimming operation I made 144 cuts. Fastening and releasing the pieces was about 2 seconds each cut, in total. I estimate I saved 10-20 minutes in manual clamping with a manual clamp during this operation alone, which is more than the time it took to actually cut. I could never be as fast or efficient or focus on the cutting operations alone if I didn't have these clamps, and will never go without these style of clamps on a slider ever again. I only wish every machine in my shop had clamps like this. Especially the mortiser.?
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FWIW if anyone is interested in learning Japanese carpentry, I've just written a list of classes up that are oriented to english speakers. Both Japan and domestic USA. I have studied or built with most of these people. If anyone is taking the Somakosha classes in Okayama this year, please let me know as I'll be going to most of them.
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Brian Lam
KF700sp etc etc
Honolulu, HI
